A
day in the life of a
Safety Manager on a cruise ship.
How
many of you? Whilst sailing around the Caribbean, after flight deck
circuits drinking your cup of tea, would see the big cruise ship
in the distances and mutter, words of envy .wish I was doing that.
I could be the chief stoker on there all that drinking and women!
Well
once my 22 was up, I wasn't really to certain as to which direction
I wanted my future career to head so. I applied to the normal, prisons,
police etc .But my heart wasn't really in to it.
Then
a chance conversation with my careers office opened the door to
the cruise industry.
That
morning before I arrived for my interview, Norwegian cruise lines
had contacted the resettlement office; they wanted ex buffers as
safety managers.
So I sent my CV off immediately that morning .I got a phone call
that night from the Superintendent Safety for the company, who was
also and ex buffer. Keep it in the branch I hear you all saying.
(We now have people from other branches)
Basically he had checked all my references, and could I join Norwegian
Majesty on the 8th June 2001 In Boston.
The ship would be trading between Boston Bermuda. So I left the
comfort of the mob. On the 6th June 2001 I set out for UN-charted
waters. Things started well met at airport taken to the Holiday
Inn. This is the life!!!!
Then
bright and early the next day the port agent picks me up and drops
me at the ship.
Wow! this big white thing looms up in front of me. Once I, get onboard
its meet the guy I, am reliving a very Nice Norwegian guy called
Peter.Anker .I had two weeks with him to learn my new trade.
He
showed me my cabin and took me to the bridge to meet the Captain.
The Staff Captain (the Jimmy) generally taught me the ropes.
I
was greeted by just about every crew member we passed with a cheery
welcome to the family.
Now
to try and fill you in with what I do. Basically I run the station
bill. Remember those? Well I have dependants on which ship I'm on
(between 550 and 1250 crewmembers) . I have to position and train.
My secretary runs that, but I have the final say.
I
am in charge of safety and crew training. I answer only to the Staff
Captain and Captain. By the way I went from PO, to Commander in
3 days!!! That's promotion.
I
am the PWO (JOKE) because each week we carry out a passenger drill,
and a crew drill, which I have re named the Thursday war (JOKE).
I use a few ideas we used in the mob make up for injuries, I have
a full movie make up kit lots of blood.
We
are a training school as well as a cruise ship.
Course s we do are as follows.
Basic Safety course .That's four parts Fire fighting, Personal Survival,
First aid and PSSR.
Crowd control training.
Drugs
Security
Lifeboat, life raft commander's course.
Plus continuation training. Safety at work.
The fire training is conducted by my fire fighter, who is now slowly
changing to ex stokers. See us dabbers did like you stokers we gave
you the nod for this job.
So
my day can vary from dropping lifeboats for training, to accident
investigation, to organizing shore-side courses.
I could be training an engine boy to be a welding sentry or training
a dancer to use a fire extinguisher.
Or
just walking round the ship checking that the ship is safe, talking
to crew and trying to guide them to carry out what ever they are
doing safely.
This also involves cabin inspection once a week and captain's weekly
walk round.
Public health inspection, US coast guard inspections.
This is just an insight in to the job and is not an extensive list.
So after nearly four years in the job. The things I have learned
are how under-trained the Navy is in safety training. As sailors
in the navy, how little time we spent at sea compared to the Merchant
Navy. To put this is context an AB who works for me from the Philippines
does 10 months contracts. He has never had a Christmas at home in
18 years; this year might be his first? As an officer I do 12 weeks
on 12 weeks of.
For
me the Job has been a very steep learning curve, however I have
been on the shore side implementation team that launched one of
our newest ships from Papenburg in Germany the home of Cruise ship
building. We
were the first ship ever to pass both English MCA and US coast guard
drills first time.
This will probably be my last year in Cruising I'm looking to move
on in the shipping world. And doors are opening slowly. However
the word ex Navy is very often the kiss of death. Stick in there
and keep looking.
A highlight for me was cruising up the Amazon River for 1000 miles!!!!!!!!!
Now
let's go back to the start, dreaming about drinking, parties the
women and can I do that job!!!! Most days I finish so late it's
the last thing on my mind .We have very strict alcohol rules, and
you are not allowed to sleep with passengers!!!!!!!!
I have enjoyed every minute of this job and I have met some fantastic
people. My thanks go to Norwegian Cruise line for give me a chance.
Now for the sales line, if you fancy a cruise try NCL Norwegian
Cruise lines we are the best!!!! You never know I might be your
Safety Manager.
If
you do cruise with us at least eight of us safety Managers and some
Firefighters are ex-Navy!
