Endless blue skies and good career prospects lured Kenneth Kwok Kar-him, a deck cadet, to a challenging career at sea
I was a social worker for 18 months before I switched careers. Two friends working on ocean-going vessels told me about the bright prospects in choosing a career at sea. I applied for a three-year diploma course in maritime studies with the Maritime Services Training Institute. After I completed my studies, my mentor from the Hong Kong Shipowners Association helped arrange an interview with Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), a Hong Kong-based container shipping and logistics service company and got a job as a deck cadet with the company.
To further pursue my career, I need to have two years of sea time and now I have completed 13 months of cadetship. I am excited about joining a big shipping company and meeting new people but, apart from that, it is hard work. I have to know everything about ships. I follow my bosun, who tells me about all the procedures involved in carrying out inspection such as checking the bridge systems and doing regular rounds on the deck. I start my day at around 8am and work through till 5pm. In between, I get short breaks for lunch and tea. There is a tradition that we have to wear a uniform for both lunch and dinner.
I always rush through my meals so that I can get back to work early. From 8pm until midnight, I learn how to operate electronic navigational equipment from the third officer. I work and train for 6 1/2 days a week. On Saturdays we do safety training.
After completing two years as a deck cadet, I will take the class-three certificate course offered by Hong Kong Marine Department. My officer in charge at my company will assess my ability to see if I am capable of taking the course.
Working on board a ship involves a high level of responsibility, and I need to be good at it.
