My seafaring journey and how it helps me today at GAC UK

by Chris Love - Team Leader, GAC Southampton

Early maritime experience

I grew up on the west coast of Scotland in a town called Gourock, an area which has a rich shipbuilding history and stunning views of vessels sailing on the River Clyde. It was no surprise that in 2014 I embarked on a seafarers training scheme at City of Glasgow College to become a Deck Officer.

During my training, I was sponsored by Zodiac Maritime, where I sailed as a Deck Cadet onboard container and bulk carriers. This took me all over the world; Barcelona, New York (for Christmas) and Singapore to name a few highlights. I loved the camaraderie between seafarers- we had fun, worked extremely hard and supported each other during difficult times.?

Travelling the world as a Deck Officer

Once qualified in 2017, I was fortunate to earn a position at Teekay LNG as a Deck Officer. My first posting was to Shanghai where we took delivery of a new build vessel from the shipyard. This provided me with some great memories that I will always cherish, however, I will never miss the evenings having to navigate through the many fishing boats in the South China Sea!

Seafaring influence today

In 2019 I made the decision to come ashore and work for GAC UK as a Ship Agent in Southampton. The experience I gained as a seafarer undoubtedly assists me in my shore-based role. Having witnessed first-hand the pressure and heavy workload the Captain and Officers are under, I always try to communicate at appropriate times and keep information concise.

I can empathise with the crew; when you are offshore for several months, shore leave is so important. It is very tough for seafarers these days. Shore leave is being squeezed as more restrictions are put in place and training courses are increasingly pushed during your rest periods. These can cause definite effects on a person’s mental health; I know that! Having had some bad experiences with crew changes during my time at sea, I always ensure my team do their best to make sure crew transfers run as smoothly as possible.

Seafaring knowledge

Going above and beyond to meet the needs of the Captain and crew makes such a difference to their life at sea and onshore. I will help the crew as much as I can, from offering advice for shore leave to organising local sim cards. It has been humbling to help them during the covid pandemic; organising vaccinations locally for the crew, who in some cases would not have been able to return home without this effort.

As I progress my career on shore, I will continue to draw on my experience of life at sea and share my knowledge with my colleagues to ensure we are assisting seafarers in the best way possible.