Valdemar Witt Qvist, a Copenhagen Business School and Student Assistant in Hafnia’s Operations Team recently sailed on chemical tanker the Hafnia Azurite from Brofjorden, Sweden to Świnoujście, Poland.
This forms part of an approach to offering early-career colleagues direct first-hand exposure to vessel operations. A key part of learning across vessel visits is a deeper understanding across Hafnia’s commercial and operational decisions being made onshore and carried out at sea. Spending time on board offers onshore team members – particularly those earlier in their careers – a working understanding of those realities.
Over three days, Valdemar observed the work of the Master (Captain Jerry) and the crew across the bridge, deck and engine room. On departure, he experienced how the bridge team coordinated with shore, tugs and the pilot. Transiting the Danish Straits he experienced how pilotage requirements affect passage planning. In the engine room, Valdemar was able to benefit from a session with Chief Engineer Nataraja who went through the bunker plan and the vessel’s technical strengths and constraints.
During his time onboard Chief Officer Maksims Jemeljanovs additionally showed Valdemar how stowage plans are built on a chemical tanker and how densities, temperatures and loading sequences all shape what the vessel can lift. During discharge, Valdemar also had the opportunity to experience how operational decisions on board can directly affect cargo handling, turnaround time and overall voyage performance.
“I now have a better understanding of what sits behind a voyage instruction,” said Valdemar. “Seeing the stowage planning, the trim management during discharge and the coordination with pilots and shore personnel will change how I approach my work in operations moving forward.”
With seven nationalities on board, the voyage also meant that Valdemar could experience how a multinational crew works together – operationally and socially – from watchkeeping at night to shared meals and downtime.
Hafnia is pleased to be able to offer onshore employees time on board as part of their development. Teams that understand vessel operations can make better commercial decisions, communicate more clearly with crews and ultimately deliver more reliably to customers.
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