Comments: Bad habits of Bangladeshi Mariners on board

Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 3:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BDMariners] Attitude of BD Marine Academy Cadets – some advice to young mariners

Thank you very much, Zulfeqar for your thoughts.

I am not suggesting that we have to completely lose our identity in the process of becoming a seafarer. A classic example is the issue of foods an individual is allowed or forbidden to have according to their religiouis belief. Every religion has it’s own list – I respect the views of all our members. Violating these religious codes might contradict the core values of an individual. In this case we might look for alternative foods from those already available on the ship without making it a public issue. Whilst I appreciate that the quantity and variety of such alternatrive foods available onboard may not be sufficient to provide a “feast” per se during each meal time, I am sure there will be enough at least to survive ! At the end of the day, the ship is a work place – we cannot expect everything to be strictly as per our likes and dislikes as in our home. If we accept a little bit of hardship for 6-7 months a year, we have the remaining time of the year to enjoy what we like at home.

Becoming a successful professional is a multi-cultural atomsphere is a fine act of balancing between own ideology and those around – without giving up one’s core values or causing a public outrage just for the sake of expressing personal views. That’s why the job of a merchant navy engineer and officer is so challenging and enjoyable at the same time. Without challenges life would be boring. At Marine Academy we pride ourselves of having the most meritorious boys and girls of the country. They are the right people to face these challenges. They can achieve anything they put their mind into. I have 100% faith in their abilities.

When we started our sea career there were hardly any Bangladeshi Masters or Chief Engineers on foreign flagged vessels. Now, we not only have hundrds (if not thousands) of them but also people in higher up in the management of foreign shipping compnaies and reputable oraganisations like MCA, AMSA, MPA, IMO, Shell, BP etc. These respecetd professionals could not have reached their current position if they kept their minds closed within their own narrow worlds. Throughout their work life they maintained a receptive mind whilst maintaining their own core values within themselves.This is called professional integrity. That’s why they are where they are today. Dear juniors, please try to be more progressive than them – not less. We want you to reach places and positions where we haven’t reached yet.

Thank you for listening.

Quamrul, 27th (N)

On 15 December 2014 at 06:04, ‘Zulfeqar Ali’ via Bangladeshi Mariners <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear sir,

Salam.

Well said and nicely edited with few harsh words though simple but true to the last drop.

Only one thing I would like to add. For Bangladeshi food, person can try to join some Bangladeshi ship and get his / her choice of food through out the full contract.

But it will be a problem in multicultural environment.

That’s all.

Allah hafez.

Zulfeqar
29E

On Sunday, December 14, 2014 3:03 PM, I am Oronno <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you sir… for your nice illustrating mail…. it really means a lot…
Oronno
42C
On Dec 14, 2014 8:09 AM, “K M Asaduzzaman” <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Sir.
Very well said. Thank you.

Kind regards,

K M Asaduzzaman.
Chief Engineer,
A.P Moller Group-Maersk Tankers A/S.
Sent from my iPhone.

On 13 Dec 2014, at 21:25, Quamrul Siraz <[email protected]> wrote:
A lot has been written over the past few days about the attitude of the junior BD marine officers and engineers on foreign flagged vessels which adversely affected the employment prospects of BD mariners. May I dispense some advice here to my fellow junior seafarers based on life experience.

By nature the seafaring profession involves working away from home with colleagues from different culture, religion, sexual orientation and of course in ever-changing climate. This is something a seafarer should be mentally prepared to accpet from the very first day they decide choose this profession.

A doctor cannot complain about having to come in close contact with patients suffering from contageous desease or complain about being called out of bed late night in an emergency. Same way, a deck or engineer officer cannot complain about having to live in a foreign culture and with foreign people and having to eat foreign food. If a seafarer is looking for BD food and culture (which obviuos he / she can as an individual) they need to first quit this profession and find a job based in Bangladesh where they can get exactly what they are looking for. Seafaring profession is not for them. By bringing their complaints to the ship relating to persosonal likes and dislikes, they are not only damaging their career but also of their fellow BD mariners.

Please remember that an employer always has the upper hand. As a seafarer (employee) if you are unable adopt to company codes and culture, you will be very soon replaced by someone who can adopt. The loss will be yours, not your emploer’s. Ship is not your home. This is a work place. At home our parents might put up with our unreasonable demands, but at work place our Captains and supervisors will not. The relationship is purely professional – not personal.

When we are on the ship we have to appreciate that our first identity is we are seafarer. If you want to be a true professional, forget the conditioning you have been put through from your childhood. You have to be flexible and tolerant in all respects. In Theory of Evolution Darwin said about “survival of the fittest”. By the term “fittest” he did not necessarily mean the “strongest”. In today’s world “fittest” refers to someone who is the most adoptable to changes. You need to let go of your old beliefs and thoughts that no longer serve any purpose as a professional, and start accepting changes of today – IN A POSITIVE WAY.

What was right yesterday may not be true today. And what is acceptable today may not be accepatble tomorrow. You need to keep your mind open to embracing these changes to keep pace with the changing world. You need to think outside the box. My email might sound harsh to many. But I am only trying to speak the truth. When you pass from the Academy and join the ship, leave the boy (in you) back in closet at home and bring the “man” (or “”woman” for girl cadets) to work.

If you keep complaining about work, ship’s atmosphere, culture etc your colleagues will brand you as a spoilt brat. Arrogance will not take you anywhere. Humbleness will. Try to integrate with your colleagues in a constructive way and work hard without unreasonable demands or complaints. And I can guarantee you will achieve more than what your academy seniors have.

Regards,
Quamrul, 27th (N)