Scorpio News
Dmitry Ishchenko: In his own words…
Greeting to everyone! I’m from a wonderful place: Vladivostok. This is a large port city, which is the capital of the Russian Far East and is washed on three sides by the Sea of Japan. The life of the residents of the port city is in one way or another connected with the sea. I don’t know whether I was lucky or not, but the sea surrounded me, like my city, on three sides and left me with practically no choice of another profession.
My grandfather is a sea captain, a sailing yacht captain, a sailing veteran and a professor at the Maritime University. As a child, especially in the summer, I spent a lot of time with him, so from an early age I was saturated with the sea and maritime culture. From the age of 10, I began going to a young sailor school, organized on the basis of the Maritime University, and participating in regattas on sailing yachts. When the time came to choose a profession, I realized that I’m not connected so strong with anything but the sea. And it was almost a completely rational, not an emotional choice.
I started working at Scorpio directly after graduating from the Maritime University in 2016. In 2019, I was promoted to Second Officer and worked in this position until 2023. At present, I work as Chief Mate. The work is multifaceted, super dynamic and versatile. It intertwines the foundations of a large number of disciplines: from psychology to astronomy, from chemistry to theoretical mechanics. You constantly have to refresh or expand your knowledge in various areas in order to better suit the position.
While at sea
My working day often begins with the morning watch at 4am and is gradually filled with the standard set of chief officer’s tasks: planning and distributing the deck crew, discussing current problems and tasks with the captain and officers, parsing emails, attending and monitoring deck works. After lunch, a short rest, an evening watch, review of the day, and then a full rest. Also conducting drills and training according to schedule and necessity. When a ship is in port, the day may lose its standard structure, but my main task always remains the same: organizing cargo and ballast operations and monitoring it’s safe realization.
“For a sailor, a vacation is an extended chance to unleash the potential of life.”
While ashore
I really love the region in which I live. In addition to the sea, it offers a sea of opportunities for active pastime. And I try not to miss out. In the summer, I can take part in sailing regattas, as well as work as a hired captain of a sailing yacht on tourist excursions. I’m also learning windsurfing. In autumn and spring, I conquer our small mountains and hills, and enjoy rock climbing. In winter, I play hockey and snowboard. At any time of the year I try to travel in my jeep prepared for expeditions.
Over these eight years, Scorpio has given me many fond memories. Every visit to an interesting port, every safe signing off, every promotion in a rank are bright memories. Receiving the STI Mighty from a shipyard in Vietnam was a unique experience that not everyone is lucky enough to have, and participation in the 2023 Antalya conference was a grandiose event in its scale and organization. Thank you, Scorpio.
This article featured in Beacon 27. Scorpio seafarers can access and download all issues of the Beacon from DocMap while onboard.
