The job must make up for the at home sacrifices

At the very bottom of the large tanker TORM-strength we find Valdemar Stokbro working, no matter the conditions. At one point, he took part in repairing the main engine under burning Singapore sun. After fifteen minutes in 50 degrees, his clothes were soaked in sweat, and he would constantly look for a chance to swing by the air-conditioned control room before getting back to work. No one could blame him.

“The body gets used to working under extreme conditions, and you can work on your mindset and mental dexterity over time as well”, he says. The 26-year-old engineer has already experienced a lot, but most days are simply spent maintaining and repairing the many machines on board, 70-80 hours a week. Valdemar is responsible for all kettles and centrifuges, but during his night shifts, he is responsible for the entire machinery. This demands extra attention, and his superior knows that Valdemar can call him at any time if necessary.

A mixed bag

Back in 2017, Valdemar sailed at TORM as an apprentice while taking his degree at MARTEC in Frederikshavn, Denmark. He went out three times in this period, and in 2021, he graduated as an engineer. Soon, he’ll set out on his sixth journey as an engineer, which will also be his third trip on board TORM-strength.

The crew counts 20-25 members from Croatia, India and Denmark. The working language is English. “It suits me well that we are not such a mixed bag of nationalities. It matters that I am not the only Dane on board. I can speak to the others about news from home and other matters that are of no interest to the rest of the crew”, Valdemar explains.

A formal and respectful tone

To Valdemar, a strong work environment is only possible if the crew is able to solve problems together, admit mistakes, and uphold a proper and respectful tone. At TORM, the four highest ranking on board are always the same, which ensures a stable and unified leadership: “On board, we have a formal tone which makes it easier to stand by your actions and decisions. For instance, I might sometimes yell when I tell someone off, but I am also able to go back and apologize for the way I delivered my message. The criticism might have been in order, but the tone was uncalled for. In these situations, I always try to remind myself how it was to sail for the first time.”

When asked if he ever talks to his co-workers about the difficult things in life, he says: “I prefer to call home when possible. Luckily, I haven’t gone through any truly difficult times yet.”

He remembers a co-worker who told him about some relationship problems, and he also mentions another co-worker who lost his grandfather while sailing. Valdemar told him that he could always come and talk if he ever needed it. He never did, but it was important for Valdemar to make sure that he knew. The co-worker was allowed to make all the calls he needed from the ship.

Around the world

The 183-meters long tanker transports various types of oil products. The destinations vary depending on where the chartering department finds the most lucrative markets. This also means that Valdemar never knows how and where his next 10 weeks at sea will unfold. He has signed on near Dubai, in Belgium and in Egypt, and he has had time to see most of the locations as a tourist before departure, like when he saw the famous pyramids in Cairo. Not two trips have been the same: ”Seeing the world is great, and this is a big reason why I’m attracted to the maritime profession. We’ve sailed in both Europe, USA, Saudi Arabia and Africa. Our last trip took us to The United Emirates, China, Singapore, and India.”

Being away is challenging

When sailing, Valdemar frequently speaks to his girlfriend or his friends at home via Snapchat or Messenger. This is important to him, and he appreciates when people at home remember to invite him to events, even when they know he won’t be around to participate: “I’ve always received the invitations, but of course you miss out on stuff as a seafarer. When I’m home for ten weeks, I always have a full schedule, and I make sure that I see as many people as possible. Last year, I was out for 220 days. That was a bit too much, but sometimes our discharge is delayed. I ended up working for 13 weeks and being home for 7.”

“The biggest challenge is being away from your family and friends half the time. When the day comes where the joy of sailing doesn’t match the importance of being home, I’ll switch career. Working must be meaning- ful, and right now it is. Most days, I really enjoy sailing.”

Valdemar also gives praise to the HR-department at TORM: “Our HRstaff understands us, and they pay attention when we reach out. It feels good to not just be another number waiting in line, but to be a valued individual whose well-being matters,” Valdemar says. Eventually, he wants to become first engineer. The combination of manual work, monitoring processes, and leading a crew suits him well – a perfect mixture of theoretical and practical work.