When I started at Rodrimar / Eurobrás in 1976 as a navigation assistant, I saw visitors and already dreamed of being one.
The term “ship visitor” sounds appealing and many friends did not understand what it was like when I spoke. They thought it was a type of “public relations” that went on board “visiting” the captain, having coffee, winning souvenirs and taking him out. A perfect profession!
Little did they know that life is very hard. Waking up at dawn and leaving at night with no time to return, rain or shine, not having a holiday or weekend, stepping in the mud, climbing rope ladders (chest break / pilot ladder) in admiral or hangover sea, descend in basements, etc.
It has its good side, of course, because there is always risk and hard work. But, it is not this “glamor” that some see. And much less today.
But … still, I was – and still am – fascinated by the profession. And I would do it all again!
The ship visitor is, in fact, the agency’s professional who makes the connection between board and land, facilitating communication with the authorities, port operators, shippers, importers and service providers.
It is literally everything, from being a luxury office boy many times to being the savior of the country in commander in trouble (oh, how many stories I would have to tell ….. hehehe).
In our course Administrative and Operational Organization of Ports we talked about the visit of the ships and what they involve.
