Remembering the Days – NSA Cadetship years

Way back in 2008 when I was 4th year high school, we were having an activity about what we course we want to take up in college. Most of the girls in the class want to take up Nursing, it was the “in demand” course at that time. While some of the boys prefer to take up engineering and IT related courses, I chose to take up the merchant marine profession, the career I was hoping to be with since I was a kid but never really thought how difficult it was. This was before we even hear about NSA Cadetship.

All I hear were the good old stories of riches and adventures. Actually, a lot of factors to consider about taking up a college degree and we were just too young to understand. We were generally hesitant and doubtful back in the days about what the future awaits us.

How did I start applying for NSA Cadetship?

After the 3rd Quarter grades were released, I applied for a scholarship in the University of Cebu, a school proven to be a world class producer of merchant marine officers and the Norwegian Shipowners Association (NSA)-Philippine Cadet Project, one of the scholarship provider to the young and aspiring officers.

It was around November of 2007 when i started and finished May of 2008. It was a very long, and rigorous selection process, a series of mental and physical exams and luckily, I passed.

The NSA journey starts…

June of 2008 was the start of the school year or our 4th class year (Poklat). It was a very unconventional way of studying because of a semi military training incorporated to our academic obligations. The first semester was one of the hardest. No contact with the outside world and no liberties like other students have.

We were trained both physically and mentally. Discipline and character were installed into us as part of the process. The system also thought us to co-exist with one another in our batch (we were about 275 cadets). We had this one for all, all for one method. Helping out colleagues and bring out what’s best for the group was essential part of our success. It was a very tiresome routine most of the time. It was tiresome as it is fun.

My mentality was, if I will fail this in this venture, where will I end up? I very much know my parents could not afford to send me to this university with their own money. To me, this was an opportunity of a lifetime. So I made the most out of it.

So much for lecture, let yearlong cadetship begin!

In the summer of 2010, all of us went to our respective manning agencies in Manila for a 1 year cadetship training onboard an ocean going vessel as part of the 2-1-1 curriculum adopted by the school in their NSA sponsored cadets.

It was a whole new kind of experience for me. From just a boy from the countryside walking to unknown and dangerous streets of Manila was a bit intimidating. We suit up as young professionals with our tie and long sleeve on, shiny shoes and black socks.

At first we do not understand what the usual norms in the office was. We took up company specific trainings as we wait for our schedule to board our very first vessel assignment. And finally around the 3rd week of July that year, 4 (2 deck and 2 engine cadets) of us embarked the vessel at anchor in Yeosu, South Korea.

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Embarking the ship for the first time!

I boarded a Caustic-Bulk Carrier (CABU) as they call it. It was tough. Being a newbie to the industry. I got to learn, a lot. As days and weeks passed by, I learned different kind of jobs as a deck cadet. From rust chipping, to painting, washing huge cargo compartments as well as ballast compartments, cleaning various areas of the ship, assisting experienced seafarers to carry out the job, etc. On deck, 3 AB, 2 OS and 2 Deck Cadets were supervised by the Boatswain or Bosun.

From learning the various deckhand job, I also learned jobs of the officers up in the bridge (Navigation and Communication area of the ship), overview of various bridge watch keeping duties, to safety maintenance, passage planning, etc. We also had drills to prepare us against unwanted disasters that we may encounter onboard.

Safety was anchored in us, right from the start. We were out at sea for about 1-2 weeks depending on the voyage traversing the vast Indian Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean, Arabian Sea, South China Sea and East China Sea. Our trading pattern was only in East Asia, Australia and the Persian Gulf. This area of the world is not so accommodating.

Was it tough outhere? Lets see…

Frequent storms and strong winds are often encountered along the track. In port, I learned about the basics of the ship’s discharging and loading operations. The ship can discharge the caustic soda by using the 3 pumps we have onboard to shore facility. At the first few months, I was a gangway watch at that time as part of the compliance to the ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code). Our ports have been generally good and well secured, especially in Australia.

It can be pretty dirty in China when we discharge cargoes there. Later on, I understudy officers in their port duties to learn what they are doing. Basically, that’s the job of a cadet. To learn. Learn as much as he could. So that when he will be an officer someday, he will be equipped with the right knowledge and experience to carry out the job he is tasked to do.

11 months and 8 days later, I disembarked at Port Khalifa, in UAE. Culminating almost a year of hard work, homesickness, seasickness and learning. It was a very good feeling indeed. So satisfying that you have to feel it to believe it. I stood proud for what I done. It was an accomplishment for me for I have gained knowledge and experience that some can only wish for.

Completing the 2-1-1 scheme…

As I go back to school for my last academic year, I continued gaining additional knowledge I can get from the school to best equip myself to the needs of the industry. Fast forward to March of 2012, I finished my Bachelor’s degree. It was very satisfying on my part. To see my family so happy and celebrate my success with me was the highlight of them all. From day one until the very end, they have been there me. All I ever wish is for them to be proud. I could not done it without them. That day wasn’t just a culmination of all the lessons learned, it was a commencement of a lot greater things to come.

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NSA Batch 16-Class of 2012 on Graduation Day

I am very, very thankful to the school, to the program and to the company I am currently working with. They gave me an unbelievable support and resources to my advantage to lift my whole life from poverty and give it a whole new direction. I am so thankful for the opportunity I got. There is a lot to take from here and I hope I can be the best of what I do.