Dominic recalls his brother sending him pictures of the money he earned, stating matter-of-factly, “I was determined to earn my place at WMI based on my own merit, knowing that as I progressed in rank, the pay would improve.” In contrast to his brother, he opted for the Tripartite Nautical Training Award (TNTA) program. From the beginning, he had a clear goal, saying, “I aspire to become a Captain and command my own ship one day, with my brother hopefully as my Chief Engineer.

Similar to his brother, he spoke highly of the WMI lecturers. “We truly appreciate the dedication of the lecturers who taught us. They go the extra mile, staying up late to assist us with our studies and allowing us to use the bridge simulator for practice.

Dominic now has his own share of experiences to recount. He remembers a challenging first voyage on the Atlantic side of South Mexico when the weather unexpectedly worsened during a night watch on the bridge with his third officer. “It turned into a relentless four-day roller coaster ride. The weather became extremely rough, leading almost everyone, including the chief cook, to experience seasickness. However, the entire crew stood together, offering support and solidarity throughout the challenging ordeal.”

“This is Mother Nature; no one can control it, nor can we predict what is going to happen.” Challenges at sea are part and parcel of what makes the job so different and unique.