Beyond the Vessel: Young Seafarers Explore Life Across the Fleet - SeaVoices - Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) Publication

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21 Oct 2026

3 mins

Beyond the Vessel: Young Seafarers Explore Life Across the Fleet

A tanker, a cruise ship, a container vessel and an offshore ship may sail the same seas, but each requires its own set of skills, poses its own challenges and demands its own decisions.

That was the message at Insights for Youth – Beyond your Vessels, organised by Young SMOU at the Lifelong Learning Institute on 25 September 2026. The event brought together 19 young seafarers from different ranks and ship types to explore the work, challenges and career opportunities across the maritime industry.

Four experienced seafarers shared insights into life and work in their respective vessel segments: Darren Teo, Chief Officer on an oil/chemical tanker; Joshua Chua, Second Officer on a cruise ship; Muhd Rahmat, Chief Officer on a container ship; and Tan Fu Wei, Chief Officer on an offshore vessel. The session was moderated by Young SMOU member and seafarer Tan Chin Woo, who guided the discussion and encouraged participants to engage with the speakers.

Their perspectives highlighted the diversity of seafaring. On tankers, participants heard about the central role of safety and risk management. Cruise ship operations require a balance between efficiency and passenger experience, while container vessels present complex cargo and stowage challenges. Offshore operations, meanwhile, rely on specialised equipment and precise execution.

Interactive Mentimeter polls brought the discussion to life, encouraging participants to actively engage with topics such as tanker safety culture, cruise ship priorities, container cargo operations and offshore technologies. A Q&A session gave them the opportunity to seek further clarification on vessel operations and technologies.

Across the discussions, participants explored daily routines, cargo handling, safety practices and career progression, as well as the key competencies needed to thrive across different vessel types. One message resonated throughout: a strong safety mindset matters on every vessel. Seafarers were encouraged to think before acting and avoid rushed decisions that could lead to accidents.

The speakers also urged young seafarers to stay curious and committed to lifelong learning. Looking beyond their immediate job scope, upgrading skills and knowledge, and supporting fellow crew members can all contribute to professional growth and a stronger safety culture on board.

As one piece of advice put it: “Take ownership of your career development by actively seeking out learning opportunities, relevant certifications, and new experiences that can contribute to your professional growth.”

By offering a closer look at four very different vessel types, Beyond your Vessels helped young seafarers better understand the expectations and opportunities that could shape their seafaring careers, as well as the value of learning, teamwork and sound judgement wherever their work takes them.

Young SMOU extends its heartfelt thanks to Darren, Joshua, Rahmat, and Fu Wei for generously sharing their valuable insights, which equip the next generation to steer their seafaring careers to greater heights.