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For people called to a career at sea, one of the biggest challenges is balancing between professional and personal life. Unlike a typical corporate position on land, where one can clock out and head home at the end of the day, working onboard a vessel entails prolonged periods away from family and friends. Can achieving work-life balance remain feasible under such circumstances? And if so, how does this look like? Chief Officer Johanes, 32, shares his story with SeaVoices.
Johanes was a cadet when he met his wife-to-be. He laid the cards on the table and shared with her what it would take for him to be a chief officer. The path required the couple to endure months apart as Johanes “chased the sea time”.
“I promised her that the sacrifices would be worth it as a career at sea is rewarding,” Johanes said.
They got married in 2018 after a five-year courtship. With her full support, Johanes sailed his way up to where he is now. In 2020, he transited from deep sea to the offshore industry so as to enjoy the predictability of having a 2-months on and 2-months off work schedule. It was the year that the couple welcomed their baby girl.
“It is all about planning ahead and planning well,” he quipped.
And planned he did to celebrate this year’s Chinese New Year together with his family for the first time.
Johanes resolves to make the best use of his time when he is not sailing. He makes a point to be “100% present” when he is home and he takes over parenting duties from his wife who holds a full-time job, to be hands-on with the household chores and all manner of caregiving tasks. Those strong hands which are capable of heavy-duty jobs onboard are also capable of providing nurturing care to his loved ones.
In this journey, they have become more understanding of one other, and with that, develop the patience and maturity to work at issues.
For those newlyweds who are embarking on a maritime career, Johanes has this to offer: “You must trust and believe in your partner. Plan your future together. Consider how you would cope with the long stretches of time away from each other, and what support you can draw on.”
On this issue of support, Johanes is grateful to his mother-in-law who goes over to stay with his wife and daughter when he is at sea, providing further assurance to him that all is taken care of.
When off-duty, Johanes makes it a point to call his wife and daughter everyday through WhatsApp video. Although virtual, and the vast sea still separates them, his daughter can see his face and interact with him real-time.
He recalled how his then 18-month-old daughter refused to let him carry her after being away for 3 and a half months. “I could not find a reliever and had to stay at sea longer than expected. It took 2 weeks before she let me get close to her. That experience hit me very hard,” he said. No wonder he is a strong advocate of regular face to face communication with his family. Communication strengthens bonding.
With unlimited wifi onboard, no longer does he need to relive the feelings of isolation and loneliness of his cadet days when there was no Wi-Fi on board vessels and communication with loved ones could cost $18 USD for a 10-15 minute phone call.
Johanes has never ‘lost touch’ with the ‘why’ and ‘how’ he came to join the maritime industry. He retains the sense of purpose he found, and memories of his father, Johnny Lie, bringing the young Johanes to the Lighthouse Bistro and introducing him to Capt. Robin Foo. His father also took him aboard a vessel or two to explore the bridge. Those visits as well as his father’s advice and guidance made a deep impression on him. When Wavelink Maritime Institute offered the Tripartite Nautical Training Award (TNTA) Programme, Johanes grabbed the opportunity to train for a deck career at sea.
Mr Lie, understanding the effort his son has gone through to pass exams and work his way to Chief Officer, had praised him, “Well done! Good for you! I just wanted you to be on the right track.”
A life as a seafarer is not always smooth sailing but with a supportive family, finding the right work-life balance is possible. In Johanes’ words, “Nothing is impossible if you really want it.”
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