Let me introduce myself,my name is muhammad irvan,i have been joining at toei reefer line since 14 years ago as A/B.
My company One of the biggest leading shipping companies of the ultra frozen sashimi tuna carriers, providing the specialized vessels for carrying the frozen sashimi tuna safely and effectively.
An Able Bodied Seaman (also called an Able Seaman, or just AB for short) works on a ship’s deck and is a rank above an Ordinary Seaman (OS).i also steer the vessel under the guidance of the Deck Officer as well as be of general assistance to the mate they are on watch with.
An AB will also be expected to play an active role in deck operations such as docking, undocking, and line handling and to help with the unloading and loading of cargo when the vessel docks in port.
Maintenance is a large part of an Able Seaman’s job description, as it is for all members of the deck crew. Routine deck maintenance must be undertaken, as will the upkeep of emergency equipment, including life rafts, lifeboats and rescue boats.
Primary job & Responsibilities
* Stand watch as helmsman and lookout & following master order or officer watch.
* Maintain a steady course, properly execute all rudder orders and communicate utilizing navigational terms relating to heading and steering.
* Stand security-related watches, such as a gangway watch or anchor watch while the ship is not underway.
* Perform general maintenance, repair, sanitation and upkeep of material, equipment, and areas in the deck department.
* Maintain ship's metal structures by chipping, scraping, cleaning, priming, and painting.
* Clean, maintain, and repair the hull, decks, superstructure, cargo gear, and smoke stack,and all of accommodations.
* Perform maintenance on lifeboats, rescue boats and life rafts, and emergency and damage control gear.
* Use emergency, lifesaving, damage control, and safety equipment.
* Perform all operations connected with the launching of lifesaving equipment.
* Operate deck machinery, such as the windlass or winches while mooring or unmooring, and to operate cargo gear.
* Navigate ship and maintains visual communication with other ships.
* Lowers or raises lifeboats with winch
* Loading & discharge cargo also operating winch cargo crane.
During the voyage or ship sailing
When the ship was sailing or during the journey
When the ship was sailing near the island, i duty watchkeeping with chief officer. In spare time, I took the time to wash, cleaned the room and I read Al Qur’an at night. Before I took a rest, I watched a movie while I was waiting to feel sleepy. If my captain or officer instructed that our ship sailed in the middle of the ocean or it has passed through the strait, our daily work for 8 hours.
Our daily work was ship maintenance or other cargo maintenance. In addition to this work, we also built a stage for preparing tuna fish processing on board.
When the process of working Tuna Fish on the sea
Each crew member has their own task, starting from raising the fish to the ship, then cutting it into small pieces, then putting it in a cooler with a maximum temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. My position during the processing of tuna fish is as a production staff. whose work includes pulling fish that have been cut, taking out trash and helping the other crew when the group is on stage.finally go down the fish into the freezing room.
When the ship in port
We are the crew deck guards the front of the gangway, checks guests who want to board the ship by showing their id card and checking their body temperature before entering the ship. During the pandemic when ship alongside at European ports, all of our crew were not allowed to travel to the port or land because it wa still at risk of carrying viruses from outside. But the good news was that when our ship alongside at Shimizu port in Japan, we could still take a vacation while buying souvenirs and enjoying the view of Shimizu by riding a bicycle in the afternoon. However, for the Shimizu area only, we were not allowed to use public transportation.
On Vacation
The most awaited moment for every seaman is to return hometown and vacation with family. I usually take my family for a small vacation, spend time with my child while taking care of the documents for the next ship's departure. On the sidelines of the vacation, I also take the time to help my parents supervise their rice fields.