SOME men are made for the sea while others are born for the greater breadth of its entirety as a global industry.
These people have mostly lived through the wrath and wonders of the ocean, crossed the world a hundred times over to bridge trade and commerce, and returned ashore to anchor, the rest of their lives finally figured out.
Such was the case for Filipino ship captain Nebuchadnezzar Rabaya, namesake of the greatest king of Babylon, now known as Iraq.
Filipino ship captain Nebuchadnezzar Rabaya. PHOTO BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR RABAYA
Rabaya took after the steps of his eldest brother, a chief engineer.
He began his maritime journey in the country’s oldest and one of the finest maritime schools, the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. Come 1991, Rabaya was already sailing and experiencing the greatness of the high seas.
The oceans shaped his view of the world and of the maritime industry for the next 25 years aboard various vessels. These included container ships, car carriers, reefer vessels, cruise liners and offshore facilities.
It was during this period when Rabaya realized that he was meant for something different.
“I started teaching for a training center in 2002 while I was on vacation,” he recalled.
The part-time stint became a regular thing for Rabaya until it dawned on him — he is truly made for the maritime industry, albeit, onshore.
“The short contracts for working on offshore facilities allowed me to pursue a master’s degree and prepare for an eventual job on land. This means I would also get to be a part of my children’s life as they grow,” he said.
In 2016, Rabaya finally retired from seafaring.
“It seemed like a stroke of luck. After my graduation, the Norwegian Training Center (NTC) opened a position for training manager. The timing was so perfect,” he said.
Rabaya then poured all his knowledge, experiences and wisdom to the new generation of seafarers reared by NTC. He also introduced pragmatic ways of handling intergenerational leadership and relationship onboard ships through his study “Navigating Leadership Styles: Unveiling the Preferred Style for Filipino Gen Z Seafarers.”
“I love the challenge that this job brings. I get to meet industry leaders and most of all, it is an honor to be part of a dynamic and energetic team,” he said.
NTC is a maritime and offshore training partner to the global shipping community. It was established by the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association in 1990 and was heavily involved in the transfer of modern technology in shipping and ship management principles from Europe to the Philippines.
It is also known for the NSA Cadet Program that develops the next generation of Filipino maritime professionals through scholarship grants and world-class maritime education.
Addressing training challenges
For more than three decades in the industry, Rabaya has observed that some of the most common accidents onboard are a result of seafarer complacency.
“It often arises when seafarers get complacent due to the routine and repetitive nature of tasks. The false sense of security leads to reduced vigilance. This in turn, will result in serious accidents,” he explained.
“This is a challenge in maritime training. There should be a regular and varied training session to keep the skills sharp and emphasize safety protocols. Frequent checks and audits of training centers will also help ensure compliance with all relevant standards. It can also help identify and mitigate complacency,” he added.
While Rabaya acknowledges the grumblings of seafarers about numerous trainings, he advised that advancement in the maritime industry entails patience, hard work and continuous learning.
“There is no shortcut to success. But when we get there, it is also important to remain humble and to count our blessings,” he concluded.
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