SEAFARING is gradually getting younger.
What the industry has termed “old salts” — or those who have sailed the high seas before the advent of modern technology — have mostly hung their hats and settled for a shore-based career, either as maritime executives or businessmen.
Ships have now passed on to the hands of the younger generation — the Millennials and the occasional Gen Xers. When it comes to representation and technological confidence, however, the former takes center stage.
They are assertive, influential and multi-faceted. By the rate they are going, they might soon join the ranks of industry movers and shakers.
Among these young achievers is Raphael Ian Tan.
His name made waves early this month when he was promoted onboard a bulk carrier as ship captain.
Tan is only 25 years old, the same age when Batangueño Angelo Panganiban was tagged as the “youngest licensed master mariner in the Philippines.”
Was he ever fazed by this achievement? How accepting were his crew members, most of whom were way older than him?
Tan shared his thoughts with The Manila Times while working onboard bulk carrier First Albatross, now underway in the vicinity waters of East Australia.
“I am a bit nervous, but not to the extent that it will impair my judgment and management of my ship, crew and cargo.
“I have always been the youngest crew member onboard ever since I was a cadet until my second contract as chief officer. Yes, there were times when my subordinates who are older would challenge my decisions,” Tan said.
But the young man was born and raised in a seafaring family. His father was a chief engineer. Tan grew up around manning offices surrounded by maritime professionals and seafarers. He knew the mindset of the men working at sea and how to handle their qualms.
“A good leader listens. You have to acknowledge their reasons and feedback and discuss matters before ultimately making a decision. I am fortunate to have a smooth relationship with my crew, who are older than me,” he said.
Tan's promotion to captain was respected and celebrated by his crew.
Everyone witnessed how he underwent a meticulous matrix for the crew acceptance process.
And with sincere gratitude for the opportunity and confidence granted to him by the ship owners, ship managers, and manning executives was a hope that the same chance would be given to other young officers like him.
“I hope this will be a catalyst for a paradigm shift in our industry to let younger individuals take leadership positions both on board and ashore,” he said.
Tan shares the same experiences and challenges as his predecessors — unbearable days of heavy weather at sea, isolation from society, distance from loved ones and the ever-changing shipping regulations. These were all tempered by the advantages of being a seafarer, a competitive salary, beholding foreign shores and different cultures, and being part of an industry that moves the world.
“I was lucky enough to have been with people who are supportive and guided me.
“Until today, regardless of the different companies we are now employed in, we still communicate and bond with each other,” Tan reflected.
Tan is an Ilonggo who graduated from the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) Class 2018. He is passionate about continuous learning and personal development even as he has already reached the pinnacle of his seafaring career.
Tan is a typical millennial — career-driven, composed and perfectionist, balanced with a conscious care for mental health. He likes to end his day with a run to relieve himself of stress.
Today, the young ship captain sails toward his next port of call, confident that good education, training, character and leadership qualities can take him to even greater heights of seafaring.
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