The correspondent of “The Maritime Telegraph” met the director of the crewing company “V.Ships Ukraine”, Captain, Ph.D. in Engineering, Professor, Master of Sports of the USSR in boxing Mr. Igor Safin and found out how he had achieved such a success. Also, we wondered what the head of one of the largest crewing agencies in Ukraine and such a famous person was generally fond of.
MT: Where were you born, studied? What education did you get?
І. Safin: I was born on April 22, 1963, Brest region, Belarus. At that time my grandfather performed military duties in that region, so my mother visited him however at the age of one month I was registered in Odessa.
My mother was a nurse, my father worked as an engineer on the BLASCO fleet. In 1980 I finished Odessa’s secondary school No. 69 in Odessa. The same year I joined the Odessa Higher Engineering Marine School (Odessa Maritime Academy now) the faculty of Navigation and after the graduation in 1986, I was directed to work in rank of a fourth officer on the BLASCO fleet. Actually, I had also gained a sea experience sailing in ranks of cadet, OS and AB during my studying.
From 1986 to 1996 I grew through the ranks from the 4th Officer to the Chief Officer position on BLASCO vessels. My first voyage in capacity of Master was on a container ship “Grigory Kozintsev” in June 1996. During that voyage the vessel left BLASCO management and entered the “V.Ships” management. I had been sailing in the Master’s rank for 4 years. During my voyage on board of m/v “Tower Bridge” in 2000 I was offered a position of Managing Director of the Odessa office I agreed as it was interesting for me and the next step of my maritime career. Eventually, I started my work in “V.Ships” being ashore. At that time we had a small office in 7, Pushkinskaya Str. There were only about 25 vessels and about 600 seafarers onboard. Our company has accomplished much since then: now we have more than 3 000 seamen on board and we employ about 7 000 Ukrainian seafarers annually doing our best to assure the performance. Today “V.Ships Ukraine” is not only one of the biggest crewing company in Ukraine but has a reputation as the reliable agency.
MT: Did the work in BLASCO differ from the work in V.Ships?
I.Safin: The systems were somehow similar, but there was more paper work in “V.Ships”. It was a kind of challenge to get a job under a foreign flag as all documents and manuals were in English. Sufficient knowledge of English was compulsory in order to understand all instructions and procedures and work with manuals.
MT: Have you dreamt of becoming a seaman since you were a child or did your father want you to take after his steps?
I.Safin: I dreamt of becoming a captain since I was a child. It is a popular dream of almost every boy in Odessa. I knew I would enter ONMA since a second class of the primary school.
MT: Do you often meet schoolmates, fellow students?
I.Safin: Yes, we are friends with fellow students from Maritime Academy. Frankly speaking in April, 2016 I organized the 30th Anniversary celebration of graduates from the Nautical School and all guys who were ashore gathered there. Some of them came from other countries as we haven’t seen for 30 years!
MT: Was it difficult to hold such a responsible position as a director of the crewing company from the very beginning?
I.Safin: Actually knowing the sea specifics and having a great experience as a Captain, it wasn’t difficult for me to master such a position. I knew a ship from in and out that’s why I was able to cope with management heading the office, though there was much to learn.
MT: Did your parents help you to become who you are now?
I.Safin: Sure, it all lies in good breeding and education which were given by my parents. I am thankful to my mother who showed me the way to the boxing club. As it has been already mentioned – I am a Master of Sports of the USSR. I believe any kind of sport rears the willand aspiration for winning. I became who I currently am as a result of huge parents’ efforts dedicated to me.
MT: What kinds of sports do you do except boxing? Are you fond of hunting, fishing?
I.Safin: I had gone for swimming for three years before I started boxing. But swimming turned out to be boring for me. So, I chose boxing as it is a combat sport, which challenges your will and power. I’d been seriously practicing boxing for more than 10 years. Currently, I used to have workouts 3 times per week as well as visiting a gym and a boxing club.
I have never gone hunting, but I do like fishing. Being fond of spearfishing which usually takes place at nighttime I rarely have an opportunity for that due to my workload. You know, there is a good place nearby to the port of Illychevsk with lots of local fish. We usually dive in a cold season and in the summertime I prefer to dive for rapan-seashell at the depth of 5-6 meters.
MT: What is the success secret of the “V.Ships Ukraine”? What kind of person could manage such a large company and drive the stuff effectively?
I.Safin: The company is successful because of the great team. The whole office staff grew up inside the company. Our top managers used to work as captains and chief engineers on different types of vessels. V. Ships Training Center is based on high knowledge of instructors, who are captains and chief engineers as well. Most of Crew Coordinators made their way from receptionists. Therefore such an individual approach helps me to create a well-coordinated working process. Also, we mentor employees’ interchangeability. Each teammate can be replaced in case of sick leave, vacation or business trip. Career development within the company is one of our achievements as it impacts the quality of work. Recently the Top Management from the Head office has recognized V.Ships Ukraine as the most efficient crewing office within V.Ships network. That is a merit and admission of all V.Ships Ukraine team!
MT: Is it possible to apply for a job in your company right after graduation a Maritime Academy?
I.Safin: Speaking English language on a high profession level is one of the main requirements for employment as Shipping Industry communicates only in English.
There are 7 employees in our office who graduated ONMA, the faculty of Law and Management and 5 people with a degree in Law. We hire students for training in this office and employ the most successful ones. Mostly they are lawyers and interpreters from Odessa National University but not engineers or navigators from Maritime Academy. We consider the level of maritime English and the crewing working process can be taught within the company.
MT: Does “V.Ships Ukraine” participate in charity events, projects?
I.Safin: Over the last 10 years “V.Ships(Ukraine)” has been sponsoring the Odessa Maritime Academy,Odessa Maritime College of Technical Fleet and Maritime College named after O. I. Marinesko . 120 thousand dollars sponsorship is invested in modern simulators for the Maritime Schools annually. Also Full Mission Bridge, Cargo Handling, GMDSS and Engine Room were bought for ONMA classes. Together with “MSC Ukraine” “V.Ships Ukraine” presented 6 navigation bridges for practicing RADAR and ARPA to the Maritime Academy in 2015. Last year was focused on fitting workshops with new lathes for engineers as per Rector’s request. We launched a workshop with new machines and tools for Engineering Department in ONMA at the end of December. Also, we help the Odessa Maritime College of Technical Fleet and “Marinesko” Maritime College. A couple of years ago a computer class was opened in the Maritime College and we also presented an interactive board, which they had planned to use only for English classes. Nowadays it has been adopted in different spheres. The main idea of all these projects is to bring up well qualified officers in order to meet high standards and be able to compete the global job market in future.
We are involved in sport sponsorship. We sponsor athletics tournament for Aleksandr Marinesko’s prizes Every April, which is held by Ukrainian Submariners Association. We also help such organizations as BLASCO veterans, Odessa Association of Navigators and Engineers, the Red Cross and disabled people as much as we can.
MT: Are you still a Head of the State commission?
I.Safin: I worked as a Head of the OMCTF State commission from 2009 till 2012 keeping up a strict knowledge assessment approach. I do believe officers with poor knowledge shouldn’t be graduated. Firstly, it is all aboutsafety of the vessel and people on board!
Being the Head required a lot of time. It was necessary to spend a month for full time and a month for part time students besides my permanent job.
MT: There is a number of scientific works authored by you. How did you come you want to be engaged in such activities?
I. Safin: Vladimir Golikov, the Vice-Rector on Scientific Work (ONMA), advised to go in for this field when I had begun my career in “V.Ships” ashore. He was sure it would be great for me to be engaged into such an activity. My thesis for Ph.D. in Engineering was completed in 2004. Currently, I am a Professor of the National Maritime Academy. I mentor for three Ph.D. students as I am their thesis advisor. One of them has already defended his work, the second student will defend in February 2017.
MT: How do you spend your free time? Do you like to travel?
I.Safin: I try to spend my free time with my friends and my family, though I check my e-mails even on vacation at least one – twice a day. I answer urgente-mails or delegate it to the office as efficiency and reliability are our office work style.
Sometimes we travel. I have been fond of Dominican Republic and Southeast Asia since I worked as the Junior Officer on container vessel “Mechanic Bardetsky” on the line: the Black Sea – Italy – Saudi Arabia – Singapore – Hong Kong line. Frankly speaking, Singapore attracts me even with its smell. We live in present – Singapore and Hong Kong live one step ahead.
MT: What music do you like?
I.Safin: I love chanson and disco of the 80th music and if the circumstances allow I like to visit concerts.
MT: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What are your future aspirations?
I.Safin:In general I don’t consider any significant changes within coming 10 years. The only thing I wish is further growing and development of the Company. For example, recently while comparing several vessels’ budgets, which have recently entered our management – it appeared Ukrainian seafarers in full Ukrainian crew were more attractive for shipowners. We should do our best to increase a number of workplaces for Ukrainian officers and ratings as well in the global maritime market. Ukrainian seafarers are given a great opportunity to develop by the means of modern technologies having a good potential, education and maritime traditions.The global labor market has a deficit of skilled manpower in the quantity of about 20 000 Officers. Ukrainian seafarers are able to fulfill the gap under certain conditions: having a good knowledge of the English language and being highly qualified officers.
As per the results 2015 in the National Maritime Rating in Ukraine the “V.Ships Ukraine” won in two nominations: Employer of the Year and Cadet Program of the Year. During 2015 we had employed and trained 552 cadets. Keep going on the same track!
MT: How would you advise to start a career to a person who has neither powerful parents nor money, but strong mind and desire for developing in order to achieve success?
I.Safin: Firstly, it is all about secondary school, studying should be well treated. It’s quite difficult to master engineering without appropriate school knowledge. Subjects regarding profession are essential as well as English learning. Knowledge of the English language is a necessity nowadays. This question is quite difficult because educational system must be reviewed. It is great if your parents have an opportunity to afford extra English lessons or specialized schools, courses. Now bigger part of applicants pay much attention to mathematics forgetting physics, but in this course of events you won’t understand engineering processes which happen on the vessel. I do recommend to pay attention to such subjects as physics and theoretical mechanics.
MT: What traits should a person possess to become successful?
I.Safin: First of all, it is necessary to be healthy. Systematical exercises, let it be at least jogging, punching bag, swimming pool may easily help you to reach this goal. As we all know – “a sound mind in a sound body”. Don’t forget to practice your willpower, to be purposeful and to achieve desired aims.
MT: If you had caught a golden fish what wishes would you have had?
I.Safin: It is hard to say. I would have wished to live in peace, having a good level of life, people having worthy jobs and turning to the civilized way of development. It would be not only our future but also the future of our children and grandchildren.
