FUTURE FEMALE SEAFARERS HIT THE HIGH SEAS ON THE ATLANTIC STAR

Atlantic Container Line’s, ATLANTIC STAR, the combination roll-on/roll-off, containership, Voyage AST 2123/AST 2223, now has two female seafarers-in-training joining the vessel’s twenty officers and crew. Pictured here, Cadet Caroline Janrik boarded the vessel in Antwerp, Belgium and they will be bringing their higher education skills to the open seas.

ACL and the Swedish Shipowners’ Association are proud to provide the practical training for the cadets during a round trip voyage from Europe to North America. The cadets will undertake vessel operations while conducting their academic studies. They will be able to observe and participate in the ship’s activities to learn first-hand what life on board a giant CONRO vessel is like in real time. They have the ability to interact with the ATLANTIC STAR’s officers and crew who will provide a learning experience that is above and beyond any academic environment.

This will be an experience of a lifetime for Cadet Janrik. The ACL G4 combination container/roll-on-roll-off vessel is one of five of the world’s most unique vessels of their kind. The G4s can carry a cargo mix of 3,800 TEUS in containers, 1,000 cars and 4,000 lane meters of aircraft, mining, agricultural and construction equipment, trains, boats, trailers as well as breakbulk cargo.

Luciano Crapanzano, Director Marine Operations, ACL AB Sweden commented: “Deck and engine cadets are important to utilize in the ship’s daily operations and vessel running. They will be taking training supervision with a variety of tasks on board and observe the deck/engine officers in their day-to-day operations of the vessel. ACL’s Parent Company, the Grimaldi Group of Naples Italy, is proud to help ACL participate and support the training and preparation of these young, prospective vessel officers. Grimaldi takes a great interest in the ability to recruit well-trained ship officers.”

The Grimaldi Group is promoting a greater collaboration with maritime educational institutions as well as technology providers. Seafarers must go to sea with the knowledge that the training they receive will benefit them with ship handling, crisis leadership, ship to shore teamwork and mastering technological innovation. Although this sailing experience will not commit the students to ACL in the future, the Company hopes that it will expand the cadets’ view of transportation and will inspire them to become a seafarer full time and begin a career for a life at sea.