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With the new ambassador program SeaYou, the Association of German Shipowners (VDR) aims to specifically attract young people to careers in shipping. A total of 16 ambassadors from eight different shipping companies provide insights into their professional daily lives, both on board container ships, freighters, tugs, and research vessels, as well as from the offices of the shipping companies.
The ambassadors share their experiences on the VDR’s Instagram channel at @reederverband. There, they present their experiences in the form of images, texts, reels, and stories. In addition to digital communication, they are also active at events, where they report on shipping, answer questions, and showcase career perspectives.
Insights into Maritime Professions
“With the program, we give young people from shipping a voice,” explain Holger Jäde, training officer, and Carsten Duif, press spokesman for the VDR. They emphasize that authentic impressions from practice and the perspective of professionals are crucial to spark young people’s interest in shipping. The program aims to illustrate how diverse and relevant maritime professions are.
The ambassadors come from various sectors of shipping. This includes officers, ship engineers, ship mechanics, trainers, and shipping merchants, representing the full spectrum of maritime professional life.
One of the ambassadors, Denise Schneider (30), a ship mechanic at F. Laeisz and currently on board the research vessel *POLARSTERN*, describes her motivation: “Shipping was my childhood dream. As a ship mechanic, I experience daily the power, responsibility, and fascination of working at sea. With SeaYou, I want to show that one should have the courage to follow their path.”
Felix Schaffer (30), a trainer and chief engineer at Fairplay Towage Group, highlights the challenges and rewards of life and work on board: “Life and work on board demand both physically and mentally. However, those who remain curious and open receive an infinite amount in return. I want to pass on this experience.”
The program is supported by young professionals from various shipping companies and enterprises, including F. Laeisz, Fairplay Towage Group, NSB GROUP, Briese Research, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Reederei Hartmann, AIDA, and Lotsbetriebsverein.
For more information, the VDR website is available:
