Meet the crew Name: Joost Apswoude Age: 21 Home town: Vogelenzang Job on board: Trainee Secundary education: LTS-metaal C/D level at Hillegom (a technical education) Professional education: Maritime officer at the MBO at IJmuiden (Nova college) Interests/best trip yet: With the "Happy Rover" from Schevening to New York and through the Panama Canal to Wakkanai (Japan). Joost: I am trainee on board the m.s. "Happy Rover". I have always wanted to go to sea, although there is no one in the family that serves as a role model: nobody ever was a sailor. I have almost finished my traineeship, only some 2 months to go. I hope (of course after a well-earned break) to sail as an MO3 even if my preference lies in the engine room. Presently I join in with the tasks on deck, in the pictures I'm busy with the monthly lubrication rounds. In the evening I join the First Officer on his watch on the bridge. Previously I sailed on the m.s. "Lemmergracht".

Name: Nordin Benamar Age: 27 Home town: Amsterdam Job on board: 3rd officer Secundary education: HAVO Professional education: Maritiem officier at the MBO at IJmuiden (Nova college) and HBO at Amsterdam.(HvA) Nordin Benamar: I started the courses for Maritime Officer at the Nova College at IJmuiden and after graduating for the middle level exams, I moved on to the Hogeschool van Amsterdam for the study of Maritime Officer. Once I graduated from this study (in 2 years) I applied with Spliethoff in Amsterdam. Because of my special interest in heavy cargoes I was able to sail with the m.s. "Happy Rover". Being the 3rd officer on board, it is my job to check and maintain all security and safety equipment. Besides that you keep watch independently at sea or together with the Master when going into port, in narrow waters or in bad weather. In port, when loading or unloading the 3rd officer is mainly occupied with driving the cranes. And in our spare time we try to get on shore as soon as possible, together with other crew, to see what the place has to offer (we often end up in a bar). Kind regards, Nordin Benamar

Alex Barrientos Age: 30 Job on board: A/B - fitter My name is Alex Barrientos and I was born in Roxas City which is in the Philippines. I'm married and have a 3 year old son. I'm the 5th of my family (9 brothers and 1 sister). I finished my elementary & high school at the province of Capiz. After that I did my maritime training on the Philippines Maritime Institute and graduated in Bachelor Marine Engineer in the year 1991-92. After sailing as apprentice and as oiler I changed crewing agency and found a job as wiper onboard the Happy River in 1997. On the next vessel (also Happy Rover) I was promoted as an A/B. Then after a vacation I went onboard Happy Buccaneer as an A/B fitter and after this ship I 'm back onboard Happy Rover again. My jobs are, beside the skills of an A/B like painting and cleaning, cutting, welding, grinding and maintenance. I work for Spliethoff/BigLift already for 4 years. Alex Barrientos

Arjan van 't Hof Age: 34 Job on board: Chief Officer A Chief officer on board a heavy cargo vessel has a lot of responsibilities. He is responsible for the loading or unloading operations on deck, maintenance of the vessel, assembling the 'shopping' lists, keeping check of working hours for all crew, educating trainees and at sea, of course, he has to do his bit as sea watch. A first officer will not be bored easily ! The most interesting part is, of course, the load and discharge operation. This requires concentration, improvisation skills, insight and much patience. Heavy cargo can't just be moved aside very quickly. Many first officers, therefore, claim that their job is the best on board.

Michael Verstraten Age: 25 Job on board: 2nd Engineer A 2nd Engineer is one of those responsible for the complete technical installation on board. And on a vessel like the "Happy Rover" that amounts to quite something. In the mornings you keep the 04:00 - 08:00 and in the afternoon the 16:00 to 20:00. When keeping watch you check the status of all systems. Furthermore, a 2nd Engineer keeps tally of the working hours and maintenance schedule of the auxiliary engines. There are three auxiliary engines on board as well as an emergency generator. In the ports you and the other engineers see to the regular maintenance of the main engine (such as drawing cylinders) and connected systems. On the picture I'm working on the lathe and with the ODR (operating data record), checking the peak pressures of the main engine.

Arjen Perdok Age: 24 Job on board: 2nd Officer This is Arjen's first trip as 2nd Officer. A 2nd Off immediately bears a lot of responsibilities. A 3rd Off also keeps watch by himself, but he always has the master readily available should anything go wrong. A 2nd Off keeps the 00:00 - 04:00 and in the afternoon the 12:00 - 16:00. That means that (especially at night) the Master is asleep. Except for a night-reveller, most of the crew is also in their bunks. Only the 3rd Eng and the 2nd Off are on duty. The responsibility for the whole vessel ! Therefore it is important that a 2nd Off is reliable and calls the captain when necessary. Apart from his sea watch, a 2nd Off is also responsible for keeping/correcting the sea charts and documentation (the documentation bit, by the way, is often immediately delegated to the 3rd off....) Furthermore, in cooperation with the master he makes a voyage plan. Add to all these tasks maintenance, driving one of both 400 tonne cranes when loading/unloading, checking the cargo, etc. etc. and it will be clear that as a 2nd Officer you can have a very interesting job while still young !

Napoleon Tanag Age: 51 Job on board: Boatswain, nowadays written as: Bosun A bosun is an important person on board. He is the link between the 1st Officer and the crew. He "collects the work" every morning and divides it among the sailors. He is the contact person for work, when there are difficulties or for other matters. A good bosun makes life a lot easier for the 1st Officer. Bosun Tanag can be called a Spliethoff veteran by now ! Bosun Tanag: " I started working for Spliethoff Beheer at 6th of january 1989 and at present I'm at Happy Rover as bosun. So I'm working for Spliethoff for almost 13 years! Actually my career started in 1970 at Batangas, Philippines. I'm married and having two sons. One of 24 and one of 19 years old. One is electronic engineer and the other a computer scientist. They are both professionals. That's all, now I've got to get ready doing some work"

Ciriaco M. Tabino Age: 39 Job on board: Cleaning/painting Engineroom, other maintenance in ER Ciriaco: "I'm married and have two children, a girl (12) and a boy (8). My parents are both teachers. We are raised as christians. I'm interested in reading books, playing guitar and playing basketball. I live in the Western part of the Philippines, a hundred miles away from Manila. Our native dialect is "Ilongo", the main product in our district is sugar. Our island is, due to many sugar plantations, also known as Island of the sweet. After finishing elementary and high school, I graduated from Maritime Engineering at Visayan Maritime Academy in 1984 - 1986. I started my career as an apprentice mate on inter-island vessels. In 1989 I started on Greek vessels as an oiler. I have been with Spliethoff/BigLift for 4 years. Guess who influenced me to become a seaman? It was my brother. He always told me: you can see the whole world for free! That's why I followed in his footsteps." Ciriaco M. Tabino

Krister van den Berg Age: 21 Job on board: 3rd engineer Krister: "This is my first voyage on a BigLift vessel. Before this I sailed on 4 Spliethoff vessels. All in all, I have been at sea for about 2.5 years. My education is Secundary school followed by the Nautical college in Rotterdam. Here on board I am 3rd engineer. Apart from my 00:00 - 04:00 watch I carry out the so-called weekly duties. They consist of testing for instance the outboard motor of the MOB boat, testing the emergency fire-extinguishing pump, checking the batteries, etc."

Julian Olivas Age: Hard to tell Function on board: Photographer Julian was born in a bamboo house in a small village in the northernmost part of the Philippines that is battered by typhoons many times a year and also gets hot as an oven the rest of the time. He emigrated to the United States when he was sixteen and now heads his own New York City-based business " Air-to-Ground", Sea-Land-Air Photography. He is an Architect, Helicopter Pilot, And a Photographer .... vocations that allow him to pursue his love of adventure and the outdoors, and interest in the relationships between man, machines, and his environment. He is a keen bicyclist and could be seen in all seasons moving about New York on his bicycle, doing his errands, photographing the city he loves. This is also his preferred mode of transport when he visits other cities like Amsterdam for instance. He is passionate about music, plays the guitar and harmonica, and is working on someday becoming proficient on the violin like his father and on the piano like his mother. This is his first time ever on a ship on an ocean voyage. So far he has avoided becoming seasick contrary to his shipmate's predictions. It has been an eye-opening experience for him and he has expressed the desire to explore this world of water more in the future. He particularly likes the bridge at night, watching the ship fly on the water as she negotiates the swells, spreading wings of foam into the darkness. He lives in Manhattan with his life-partner Jane.

Avelino Fuentes Age: 39 Function on board: Sailor Avelino: I am Avelino Fuentes, married and blessed with 3 kids. I was born on the 11th june 1963 in Ozamiz City (Philippines). I am graduated in highschool only. In the Philippines I have a small bussiness too: supplying farmproducts. I started sailing when I was 18 years on inter island vessels. In 1987 I shifted to worldwide shipping. First on Japanese vessels. I applied and accepted to Sealanes in March 1997. My first Spliethoff vessel was m.v. Lemmergracht. Nice atmosphere and nice people onboard! This vessel was followed by Levantgracht, Project Europa and Happy Rover where I am now. I'm planning working at sea for the coming 5 years. Hopefully I have then enough money to start some small business in the Philipinnes, being always with my family..."

Harald van Winssen Age: 21 Function on board: Trainee Harald: "I started sailing as a holiday worker with Spliethoff on the Keizersgracht and the Egelantiersgracht. Hereafter I thought I might like to sail on a heavy-lift vessel for my traineeship. By now, I've been on board the Happy Rover for 5 months and I enjoy it very much. Therefore, I asked if I could possibly stay a bit longer. Presently, I work in the Engine room. I want to take the final decision for a career in the ER or on deck after my traineeship. My previous education is Secondary school and thereafter Maritime highschool in Rotterdam (MBO-Maroff). My jobs in the ER are for instance task book ER reports, assisting in starting / stopping of various engines, assisting in maintenance and repair of engines and pumps and numerous other jobs."

Dexter L. Vergara Age: 32 Function on board: Sailor "I was born in Quezon City, Philippines as 2nd of 3 kids. I have a brother and a sister. I finished my grade & high school into a private catholic school in La Union, northern part of the Phillipines. After graduating my Maritime school I started sailing on Greek ships as an O/S (ordinary seaman). After sailing on 8 Greek vessels I decided to apply into Sealanes Agency. I was accepted and sent to the Happy Rover. Although my contract was 10 months I stayed 18 months onboard. The atmosphere was good and so was the money! After this 18 months I took a break. Now I'm again on Happy Rover as A/B (able Seaman). Hobbies? Listening mellow touch music, reading and playing basketball eventhough I'm not tall enough for that game. I like sailing because I see the world and making more money than working on Philippine-ships"