Meet one of our Shipping Trainees
Article from NORDEN News – winter 2006
“I come from a family of seafarers, so right from my early childhood I have gravitated toward shipping and getting out in the world to meet other cultures and living conditions”, says Christian Hornum, a trainee with NORDEN since August 2005.
“I heard from family and friends that NORDEN was a good company and that training with NORDEN might provide interesting career opportunities – in Denmark as well as abroad. They also told me that it would be time consuming and demanding, and they were right”, he adds.
Headed for the open sea
Christian’s first year as a trainee was with operations in the Tanker Department/the Norient Product Pool. The principal task in this department is to help tankers get in contact with agents and public authorities and with the practical aspects of a voyage.
Subsequently, he spent a month in the Technical Department to learn about the way vessels are constructed, manned and operated as well as on-board procedures.
“Early on, I went on a short voyage with the Aframax tanker NORDATLANTIC from the west coast of Britain to Norway. This gave me a really useful introduction into the procedures on board a vessel and how things are done in practice. The fi re hazard means that there are a number of special safety precautions that have to be adhered to at all times. I went everywhere on the ship and really witnessed the challenges that the captain, the chief engineer and the seamen face, both when at sea and during loading and discharge in port. This has enabled me to be of more help to them subsequently, as I now have more detailed knowledge of their conditions, explains Christian.
Customers, analysis and paperwork
He then spent two months in the control department where he learned about the settlement side and the various paper flows that are necessary to settle a transport correctly with the charterers.
The last year of his training Christian is spending in the Bulk department, where he is involved in chartering Capesize and Panamax bulkcarriers in the South Atlantic, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. “In practice, the work consists of finding suitable cargoes for “open” – i.e. available – vessel days. We arrange the overall framework of the voyage with the customers – when is the vessel to load and discharge, do any special circumstances apply and what will the price be? Operations then take over to make more detailed arrangements with the vessels, ports, agents and authorities, and they follow the vessel’s progress. We also charter vessels to cover new assignments. So I have a lot of contact with customers and do a lot of market analysis, but quite a bit of paperwork, too. No two days are alike”, he says.
In all time zones
“I am not sure yet whether I am more interested in continuing in bulk or tanker; operations or chartering. They each have their strong points. In operations, you have to be on top of all details, be proactive and prepare for different situations, so that nothing comes as a surprise. Also, you are in contact with many different partners – agents, public authorities and our people aboard the vessels. And it is around the clock – we operate in all time zones. It is very fascinating,” says Christian Hornum.
Fast pace
“In chartering, it can be more hectic at times. You are busy and the pace is fast. You make deals, make phone calls and negotiate. And you constantly have to think ahead. What cargo should the vessel have on the next voyage, and the one after that? You have to keep ahead and be in touch with the markets. You have to be analytical in your thinking - see alternatives and opportunities,” he explains.
Long, busy days
“When I started as a trainee in 2005, an HD graduate diploma was not a mandatory part of the training, as it is today. But I have chosen to take an HD graduate degree along with this year’s trainees to learn about useful analysis tools and get a better understanding of economics and market conditions. I don’t for a moment regret this decision, although my studies take up to 15 hours a week on top of my long, busy days at the office,” he proclaims.
Longs to go abroad
When he completes his traineeship, Christian would like to go abroad to experience daily life in a different setting. Where is less important.
“What matters are the professional challenges – the opportunity to test myself. No matter where I end up, I will be able to complete my degree as a distance student,” explains Christian.
Small, large company
“What I like about NORDEN is its corporate culture and the fact that NORDEN is a small, large company where you are able to leave your own mark on your work, if you wish to. Everyone is very open and committed, and you get a lot of direct feedback from your colleagues and your mentor in the department you work in. Our daily life is very international; you may start the day calling someone at our offices in Shanghai, Singapore or Mumbai and end it calling the office in Annapolis, USA or in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” says Christian Hornum.
See our trainee film, featuring second-year trainee Christian Hornum, second-year trainee Nickie Neumann Hansen and first-year trainee Oliver Ritz:
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