Janek is 41 years old, comes from Berlin and works as a helmsman on Volantis in Liquid Shipping. He first became aware of working on barges because his father regularly assisted on his sailing boat. Janek’s apprenticeship as a barge skipper began in 2001 with an owner-operator.
For the last 10 months he then moved to what is now HGK Shipping, where he successfully completed his apprenticeship. Due to back problems, he interrupted his barge career in 2012 and took up studies in industrial engineering. Nevertheless, he continued working with HGK Shipping during the semester breaks. After a couple of semesters Janek decided to return to working full-time on the barges.
Constantly in motion on the deck
To stay in good shape, Janek does sport every day. He enjoys the physical movement on the deck, and for this reason he hopes to continue working as a helmsman. Nevertheless, he has gained the certifications required for becoming a captain. ‘I can only advise anyone to get all the certifications they can.’
One advantage of the shift system is that he is at his place of work straight away and does not have to spend time commuting. Another plus for him is the independence his work allows, albeit within the fixed procedures his job entails. The free-time arrangements appeal to him strongly and offer possibilities that no ‘ordinary’ job has.
A fan of travelling – and dogs
In his spare time he enjoys music, travelling and his dog. As a music producer he has worked with a number of his own artists at a local level. While he was studying he decided to satisfy his wish and got himself a dog. His choice of a Rhodesian Ridgeback meant a breed that requires a lot of walking and is not always easy to manage.
When he is working on the boat, his mother takes care of the dog. Since acquiring the dog he has had to cut back somewhat on his travelling. Previously he went backpacking often in Africa with friends. For him, South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries. One day, he can well imagine, he could go and live there.
I can only recommend everyone to obtain all possible patents.
After his shift he likes to walk his dog. Apart from that, he has a large plot of land to maintain. ‘So I don’t get bored on the non-working shifts.’ He appreciates the dependability he finds in HGK Shipping. When he was still working on the push boats, he already took pleasure in sharing his knowledge with others. That is currently not possible on Volantis because there are not enough sleeping berths available. In future, however, Janek can well imagine helping to teach apprentices again.