A Practical Guide for Trainee Skippers — With Lessons From My Own Journey

Learning to steer a ship is one of the most important steps on your path to becoming a captain.
But it doesn’t happen automatically — and it definitely doesn’t happen overnight.

This chapter is about how to grow onboard, how to earn real steering practice, and how to build the trust that opens doors.

And I know this path very well — because I walked it myself.

⚓ 1. Back in Our Days: Why Learning Was Even Harder

When I was a trainee, the law didn’t allow us to take the exam before 21 years of age.
Today, you can already take the exam at 18 — a huge advantage.

But back then, this meant one thing:

I had several years as a sailor to learn — if I used that time wisely.

And I did.

I came from the Duisburg maritime school as a fully trained sailor, but deep inside I already knew:

**I didn’t want to stay a sailor for long.

I wanted to grow. I wanted to become more.**

So I showed it every single day:

• I worked hard
• I was disciplined
• I took responsibility
• I managed the deck crew
• I earned the respect of my captains

This was the foundation of everything that came later.

🌊 2. How I Earned the Right to Learn Steering

While others went to watch TV or relax after work, I went straight to the wheelhouse.

Every evening.
Every free moment.

I asked the captain:

“Can I steer a little? Can I practice?”

Most of the time, they said yes.

I even volunteered for night shifts so I could steer with the second captain, practice locks, and learn real navigation.

In two years, I learned everything I possibly could.

So when I was promoted to steersman, I already had the skills —
I only needed to focus on the exams and fill in the last missing pieces of route knowledge.

🧭 3. How You Can Earn Your Captain’s Trust Today

Many trainees believe that the captain must teach them.
But that’s not how life onboard works.

A captain teaches the trainee who proves they are worth teaching.

A captain invests in the person who makes his job easier — not harder.

Here’s what captains actually look for:

• You help without being asked
• You take responsibility
• You reduce his workload
• You are reliable and disciplined
• You want to grow, not just “get the license”

What you can offer to earn that trust:

✔️ Learn the paperwork

Offer to help with logbooks, reports, and documents.
This saves the captain time — and shows you want to understand the full job.

✔️ Manage the deck crew

If you can organize the sailors and keep the workflow smooth,
the captain will see leadership potential in you.

✔️ Be disciplined and consistent

Show up on time.
Do your tasks without complaining.
Be the person he can rely on.

✔️ Show long‑term ambition

Make it clear that you’re not just here for a license —
you want to become a real professional.

When you give value, the captain will give you opportunities.

🔍 4. What If the Captain Still Doesn’t Teach You?

Sometimes, even after doing everything right, the captain still doesn’t let you steer.

This is when you need a different approach:

Show that you want to learn — quietly, respectfully, consistently.

Stand beside him during sailing in the wheelhouse with your map.
Observe how he works.
Watch his decisions.

And when the moment is right, ask simple, respectful questions:

• Why do you steer here?
• Why do you choose this side for meeting?
• Why do you prepare for the bend like this?
• Why do you react this way to the current or traffic?

These questions show genuine interest — not pressure.

But keep it balanced.
Don’t interrupt, don’t overwhelm him, don’t push too hard.

If after all this nothing changes, then the problem is not you.

🚪 5. When It’s Time to Move On

Sometimes you do everything right — you help, you learn, you ask questions, you take responsibility —
and still, you are not given any opportunity to grow.

This is an important signal.

If half a year passes and nothing changes, the issue is not your attitude — it’s the environment.

If:

• you are still not allowed to steer
• you receive no guidance or explanation
• you see no progress in your skills
• the captain clearly has no interest in training you

then it’s time to move on.

This is not failure.
This is a decision to protect your future.

Your career is too valuable to waste in a place where you cannot grow.

A good captain recognizes talent and supports development.
If you don’t receive that support, you must find a ship where you will.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Learning to steer is a journey — one that requires patience, discipline, and the right environment.
If you stay focused, stay curious, and take responsibility, you will grow faster than you think.

And here is one more truth I learned along the way:

**Until you reach the position of Second Captain, don’t slow down.

Keep grinding, keep pushing, keep learning.**

Because once you become a Second Captain,

**every door will open for you —

and only then can you finally ease off the throttle and start enjoying life a little more.**

Your future is worth the effort.
And we’re here to support you every step of the way.