29-year-old Mosese Raloga from Makadru village, Matuku, Lau wants to be a maritime pilot.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun, he said he would work hard to make his dream come true.

He was brought up in Suva as his father worked for the government and his mother was a housewife.

Mr Raloga to fulfill his dream he took science subjects while at Suva Grammar School where he finished off as a sixth former in 2004.

In 2005 he applied to join the apprentice school under Government Shipping Services (GSS) in January and was called for an interview in February.

Twenty of them were successful in there interview and were eligible to attend a one month pre-sea training at GSS. This training included First Aid at sea, survival techniques,

Firefighting and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).

At the end of March 2015, he boarded the vessel Iloilovatu doing his industrial attachment as a deck apprentice.

In 2006, he went to do his first stage academy at Fiji Maritime Campus in Laucala. He said from stage 1 he went through all the units up to stage 5.

“In stage 1, I learn the basics of navigation, cargo works and nautical knowledge,” he said.

According to Mr Raloga it took him six months to complete this before going out for his industrial attachment in stage 2.

He did his stage 2 industrial attachment on the vessel Raiyawa. This vessel he said was always engaged in navigation and light house maintenance.

His work in the vessel included:

Cleaning of the wheel house

Filling of the deck-log-book

Cargo work

Engaged with navigation watch with deck officer.

Mr Raloga said, while doing his attachments in this vessel, the officers who were in charge helped with his assignments. He managed to pass his stage 2.

He carried on with his stage 3 theory class for another six months. Stage 3 he said was just a continuation from stage 1.

The Makadru villager did his stage 4 industrial attachment on the same vessel Raiyawa.

He said they had to complete and pass 12 assignments in every stage to qualify for the next one.

Mr Raloga  managed to complete his stage 4 industrial attachment and was eligible to sit for his stage 5 theory classes. In 2008, he sat for his theory and oral exam, and passed both.

He graduated in Diploma in Nautical Science in 2009.

From May 2009 to February 2010, he did his international sea time on the international vessel Captain Cook. This vessel according to Mr Ralago always transports bulk cargoes from Australia to Fiji.

In this vessel, Raloga worked has a deck cadet. As deck cadet, he mostly deals with navigation, cargo operation, and ship maintenance and on board trading.

While with Captain Cook he visited Australia and China where the vessel sailed to most of the time.

“I will be home after one and a half months to see my family.”

He completed his international sea time and stayed home for two months and applied for posts advertise in the dailies.

In May 2010 he received a call from GSS to join them and at the same time he sat for his watch keeper oral exam at Maritime.

GSS offered him a work as Ordinary Seaman for six months and focused on ship maintenance and cargo work.

According to SeamanJobsite.com  “the Ordinary Seaman (OS) works in the deck department of the ship. He is one of the unlicensed members of the deck department and the main duty is maintaining the cleanliness of the whole ship. He serves as the assistant of the Able Seaman and can be assigned to do any of the various tasks in the ship.

Being an ordinary seaman is an apprenticeship for one to be promoted as able seaman. An ordinary seaman should work for a specific period referred to as “sea time” before he will be allowed to take certain courses and trainings to gain a higher rank.”

At the end of December 2010, he was given the opportunity to serve as a deck officer on all government vessels and mainly the Iloilovatu.

He was part of the delivery crew of the last four government vessels that were bought from overseas.

These included;

Dredonu:  2013 from South Korea

Sigavou:  2014 from Malaysia

Vunilagi: 2014 from Malaysia

Cagivou : 2015 from Malaysia

In March 2011 Raloga sat for his Master Class 3 at the Maritime School. From 2010 to 2013, he continued to work as second mate and chief mate in all government vessels.

In July 2014 he served master on the vessel Iloilovatu.

He also served as master on the vessel Rogovoka.

In 2015 he was offered to master the new vessel Cagivou.

On this vessel Mr Raloga said he visited all parts of Fiji and Rotuma. He transported government officers to outer islands and his vessel was also engaged in post Cyclone Winston works.

He lost his mother in 2008 and his father in 2014.

Mr Raloga  loves visiting Lau and Yasawa Island because of the environment and climate in these two islands.

His work depends on government bookings.

He said the master’s role was a huge responsibility as he looked after the vessel, the welfare of the crew and passengers. “Team work is one of the main objects I always encourage the crew to do when out at work.”

Raloga wants to further his studies in two three years’ time in Australia or New Zealand as the courses he wants are not offered in Fiji.

Mr Raloga just recently got married, and is expecting a child soon.

His wife is very supportive to him.

Raloga’s advice to young students who want to be a seaman – “Choose the right subjects in school. Follow what your heart desires. Take technical science in school. You need to know your goal and work for it. Without a goal you are lost.”

According to wikipedia a  pilot is a mariner who manoeuvres ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths, and completes the berthing / unberthing operation of the ships by controlling the ship’s maneuverability directly and the tugs and shore linesmen through a radio. Pilots are expert shiphandlers who possess detailed knowledge of local waterways. They are transported by high speed pilot boats or helicopter from shore to an inbound ship and from an outbound ship back ashore. Most ports have compulsory pilotage.

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