Haakon Emil Eide is an engine room apprentice on board Odfjell’s Bow Olympus – a partly sail-powered chemical tanker. (Photo: Gunnar E. Eide)
“I started out as a truck mechanic apprentice and completed my certificate in that field. Afterwards, I joined the Norwegian Royal Navy, and that is where I developed a liking for life at sea,” Haakon says.
Currently, Haakon Emil Eide is back in Norway, but most of the time, he is far from home. Eide works on Bow Olympus, one of Odfjell’s most innovative vessels: Crossing the Atlantic, Bow Olympus is close to carbon neutral, powered by biodiesel and sails. Yes, sails.
“With the current rotation, we spend seven or eight weeks on board, followed by the same amount of time off. That gives you the opportunity to enjoy life at home as well,” Haakon says.
A varied role on board
Haakon works as an engine trainee and takes on a wide range of responsibilities on board the vessel:
“I’m learning safety procedures and HSE, and I carry out the tasks assigned by the chief engineer. I’m gaining insight into maintenance, watchkeeping routines, planning, and safety analyses—especially for hot work.”
“Much of the job involves understanding both Norwegian and English technical terms related to maritime operations. It’s an important step toward preparing for vocational school in the future.”
Haakon chose to work at Odfjell because he saw it as a promising and forward-looking shipping company.
“And I have several family members who work here.”
New encounters and new cultures
At sea, surrounded by blue, one might assume it gets boring when you're not working, but that is not the case.
On Bow Olympus, the crew comes from all over the world. In fact, the ratio is roughly 60/40, with Norwegians in the minority.
Photo: Gunnar E. Eide
“The social environment is great. We watch movies, play ping pong, and find things to do together. It feels like a family on board, that way you manage to balance both work and time with colleagues.”
And of course, the ship takes him to many different places.
“When we get shore leave, the company organizes transport for activities for those who are interested. It can be anything from bowling to sightseeing. Recently, we took our Filipino colleagues up to Fløyen in Bergen – it was really nice to show them my hometown.”
Haakon has just returned home from Houston, Texas. Where will the next port be?
“Exactly where – I’m not quite sure!”
But it will no doubt be a new adventure.
Bow Olympus facts
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Built in 2019 at a shipyard in China: Bow Olympus was built at the Guandong shipyard in China and delivered to Odfjell in 2019. It is a modern chemical tanker equipped for global operations.
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183 meters long and 32 meters wide: As a large deep-sea vessel, Bow Olympus is designed to transport substantial volumes of liquid cargo. Its dimensions allow for effective operation in major ports and across the world’s oceans.
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Equipped with four 22 meter tall suction sails: The large suction sails help propel the ship using wind power, and serve as an energy-saving supplement.
