When you work on board, do you just listen to the officers’ order or the orders from both the officers and the Bosun?

I listen to the orders from both but should remember that the Bosun is my direct superior.

During change of tide in port, what are the most important things you have to watch out for?

The most important things I have to watch out for are the safety and condition of the accommodation ladder, mooring lines and rat guards.

Do you like drinking? As far as you know, what is the maximum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rate on board?

According to the STCW95, the BAC shall not be more than 0.08% by weight any time when being tested, but the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) requires the BAC to be no more than 0.04% in US ports. Watch-keepers are not allowed to drink any alcoholic beverage 4 hours before their watch. Besides, when bunkering, loading and unloading, mooring and unmooring, 4 hours before and after port all, the sailor on board cannot have any alcoholic drinks.

How long have you been an AB? On board how many ships have you worked as an AB?

For ten years and six ships.

When you are steering, what should be especially careful about?

I should pay full attention to the helm without doing something else and listen to the instruction of the duty officer any time.  At the same time, if I do not understand the orders from the officers, I shall ask for clarification. Whenever I find something unusual or something that I cannot deal with, I will ask for help from the duty officers or the Master.