In October I sent a message to Thomas Lindegaard Madsen, the captain of Venta Maersk, and asked if I can send him ten questions. In Steveco's personnel magazine we have a series of columns 10 questions to a partner. He answered yes.

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1. Who are you and what do you do for living?

I am a Captain in Maersk container ships.

2. What are the good things about your job?

There are many good things about my job, the work is intense, but when I am off and at home, I have long vacations. I love sailing and see new places, but also returning to my favourite places. Life on board the ship is good with nice colleagues and teamwork, a mix of daily routines and daily challenges.

3. What was your dream job when you were a kid?

My dream job as a child was to become an airline pilot. But because I used glasses as a child, I knew that would not be possible. So I went for the sea Captain in stead.

4. You visit our Kotka container terminal quite often. Do You remember Your first visit?

Yes, my first visit to Kotka was in February 2018 and it was -22 degrees, ice and snow, sunshine and blue skies and very cold, but also very beautiful. Since then, I have been so lucky to experience that many times again.

5. How did the port and Venta Maersk look like from the crane?

My tour up the gantry crane was fantastic, and it gave me a totally different view on the Venta Maersk and the port, not only visually. I normally always see everything from the bridge of the ship and think of it as the centre of everything. Looking from the gantry crane and listening to the crane driver Joni Hampus explaining, that of course became the centre of everything, the cargo hold of the ship and the cargo operation. In the crane, it is the crane driver who is the “Captain” on his “Bridge”.

6. Have you had time to get to know Kotka more widely?

Through the years I have been to Kotka many times, and the crew and I always love to go ashore there. On board the ship we have several bicycles and electric scooters for the crew to use when going ashore. We often go to the shopping mall in the city centre, around in the parks or by the marina. We have seen the Maritime Museum with the veteran icebreaker and we have taken the crew to the cinema a couple of times. As an alternative to the town, I personally enjoy running in the forrests of Mussalo and sometimes even jump in the water for a swim.

7. How does your good day start?

My day on board starts at 06 every morning with coffee and checking emails. Then I call my husband back home in Copenhagen to say good morning, before I go the bridge to have a small morning meeting with the Chief Officer, Chief Engineer and Second Engineer. There we discuss the plans for the day, before we go to breakfast 0730. Then we are sure we all start at the same page for the day.

8. How do you relax and recharge your batteries on board and at home?

The best way for me to relax is in fact to run! On board I use the tread mill in the ship’s gym, at home I run in the nature.

9. Is there something particularly close to your heart?

My husband and my family are off course always on my mind and in my heart, especially because I am far away from home half of the year.

On board, it is the safety and the welfare of the crew that is most important to me. I try to be as open and approachable as possible, so they can always come to me.

10. What is the nicest compliment you have received because of your cooking?

I make some quite good “Moules Mariniéres” and have my own secret ingredients. Every time I serve it to my friends, the call it “Captains Moules” and clap their hands!