When Experience at Sea Opens New Opportunities Ashore
Some journeys take unexpected turns. After more than a decade at sea and working his way from Cadet to Chief Engineer, Ole Berg felt ready for his next challenge.
Today, he continues his career ashore as a Technical Superintendent (TSI), using the experience, practical knowledge and perspective gained at sea to support vessels and crews in a new way. His story shows how the skills developed onboard can continue creating value long after stepping ashore.
A Role at the Heart of Operations
As TSI, Ole is responsible for the technical operation of four vessels. From communication and budgeting to planning surveys, maintenance and repairs, his role is to ensure that vessels have the support they need to operate safely and efficiently.
“In many ways, we act as a support function for the vessels. If a problem arises onboard, or something is needed, the crew reaches out to us ashore. From there, it is our responsibility to find the right solution and ensure that the necessary support, expertise or equipment reaches the vessel.”
Moving his career from sea to shore, Ole has gained a new understanding of what it means to work on land:
“When I was sailing, I had a hard time imagining what a TSI could spend an entire day doing. Today, I have a completely different perspective. With responsibility for several vessels, all of which need ongoing support and periodic dockings, there is always plenty to do, both in terms of planning and day-to-day operations. It’s a role that is both exciting and challenging, and one that constantly keeps you engaged.”
Using Onboard Experience Ashore
One of Ole’s greatest strengths in his role comes from having spent years working onboard himself. Having worked his way from cadet to Chief Engineer, he understands both the technical challenges and the realities crews face in their day-to-day work.
“The biggest advantage is that I understand the reality onboard. I find that things which may seem small from shore can be something entirely different onboard a vessel. Being able to put yourself in the crew’s position and understand their day-to-day reality makes collaboration much better.”
This understanding helps him support crews, navigate technical challenges and find solutions that work in everyday operations.
“When you’ve been there yourself, you know what kind of solutions actually work and which ones don’t. That makes a big difference.”
Continuing the journey
Looking back, Ole highlights the experience he gained at sea and the opportunities he has had to continue developing within Uni-Tankers. What began as a career onboard eventually opened the door to new challenges ashore, allowing him to continue building on the knowledge and experience he had developed throughout the years.
“Uni-Tankers has always been a place where I’ve felt comfortable, so being able to continue my development within the same organization felt like a natural next step. The experience I gained over the years gave me the confidence to take on new challenges and eventually make the move into the TSI role.”
For seafarers considering a move ashore, Ole has a simple message:
“If you feel ready for new challenges, I would definitely recommend taking the leap. The experience you bring from sea is extremely valuable, and there are great opportunities to use it in new ways while continuing to develop professionally.”
For Ole, stepping ashore was not about leaving the maritime industry behind. It was about building on the experience, knowledge and relationships developed through years at sea. His journey is a reminder that a maritime career does not have to follow a single path and that the skills gained onboard can continue creating value in new ways throughout a career.
