Youngest Seychellois as Master of a deep sea tanker

When Captain Adrian Jude Mondon sees the monitors blinking with radar blips and nautical charts coming to life on video screens, he still wonders about the long path he has followed since his early childhood at Mare Anglaise in Mahe. With the hundreds of switches and buttons beckoning on his control panel of the Seychelles Pioneer, he still reflects on his achievement to become the youngest Seychellois Master of a deep sea vessel like the one he is now in command. It is evidently bigger than the boat he used to skipper for leisure when he was in his twenties, that 18 inches long canvas-top boat powered by automobile batteries and which never went outside the bathtub-calm canals of Beau Vallon. These were the times when he started dreaming about the oceans and their mysteries while being always fascinated by the call of the sea. It was to be his ultimate choice of career which is now hoisting him to the highest position of a huge ocean tanker.

Captain Mondon is only 34 years old but is already a highly rated seafarer and a competent leader. Since he started his studies at primary and secondary levels in Seychelles, he has drilled his way to the top after graduating at the prestigious Australian Maritime College from which he attained his Shipmaster's license in December 2015. He polished his knowledge of commands in India and Ireland and  was finally endorsed as a full-fledged Master by the Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration early this year thus obtaining his passport to lead one of the six major tankers owned by SEYPEC.

‘I had long since decided the sea was in my blood and I left my native island with much passion and belief to embark on navigation training overseas,’the new Seychelles Pioneer Master told Nation before setting ahead for a new voyage. ‘This unique opportunity offered to me by SEYPEC was one of a lifetime which I could not miss or oversee at any cost. Reaching a position of highest command of a modern tanker owned by a Seychellois company is the pinnacle of honor in the Seychelles’ maritime industry. I am indeed so proud for having attained such objectives at an early stage of my life.’ 

Captain Adrian Mondon has stepped up all the hurdles that lead to the post. He started his employment voyage with SEYPEC in 2002 during the same year when the company received the Seychelles Pride. ‘It was one of the proudest moments of my career when I was one of the only three Seychellois onboard when the country's first ever oil tanker was launched at the shipyard in Germany. I still cherish the feeling that I am still working on our proudly owned tankers 14 years later. I feel myself part of this exciting story which has seen Seychelles build an efficient and economically viable fleet of tankers since then.I now feel that this is the realization of a lifelong ambition and I fully appreciate the trust being placed in me.’

After his debut as Deck Cadet, his career would soon accelerate to reach the heights. He served as 3rd and 2nd Officer on the Seychelles Pioneer from 2007 to 2008, moved on to the Seychelles Paradise as Chief Officer, was then promoted as 2nd Officer on three SEYPEC tankers. In 2012, the young Adrian Mondon won his shoulder-strap as Master of the Seychelles Paradise. He then progressed to reach his now much deserved post of Master of a deep sea tanker like the Seychelles Pioneer, the ocean double-hull tanker of 177m long and 22346 tons.

While announcing the new assignment of Captain Mondon, SEYPEC CEO, Conrad Benoiton waspleasedto acknowledge the formidable journey of the young Seychellois. ‘His achievement as the youngest Seychellois national to take command of one of our large tankers is a vivid example of the drive we want to instill in all the local seafarers that want to embrace a career on our tankers. We are honoured that Captain Mondon started and is still pursuing his fruitful career with us.’

The success of young Captain Mondon epitomizes the development spectrum set by SEYPEC for all youngsters willing to serve on the fleet of tankers around the world. His career sets an example to all his cadets and junior officers of what can be achieved through dedication and perseverance.

‘SEYPEC has always been committed to ensuring that its staff has access to the best training in the world,’added Pierre Prosper, the Shipping and Crewing Manager.‘We are proud to be one of the few corporate bodies that have training programs that match the international regulatory requirements. Our daily challenge is to devise ways and means to promote and better the aptitudes of our young fellow compatriots for them to thrive with success in the seafaring job. We are gratified that Captain Mondon will now take command of one of our deep sea tankers and his exemplary performance is only matched by the confidence he has in his abilities.’

From the vast hull of the vessel he now commands to the pistons deep in the engine room as well as the the crew he now manages, the scale of the responsibilities of young Captain Mondon is mind-boggling. Apart from his job to deliver the ship's cargo as safely and economically as possible on its scheduled round trip, he must also have the final say in the decision process in all circumstances in normal or crisis times.

‘While at sea we work every day, sometimes at a stretch of long hours if circumstances dictate, for example if weather conditions are poor or there is a particularly hectic turnaround schedule in port,’ Captain Mondon told Nation. ‘There are working time regulations but the reality is that there are times when I can't just step back!’

This huge weight on his shoulders does not make him forget about his family duties. He is fully aware that he is not doing a ‘normal’ job but he also reckons that this is an opportunity to make his family and spouse proud by having a stable and successful career. ‘Once you become a father it becomes more and more difficult to leave each time as the child grows up but it helps to know that you are no longer working just for your own self but also for the future of your children.’

As the Seychelles Pioneer splits the waves on the ocean, Captain Adrian Mondon glances at the lazy clouds floating high above the water. He now sees his future as clear as the horizon in front of him and thinks about his position which now makes him the sole responsible of the huge tanker under his command. This is the story of an already extraordinary journey with a bright future opening in front of him!