What does the crew do on a ship with no guests? Are all the departments staffed? And where can you park a ship? We’ve received lots of questions in recent days and so we’ve passed them on to those in the know, such as Dolf Jenckel, the captain of the BREMEN.
We are offering the crew the chance to do some further training, but it is also meant to provide some fun. I consider it extremely important to keep up the good spirits on board.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: Where is the BREMEN currently?
We are currently at the pier in Auckland. In a few days we will drop anchor and then we will have to see how things develop.
How many people are on board?
We are currently a crew of 72.
Are all the departments staffed?
Almost all members of the deck and engine departments are on board. The cruise department has been reduced to one person – our Shore Excursion Manager. In the hotel team, the disembarking crew were sent home as normal and they have stayed at home, so we have a reduced crew in this area.
Uniform or everyday clothes – what’s the dress code for the crew?
We are still wearing uniforms during working hours. However, the hotel crew are almost all wearing overalls as they are working on various projects rather than providing service at the moment.
A ship never sleeps. What will happen in the next few days??
The bridge and engine room are still staffed round the clock. We still have our night watch duty too. So, from a nautical perspective, the routine is no different to “normal” operations on board.
What is your daily routine?
The bridge and engine room are still staffed round the clock. We still have our night watch duty too. So, from a nautical perspective, the routine is no different to “normal” operations on board.
Having time is also a blessing. What projects are you tackling?
All the storage areas can be cleared out, cleaned and freshly painted, for example. We have access to all the cabins and can carry out work that would otherwise only be possible when the ship was docked at the shipyard. Maintenance can be done all over the ship in the inside and outside areas without disturbing any guests. So we have the opportunity to tackle various projects.
