Senior master, Sealink

Tim Lord appreciates the beauty of the Hauraki Gulf. Picture /Graeme Sedal

Name: Tim Lord
Age: 29
Job title: Senior master, Sealink
Working hours: 45-70 hours per week as and when required
Average pay: $50,000 - $85,000 a year

Describe how you got this job.

I approached the SeaLink when I returned from overseas last year and found there to be one or two positions available, but not exactly the role I was looking for. After many phone calls and some negotiation I took an engineers position for a period. Within a few weeks the master's position was vacant - I applied and I was the successful applicant.

Describe what you do?

I manage a vessel which is a major supply link between Auckland and Great Barrier Island. This vessel - the Eco Islander - carries vehicles, passengers and freight to the island on a weekly scheduled service, incorporating fuel (petrol and diesel), gas (LPG), all manner of building supplies and obviously general food stuffs. This service takes us to all three major ports on Great Barrier being Tryphena, Whangaparapara and Port Fitzroy.

What have you had to do to succeed at this job?

To be successful in this role is not to just manage or operate the vessel. This job, like many, has aspects that make it unique. So to succeed I believe flexibility, public relations and going that extra mile counts for a lot. And, like any workplace,being able to utilize the skills and professionalism of those whom you work with also counts for a large part of everyone's success. So in this case the crew's assistance and support also creates success.

What sort of training or experience do you need?

Training comes from the deck up and therefore experience too. By this I mean as a deck hand and other positions on any vessel, you are always in training, so other than your approved training providers, years of working in several areas on the vessel and many aspects of the marine industry being on other types of boats/ships gives you a great grounding for building further on a career.

What skills and qualities do you need?

With each role and different operations different qualities are required but ultimately a positive focus on the outcome will equip you with the necessary qualities to complete any task.

Best part of the job?

The opportunity to understand the seriousness of your undertakings, be it almost twenty passengers, a deck load of freight, trucks and vehicles but still be in an environment where you can step away from reality for just a moment and look ahead to open seas and views and appreciate your surroundings.

Most challenging aspect?

There becomes an imbalance at home and work life simply because the hours and days of operation can encroach on your personal life. So the challenge is to balance this and step aside when possible and not let the daily challenges consume you outside of work if possible.

How do you define success in this job?

Success, as I said earlier, is being able to focus on expectations and the task ahead. So the 'can do' attitude accounts for a lot, but also knowing one's limits, therefore relying on your crew and others for their qualities and skills that they offer, makes for a successful ship, for without their input and support your success is very limited.

What are your career hopes for the future?

I've had many opportunities and taken them as they arose in many areas of the industry. Just recently I fulfilled a long-time hope by travelling and working overseas with my wife. Now returned, my present appointment offers stability and challenges. I look forward to what's around the corner.

If I wanted a job like yours how would I go about it?

Qualifications and training are so important but building respect and contacts within the industry has helped immensely, so to put yourself out there may be hard but this creates a history that never leaves you. What people remember is you so become an asset both personally and professionally.

What advice would you have for someone contemplating a career such as yours?

Not unlike the seas and conditions we travel in every day, situations change so quickly. The best advice is to be prepared for constant change and take on the challenges as they greet you.