Shengda 8 Onboard Visit: Building an Environment of Safety, Skill, and Integrity

On 13 July, Shengda 8 steamed back into home waters and tied up at Nanjing’s Mingzhou Wharf right on cue. Director Zhou led a five‑member task force from Operations, Marine/Technical, and HR aboard to greet our hardworking crew and take the pulse of daily operations.

The agenda was full: check recent inspections, fine‑tune maintenance plans, and map out next‑step tasks to keep the ship running safely and efficiently. Boarding formalities were brisk, and by ten‑o’clock we were shaking hands with the Captain in his office.

After a meet and greet with all crew members, we headed to the bridge and engine room. The watch hand‑over was textbook—every checklist ticked, every call logged. Meanwhile, our marine superintendent dove into detailed discussions with the chief officer and chief engineer, ensuring that professional guidance reached the people who keep this vessel humming.

Our crew lives and breathes our standards. Their energy is infectious, and it shows everywhere you look: instruments on the bridge are calibrated to perfection, the engine room hums with well‑tuned precision, and the living quarters feel bright, tidy, and welcoming. Thanks to their dedication, every corner of the ship runs safely, smoothly, and with a fresh, orderly touch that turns steel decks into a proud floating home.

Day after day, our seafaring brothers treat this vessel as their home on the water. Their unwavering dedication and upbeat spirit echo through every bulkhead and cabin, guaranteeing not just safe, steady sailing but also the forward momentum that turns a steel hull into a vibrant “mobile home.”

During the closing debrief, Director Zhou and the Marine, Technical, and HR teams charted the next steps: tightening safety protocols as we transition from coastal routes to open‑ocean voyages, bolstering spare‑parts inventories, sharpening crew training, and intensifying emergency drills. With flood‑season and summer‑heat precautions firmly in place, the ship is primed for confident, world‑class voyages ahead.

Equipment and Materials
The vessel continues to experience stability issues with certain equipment. The crew must improve both emergency‑drill execution and fault‑troubleshooting skills. During the flood season and the summer months, special attention is required for navigation safety, heat prevention, and cooling. Spare parts and supplies should be stocked to cover at least six months of operations, including specialized medicines for African routes.

Maintenance and Repair
While in the yard, conduct thorough side‑bottom inspections of cargo‑hold seals and hatch‑cover systems to prevent leaks. Confirm main‑engine cylinder‑maintenance requirements so that repairs do not disrupt the voyage schedule. Continuously monitor deck machinery for irregularities and inspect transmission components for wear. After each emergency‑generator start‑up, an assigned officer must immediately verify operating parameters to avoid secondary failures. Finally, ensure the fresh‑water maker is fully functional to safeguard the onboard water supply.

Personnel and Training
The third batch of crew members must intensify training on system operation and equipment‑location awareness. Junior personnel who handle high‑risk gear—such as high‑pressure water guns—are required to wear helmets and full protective equipment at all times. All crew should study updated regulations for ocean routes in advance, while senior officers are encouraged to share best practices for export procedures and Port State Control inspections.

We thank the crew brothers for their hard work!