First steps aboard

It’s official. I’m on board.

The MV Roland Oldendorff is docked here in Rotterdam, quietly hulking beside the terminal like it has nothing to prove. She stretches out for 260 meters and feels massive up close. My cabin is comfortable, and I’m in the process of tucking everything into its proper place. I’ve already realised a few things I forgot to pack, which feels like a fitting start.

There is always that moment when you're the newest person in the room—or in this case, on the ship. The world feels slightly too large, and your own movements a little too slow. That’s where I am now. Everything is unfamiliar but functional. I’m learning the ropes, as it were. The crew has been so kind. Still, I know this beginning. It comes with a hum of uncertainty, paired with the quiet excitement of something real beginning to take shape.

I’ve been thinking about the two conversations I recorded before coming here. One was with Ollie, who had just completed his three-month voyage aboard the Emma Oldendorff. He spoke about the steep learning curve, navigating storms, managing cargo logistics, and finding camaraderie in shared meals and karaoke. He arrived with sailing experience and left with a different understanding of what it means to live and work at sea.

The other was with Adrian, whose family has long been connected to ships and sailing. He also spent three months on board as part of his training with Oldendorff, on his path to becoming an Operator. We talked about everything from safety drills to what he packed, and how the days stretch and contract when you’re out on the water. What stayed with me was how both Adrian and Ollie described the slow shift. The unfamiliar becomes routine. The ship becomes its own kind of floating village.

I am at the start of that shift now.

It is too early for routines or reflections, but not too early for noticing. I’m watching how everyone moves carefully up and down the decks. I don’t yet know what my sea legs will feel like, or what kind of stories this voyage will offer. But I’m here. And the ship is leaving in a few days’ time.

Herman, the Superintendent, who kindly drove me here, has to do some inspections. The cargo from Brazil has to be discharged, and provisions taken on board. Not sure what else is on the to-do list, but everyone seems to be busy.

Since there’s no guarantee of connectivity, I’ll share what I can along the way. And when I can’t, I’ll hopefully entertain you with stories from the past and the role sailing has played in making me who I am today.

Photo by Elizabeth Morgan on Unsplash