Page 24 - 2022 - Q4 - Minerva in Focus
P. 24

LNGC MINERVA AMORGOS  Interview with Capt. Michael Lefkos





           Capt. Michael Lefkos has 15 years of service in the rank of Master. He has been involved with LNG Carriers since 2004. Since 2005, he has
           participated in the deliveries of many newbuildings at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard. He has been part of the Minerva family for
           two years and has taken delivery of both Minerva Kalymnos and Minerva Amorgos.




                                                                                 that differentiate LNGCs. The crew must be
                                                                                 able to deal effectively and quickly with any
                                                                                 emergency on board, which comes with con-
                                                                                 tinuous training and realistic drill scenarios.
                                                                                 Controlling the pressure or temperature of
                                                                                 the transported cargo without having any
                                                                                 contact with it is the main challenge that
                                                                                 differentiates this type of vessel.
                                                                                 How can someone be a good manag-
                                                                                 er and leader onboard a ship? What
                                                                                 advice would you give to Minerva’s
                                                                                 younger officers?

                                                                                 There are key differences between a leader
                                                                                 and a manager. The two roles are intercon-
                                                                                 nected, and both require experience. A good
                                                                                 manager can achieve targets, but a good
                                                                                 leader is someone who achieves targets as
            Taking delivery                   make it so special for me. There really were   part of a team and influences and motivates
                                              a lot of mixed emotions.
                                                                                 their team to become better. That involves
            of a new vessel                   What are the additional duties/    delegation,  trust,  guidance,  and  leading  by
                                                                                 example.
                                              responsibilities of the Master when
                                                                                 A good manager is a person with leadership
            is challenging                    taking delivery of a new LNG carrier?  skills. They can listen, read the situation,
                                                                                 make decisions, take responsibility, and han-
                                              Taking delivery of a new vessel is challeng-
                                                                                 dle consequences.
            and requires                      ing and requires dedication and hard work.   My advice to the young officers is not to take
                                              At all times, the captain must have a broad
            dedication and                    picture of the progress in the preparation of   what they have now for granted. We live in
                                              taking delivery and ensure crew readiness to
                                                                                 an ever-changing, challenging world that re-
                                                                                 quires dedication and commitment. A good
                                              carry out their seagoing duties. That requires
            hard work                         a lot of steadiness, guidance, and constant   officer is not the one handling or navigating
                                                                                 the ship. A good officer must be a responsi-
                                              reminders of the targets.
                                              That is the highest risk period for any new
                                              ship. The crew is new, the officers have not   ble officer, as mentioned in the STCW. They
                                                                                 must be able to command and control, lead
           Ιnterview with                     been sailing or proceeding with different   by example, have sufficient knowledge, and
           Captain Michael Lefkos             types of tasks for a few months, the team-  carry out safe operations for the crew and
                                              work bonds are still developing, the crew has   the ship.
           Master, Minerva Amorgos
                                              not fully tested the ship systems, and, finally,
                                              let us not forget the Covid risk of this era.  I hope the new generation can understand
           What were your feelings while                                         that taking what they have for granted and
           attending the delivery of Minerva   What are LNG carriers’ particularities   not progressing will never make them re-
           Amorgos?                           compared to other types of ships?  sponsible officers/captains. There are many
                                                                                 officers around the world, of many nation-
           It is always exciting to be the captain of a   LNGCs  are  considered  the  most  advanced   alities, who would go to great lengths to get
           new vessel. All ships delivered under my   and expensive ships nowadays. So, they   an opportunity as the Minerva officers have.
           captaincy are engraved in my memory   need precision and continuous maintenance   I advise them to use their time onboard to
           and hold a special place for me. Minerva   to maintain their value and deliver their pre-  gain experience and knowledge.
           Amorgos is my eighth LNG/c delivery in my   cious cargo safely.       Experience and knowledge are your passport
           career as a captain and probably the last   I consider cargo handling procedures and   for the future. Be better than my generation
           one, and that is one of the reasons that   emergency readiness the two major factors   because this means that we are progressing!


          24 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 22 / Q4 2022
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