21 JAAR | SHIPPING AGENT | MBO
OLEKSII
21 JAAR | SHIPPING AGENT | MBO

MEET OLEKSII
It was obvious that Oleksii has a passion for maritime and logistics. In Ukraine, he was working for a road transport company. As coordinator, he was responsible in his home country to take care of cargos on behalf of clients, and the communication with his truck drivers. In 2022, he arrived in the Netherlands and started looking for a job.
Oleksii explains: “After working some periods at several factories and a fast-food chain, I was looking for a job in logistics, and since I live in Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, it made sense to do something in the maritime sector. I found my job thanks to a matchmaking organization focused on the logistics industries. This job gives me a lot of freedom: I work both outside and in the office, meeting people with different backgrounds.”
How did it start? With a traineeship: working four days and attending school one day a week. After a year and a half, Oleksii got an opportunity at his current employer. “I did a two-month traineeship and performed well. I am working here as a Shipping Agent for eight months now, and I really like it.”
“We work exclusively with liquid cargo. On board I meet many Ukrainians, which makes me feel a little more at home. As a boarding agent, the job is physically demanding: climbing onto vessels, even in the rain. People my age can do this job easily, I don’t even need to go to the gym! However, sometimes after visiting four to five ships, I still go and work out.”
Oleksii tells more about his growth as a professional: “Step by step, I get the opportunity to learn more about the operational work in the office. I am even guiding new colleagues on how to board ships. How to prepare and deliver documents. It’s not difficult, but you need to be adventurous. Sometimes, a ship is about to depart, and you must quickly bring the needed documents. Once, I was there during the unmooring of a ship. It’s cool when everything goes smoothly in that process. Telling others about my time gives me the feeling that I grew a lot in such a short period of time.”
“This job suits me perfectly. I am glad I got this opportunity and look forward to what the future holds! I can recommend others to look for a job in this dynamic industry. There is plenty of room for growth. In the end, Rotterdam is by far the biggest maritime hub of Europe. So, there is always plenty of work that needs to be done”, Oleksii concludes.
WANT TO WORK IN THE PORT, JUST LIKE OLEKSII?
VIEW RELATED COURSES YOU CAN FOLLOW
Next to doing a traineeship like Oleksii, there are some courses you can follow to give yourself a headstart in the industry!