MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Born to a family of seafarers in 1974 in Odessa, a port city on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, it was merely a matter of time before Andrey Lesnichiy would take to the helm of a ship.
Today, he is the youthful and highly skilled captain of the MV Astor, a passenger liner which visited Mossel Bay twice this year.
"I was but a few days old when I first sat in the captain's chair aboard ship," Captain Andrey told a delegation in Mossel Bay fortunate enough to visit his marvellous ship on Thursday, 28 March.
"My father is the captain of a bulk carrier and both my brothers are captains, one of a cruise ship, the other - like my father - of a freighter."
The affable host conceded that being the master of a passenger ship required skills in public relations and showmanship, as a sizable chunk of his time was spent fraternising with the guests.
Being on a longer voyage - such as the Astor's 51-day current voyage - means that passengers are recognised by name and a friendliness develops. "We often have repeat passengers, who will ask after my family, even bring my children gifts."
He also speaks of the many years of training at various maritime training centres - even training in expert medical care - that prepared him for the position he now holds.
Captain Andrey admits to having been in two minds about a career when he was a young lad, with one of the options he considered being performing in the circus. The call of the sea, his strong familial bond with the merchant navy and the added benefits of wearing the spotless, formal uniform, however, eventually convinced him of a life at sea.
Quite appropriately, he says, he met his wife aboard the ship when she was a ballerina. Today she teaches dancing and takes care of their two young daughters. When asked where "home" is, he says the family has a home in England, yet he admits that it really is little more than a place to pick up a fresh set of clothes. "This, (he indicates to the inside of the bridge on the MV Astor) is home."
As the captain, he is privileged to have his family travel with him as often as their schedule allows it. When speaking of his family and especially his children, his friendly eyes soften and, just for a moment, he becomes somewhat pensive.
Captain Andrey points out the responsibility of keeping everything shipshape while on a cruise. "We have three decks of storage and cold rooms for the provisions we need and are not allowed to supplement anything we may run short of at just any port.
"At the moment we are running short on Sauvignon Blanc! We have 45 chefs to cater for the five-star meals and refreshments we serve daily for the 500 or so guests. The guests are on average 75 years old.
"We cater separately for the staff, yet follow the same exacting standards for them, too.
"I came through the ranks. I know what it's like if conditions in the staff quarters are lacking. I make it my priority to see to it that they don't lack. While the passengers are mainly Australians on this cruise, our crew is much more diverse."
Captain Andrey shared his passion for cruise tourism with the chief operating officer of Mossel Bay Tourism, Aneli Gerber, and discussed with Mossel Bay harbour master Captain Vania Cloete, the challenges that the shallowness of the Mossel Bay port poses to visiting cruise ships.
He received commemorative gifts from both the executive mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderman Harry Levendal, and Captain Cloete.
The visit was facilitated by Afrishore Shipping.
Being at the helm - the master of his ship - the final question for Captain Andrey was inevitably, what the next step on the career ladder would be? "I am doing what I love best. I will transfer to the MV Vasco da Gama in June and I will take her on the next cruise. This is where I am happy."
One of his daughters was distraught to see the sign that disallows children in the swimming pool area aboard the MV Astor. "I could only console her by saying the sign does not refer to the captain's children," he said.
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