For fun, Thomas Krejca signed up for the DDSG. He was a ship’s apprentice for three years and went through all seasons. “You start as a cabin boy, you go up, with ropes, with flags, you get to know everything at some point. And if you’re good enough, you can be assigned to be a sailor.”
“A ship is like a car”
With the final exam, Thomas is a fully trained sailor. More responsibility for the 21-year-old: “Check the machines, hand out life preservers, let people on board, check tickets.” Now the next stage of training begins: the young sailor can go to the captain on the bridge and learn the instruments.
Thomas has a big goal. He wants to lead a ship and become a captain. According to fleet captain Johannes Kammerer, the most important prerequisite is the correct reaction. “Show the right reaction at the right time – especially in stressful situations. A ship is like a car – there can always be a small technical problem, also a big problem or, of course, with the passengers.”
Search junior captains
The DDSG is looking for sailors and junior captains for regular and excursion trips to Bratislava and Wachau. The DDSG is on the move on the Danube Canal and the Danube with seven ships. 350,000 passengers are expected this year.
350,000 passengers expected
The DDSG is on the move on the Danube Canal and the Danube with seven ships. 350,000 passengers are expected this year. Whether young interns or changing professionals – new employees are urgently needed, says Wolfgang Fischer, managing director of DDSG Blue Danube. “It’s a job for boys and girls which is a little different. Like tourism, it’s just a job that lasts the summer, which is also on Saturdays and Sundays. But you experience a lot, you’re outdoors, you’re in a good mood and has good colleagues.”
Fleet Captain Kammerer would like to see more women wanting to become captains: “Many believe that the job involves great physical exertion. However, this is not true. Only three to four women sign up for our learning tests each year. There’s still room for improvement there. Women often bring with them an extra helping of soft skills, which are particularly valuable when dealing with passengers or leading a ship’s crew.”
Eight years will pass before Thomas can sail a ship alone as captain with the coveted four stripes on his uniform. Even if the trip initially only goes to Nussdorf and back.