Keralite at the helm of the world’s biggest container ship MSC Irina

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : As the world’s largest container vessel, MSC Irina, operated by the Swiss-based container shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), called at the Vizhinjam International Seaport, it was a proud moment for Keralite Willy Antony, its captain.

The Thrissur native has been into seafaring since childhood. His father, the late Palokkaran Antony, was a marine surveyor based in Wellington Island, Kochi. From cadet to captain of the biggest vessel in the world, Mr. Antony has had a 29-year-long career, with 19 years exclusively in the MSC. Currently, he is helming the lead ship of the MSC Irina class, a series of six identical ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs).

On the eve of berthing the vessel at Vizhinjam, he told The Hindu it that it was sheer passion and dedication that helped him rise through the ranks. He left home to become a seafarer after his higher secondary education and did a diploma in nautical science before becoming a cadet in 1996.

Vessels to get bigger
Down the years, he has manoeuvred all types of vessels. He has been manning the ULCVs right from the time they were introduced in the MSC fleet. Mr. Antony said the size and capacity of container ships would further increase as huge vessels can transport more cargo in a single voyage. Bigger vessels increase operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness too as carbon emissions of such vessels are relatively low when compared to the size of the cargo they transport.

He said he had sailed through territories lorded over by pirates many times. “Luckily, I have not encountered any untoward incidents.”

Mr. Antony said that Vizhinjam port offered huge possibilities for an economic leap for the country. “As a seafarer, I would say the project should have materialised much earlier. Young people who wish to take up sailing should first learn thoroughly about life at sea and the hardships involved in the life of a sailor. They should work hard to achieve their goals and should be passionate about this job. Only then will life at sea be beautiful,” he said.

His wife Hilda and son Benhail, a Class IX student, were accompanying him on his voyage to Vizhinjam. They disembarked in Singapore a few days earlier, as his son had to resume his classes from June 2.