BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Samuel Suluka started working in the shipping industry in 1979 after completing his maritime studies at the Marine Technical Institute now Solomon Islands National University.
To build his career Mr Suluka made his way up in the shipping industry as a qualified seaman with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Patrol Boat Auki.
“After I ended my work with the RSIPF Marine Unit I joined other shipping companies,’’ said Captain Suluka from Lau Baelelea, Malaita province.
The father of five who will turn 70 years old in July this year 2024 then later travelled to Fiji in 2024 to further his maritime study before returning to the Solomon Islands.
“I studied here at the Solomon Islands Marine Technical Institute now SINU Marine School and then I went to further my studies at the Fiji Maritime College Academy for a year. I went to Fiji in 2014 for class three,’’ said Captain Suluka.
Before he resigned from the shipping industry this year, experienced Suluka worked with a pre-eminent shipping and logistics company.
“I just finished working from Silent World. I worked for six years. I just came down from the ship in May this year 2024 due to some family matters,’’ he said.
While Mr Suluka enjoyed his life at sea as a captain he also faced countless challenges and risks as a seaman.
“Yeah, as a seaman and especially Captain there’s a lot of challenges along the way which include decision making. The decision you make must be safe for everyone. Rough seas in open waters, sleepless nights, and many more. But you have to cope,’’ he said as he reflected.
Amongst the challenges Captain Suluka worries Suluka was leaving his family back at home and spending months at sea.
“You know as a husband you have to think about your family when spending weeks traveling. You might know what is going on with your children, those are one of the big challenges we seafarers usually face, especially when there is no communication,’’ he said.
However, despite the challenges, Mr Suluka’s endeavoring to ensure his work is more conducive, he has to.
“I have to because I come through since my early days as a seafarer working with many shipping companies till, I get married. And I also told my wife to understand my work when we are still yet in a relationship. So, she accepted it.
Captain Suluka started his seafaring career after completing his qualification at the age of 26 years old.
“Sometimes when I traveled back, I felt sorry since some of us seafarers have already gone and some of us are still alive today,’’ he said.
After withdrawing as a captain, Mr Suluka has now concentrated on household work with his family.
