Indian Crew and Officers

[Unregistered]

Ive just been assigned to my first ship which has all Indian Crew and Officers and i was just wondering dose anyone have anything good bad or indifferent to say about them. ive worked with plenty of foreign people before but never idian so some advice would be nice as its a 4month trip and i want to get on with them from day 1.

Cheers

[dawg]

learn Hindi...

"superabaat, meera dost!" (good morning, mate!)
"aap kyessay ho?" (how are you?)
"aap ky gaar rehay ho?" (what are you doing?)
"moja nehi somja Hindi hey" (I don't understand Hindi)
"meera naam <name> hey" (My name is...)
"char saab, aaj kya ho re hey ho?" (what's happening today 4th engineer?)
"do-saab gahaa parai?" (where's the second engineer?)
"nehi maloom" (dunno)

just smile, and make the effort, they'll probably be quite friendly... but they probably like doing things by the book... and like the hierarchy... just a guess.

[Unregistered]

cheers ill be writting them down anyway

[GuinnessMan]

It will depend on the people themselves, not the nationality. Remember that.

I've met some that have literally wanted every one to kiss their backside and I know some that are great and easy to get along with.

[dawg]

yeah, but there are still cultural tendencies for each nationality... you want to hear what they say about us?! hahaha.... =P

[Jughead]

What do they say about us?

[YoungMariner]

Go in through an open mind, be humble yet determined. From the start be motivated, and show them exactly what you need to achieve in this phase at sea, and speak to the Chief Officer/Chief Engineer (not sure which side you are) and try to politely encourage him to support you through your phase. Show due respect for them, and their culture, but be confident and strong at the same time.
You're still learning the people skills as a cadet (some people never get them in their whole career) and you will make mistakes and offend some people, but this is all good experience for when you become a senior officer and may work with Indian crew and officers, and you'll be better prepared to work with them and get the most out of them then a counterpart who has never worked with the said nationality.

[Islander]

Go in through an open mind, be humble yet determined. From the start be motivated, and show them exactly what you need to achieve in this phase at sea, and speak to the Chief Officer/Chief Engineer (not sure which side you are) and try to politely encourage him to support you through your phase. Show due respect for them, and their culture, but be confident and strong at the same time.
You're still learning the people skills as a cadet (some people never get them in their whole career) and you will make mistakes and offend some people, but this is all good experience for when you become a senior officer and may work with Indian crew and officers, and you'll be better prepared to work with them and get the most out of them then a counterpart who has never worked with the said nationality.

Well stated.
My Dad was involved with Indian crew on a charter operation and enjoyed the experience. The Turbaned Captain was a Sikh and although strictly forbidden for a Sikh he still enjoyed a beer with Dad in his private quarters.
Not aware of below decks treatment of their subordinates, he personally always found them courteous and helpful in a non contrived manner. The only negative was that he developed "very" painful Gout like Symptoms in his feet, at the time we thought this was due to pigging out on so many fantastic Curries, however, when he went for Med' tests they couldn't find anything to indicate Gout and when he left the Op' the symptoms disappeared!

[Clanky]

Not sure if the original poster has joined yet or not?

As many have said above go along with an open mind and enjoy the curry!

On the whole seafarers are seafarers although different nationalities do have traits which you will find more in some than others. The main thing that I have found with indians is that they are vert conscious of the rank structure and anyone senior to you will expect to be shown some respect (more so than with British officers)

I am currently sailing with an Indian senior officer in my department and I am still trying to get through to him that it really doesn't matter whether or not people call him sir, I am also trying to get him to stop calling me sir all the time

[size4riggerboots]

I'd imagine that'll be difficult seeing how the entire Indian culture is based on the caste system (which is a hierarchy of epic proportions built into their entire conciousness and subconscious on a national scale!)

Also, waggling of the head side to side, geeeenerally means yes, or maybe. Nods tend to mean no... gets confusing!

[GuinnessMan]

I'd imagine that'll be difficult seeing how the entire Indian culture is based on the caste system (which is a hierarchy of epic proportions built into their entire conciousness and subconscious on a national scale!)

Also, waggling of the head side to side, geeeenerally means yes, or maybe. Nods tend to mean no... gets confusing!

We've always known that as the "head bobble" or "jingle"....