Capt. Charanjeet Singh Kalra Senior Marine Safety Inspector Seafarer Certification Marine Safety and Security Transport Canada

TRANSPORT CANADA'S ADHERENCE TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS UNDERSCORES ITS DEDICATION TO PROMOTING MARITIME SAFETY, PROTECTING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE CANADIAN MARITIME INDUSTRY.

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Professional Journey: Could you share a brief overview of your professional journey, from your time at sea as Master, Chief Officer, and Watchkeeping Officer to your current role as a Senior Marine Safety Inspector with Transport Canada?

From navigating tumultuous waters as a watchkeeping officer to anchoring as a senior marine safety inspector at Transport Canada, my professional voyage has been nothing short of an odyssey. Initially setting sail after completing my apprenticeship and securing my Watchkeeping Officer certificate of competency (CoC), I joined International United Shipping for a contract on a general cargo vessel. In 1986, I joined Barber Ship Management and worked on cellular container vessels, a Ro-Ro vessel, Pure Car Carriers (PCCs), and the cruise vessels Coral Princess and Millenium Queen. I worked as a watchkeeping mate for five years, then as chief mate for five years, and got my command in 1996 on the cruise vessel Coral Princess, a passenger casino vessel that operated around the coast of Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

In 2007, I charted a new course, migrating to Canada in pursuit of fresh horizons. I embraced the challenge, acquiring Canadian certification and leveraging my expertise to instruct at the Marine Institute. Fuelling my passion for education, I earned diplomas in adult education and an MBA in shipping and logistics. As an instructor at the Marine Institute, I had two months leave during summertime, and I used one month of that to sail onboard seismic survey vessels in the Arctic off Greenland, where I obtained the experience of navigating a vessel through ice. My thirst for knowledge and advancement led me to set sail towards a master's degree in Maritime Management, a journey I completed amidst the rigors of professional life.