SMA's students participated in the Overseas Immersion Program onboard STS “Pallada”

From October 5 to October 13, 2017 FESTFU for the first time hosted 38 cadets and 2 lecturers from the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) for the Overseas Immersion Program including sailing practice onboard STS “Pallada”. Such kind of practical experience can be definitely called unique for Singaporean cadets. Firstly, there are no ships of the same class as STS “Pallada” in Singapore and secondly, Singapore is an equatorial country, which has approximately the same temperature throughout the year. Therefore, it is possible to say with certainty that the students found themselves in unusual conditions, which contributed to the growth of interest in the place of practical training, namely FESTFU, STS “Pallada”, Vladivostok and Russia as a whole.

The cooperation between SMA and FESTFU has been developing since 2007. In July 2011 FESTFU’s cadets for the first time had a practical training course at SMA. They attended lectures, practiced on a special navigational simulator and took an intensive maritime English course. In the future similar practices for FESTFU cadets in Singapore were repeated irregularly.

SMA students have had the experience of communication and cultural exchange with the FESTFU cadets more than once, as joint training practices onboard the ship were organized each year during STS Pallada’s calls at the port of Singapore. Therefore, this time both Russian and Singaporean cadets were more than excited to meet again especially in Russia.  The practice of Singaporean cadets in Vladivostok was organized in the form of practical and theoretical studies and also included sightseeing tours around the city.

On the first day of staying onboard the cadets were instructed on the safety precautions, they learned the regulations and rules of staying onboard the vessel. Later in the day the head of Foreign Languages Department made a presentation for Singaporeans on the topic: "Practice onboard the STS" Pallada. "

During next days Singaporean cadets had classes on advanced two-three day program on training for works on masts, works with sails and rigging. The cadets also learned how to knit various kinds of knots: a "bowline knot", "reef knot" and “sheet knot”. In order to improve physical endurance and to keep fit the cadets did physical exercises daily. Each day of the stay was completed by summarizing and discussing the material studied under the guidance of Singaporean practice coordinators: Captain Frederic Francis and Ms Ong Fung Mei Violet.

When the weather conditions allowed the Singaporean cadets to climb the masts they fearlessly climbed up to a height of 15 meters getting unforgettable experience.

Aside from classes the Singaporeans also got acquainted with Russian culture, cuisine and the city of Vladivostok.

First of all, they got acquainted with the history of the Vladivostok railway station and the Trans-Siberian Railway. The excursion ended with a story of the monument to the railroad workers of Primorye, dedicated to the workers’ labor during the Great Patriotic War. One of the most memorable moments was the tour to the Russian Island with a visit to the Voroshilov battery. The Singaporeans have never seen such military machinery and equipment before. The students were really delighted with the opportunity to see, touch and take pictures with real military weapons.

During the 8-day visit to Vladivostok the Singaporean cadets managed to visit the Vavilovo Country Club, where they admired the beauty of the classical Russian style. During the dinner the guests were served with borsch, Russian traditional salad and cutlets enjoying the taste of traditional Russian cuisine. At the end of the tour to the Vavilovo Country Club the Singaporeans visited the "Gingerbread House" – the so called city made of sweets, where the pavement, houses, animals, people, grass, marmalade river - everything is edible. Here the Singaporean cadets had a unique opportunity to demonstrate their creative abilities and color gingerbread by themselves.

On the final day of practice the Singaporeans visited the laboratory-simulator complex in the building "L", where Anatoly N. Sobolenko, professor of the department of "Ship Power Plants" introduced the guests to the installation of the simulator complex ERS-5000.

On the last day a farewell concert was organized by FESTFU’s Youth Center. The concert was attended by cadets, students and teachers of FESTFU’s Nautical  and International Institutes. The Russian side was represented by the folk dance group "Ladya", the show ballet "Aleteya", Anastasia Goponenko, Alexei Vinogradov and Svetlana Malakhova. The cadets and the practice coordinators from Singapore Maritime Academy also performed on the stage. Captain Frederik Francis sang several songs to his guitar accompaniment. At the end of the concert, students of both countries made joint photos and exchanged impressions.

On Friday, October 13, the Singaporeans left for Singapore. Someone was crying overwhelmed with emotions, someone with a smile on his face was recalling the moments spent in Vladivostok, and someone was saying goodbye to new friends with a heavy heart. Some students have already exchanged contacts and now they continue communicating in social networks. During the time spent together onboard STS “Pallada”, the cadets from Singapore and the Russian cadets were able to find a common language: they discussed everyday topics, showed each other photos of the ports they had visited. The language barrier did not stop them from making friends. Both sides expressed the hope that such practices will be organized on a regular basis and the cadets of both educational institutions will be able to meet regularly either in Russia or in Singapore.

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