Three questions for Second Engineer Florian Knoff

Florian Knoff is passionate about his job as a second engineer at Hapag-Lloyd. He most recently sailed on the “Al Jmeliyah” and the “Al Nasriyah”, two ships from the former UASC fleet that he particularly likes. Today, he can look back on almost 20 years of professional experience at Hapag-Lloyd. He has a chief engineer’s license under his belt, has travelled on countless giant container ships, and knows the best way to do his job.

Hi Florian! Tell us, how did your journey into seafaring begin?

After earning my general certificate of secondary education, I trained as an industrial mechanic and worked for an automotive supplier. But the thought of ending up in manufacturing at some point wasn’t for me. It was particularly good that I went back to school and earned a degree that would let me study at a university of applied sciences. A career event organized by the German army and navy gave me the idea of switching to the shipping industry. There was only one thing that worried me at the time: Having only had English in school, would I be able to communicate on board? Today, that’s no longer an issue. The first time that I came into contact with Hapag-Lloyd seafarers was while studying maritime technology for two semesters in Bremerhaven. I found it cool! That’s how I came up with the idea of applying for an apprenticeship as a ship mechanic at Hapag-Lloyd.

What type of equipment on board do you like the most?

Honestly, I am enthusiastic about every type of equipment on board – whether auxiliary diesel engine, separator, turbine or boiler system and, of course, the main engine. I just think it’s fun to familiarize myself with the engines and keep them running! That’s why I enjoyed working as a ship mechanic for a long time. There’s lots of variety, and we work great together as a team. Despite the tight schedule, I can organize my work very independently. And I can always fit in half an hour on deck with a coffee. Oh, and there’s something else that excites me: The turbine system! It’s part of the exhaust heat recovery system and is supplied with exhaust gases from the main engine. This enables us to enjoy fuel savings of up to 10 percent.

How do you make the most out of a day?

I always come into the engine room office a little earlier than my colleagues, and that’s when I plan my day over my first cup of coffee. Who will do the painting? Who will do the cleaning? Who will check the separators? Which maintenance work is pending? This creates a picture in my head of how the workday can be a good one. I try to be more part of the team than the head of it. Maybe that has something to do with my many years in the Boy Scouts. Good teamwork and being willing to take responsibility for yourself and others – that’s something that has stuck with me. Once a Scout, always a Scout.