Seafaring: The Rayon Wilks story

In the business of global commerce, ships sail across the oceans to many countries, carrying goods of various kinds. But what we don't know are the struggles of the men and women behind the wheels of cargo vessels. Here is the story of a Jamaican seafarer, Rayon Wilks.

His love for mechanical engineering was the tide that carried Rayon Wilks out to sea. The 24-year-old seafarer was fascinated by engines from an early age, having grown up around vehicles of every type.

As fate would have it, at age 17, while he was a student at Dinthill Technical High School in St Catherine, representatives from the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) visited his school during a career-day expo.

"I learned about the big engines on the vessels and it sounded exciting. The salary for seafarers also sounded very attractive," the young seafarer recalled.

Soon thereafter, he enrolled at CMI and completed a three-year programme in officer in charge of engineering room watch then set sail as a cadet to complete his training.

"It was my worst voyage," Wilks said of his maiden voyage. "The weather was terrible and I got seasick."

The rough weather led to a washing machine aboard the vessel being dislocated and water filling up the engine room. "It was exciting," the young seafarer said of the incident. It gave him a chance to utilise his skills. His training took him to countries such as Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Ups and downs

He completed his six months at sea and received his licence in 2008. His professional career saw Wilks travelling to countries such as Suriname, Belgium, Saint Maarten, Dominica Republic, St Eustatius, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.

Life at sea has had its ups and downs, but the strong-willed Wilks has not been phased.

His most memorable voyage, he said, took him across the feared Atlantic Ocean, from Suriname to Belgium, transporting rice. "The ship had a hole in the bottom and we had to be pumping water out," Wilks said. "There were times when the vessel was leaning to one side." Throughout this experience, the young seafarer said he never feared for his life. He saw it as an opportunity to put his learning to the test.

Once in Belgium, Wilks' journey took a turn for the worst. He and members of his crew were abandoned. According to Wilks, authorities in the country, while conducting inspections aboard the vessel, found that contracts given to them were invalid, their seaman's books were not signed and, as such, they were considered to be working illegally in the country.

Deported

He, along with other crew members, were detained for two weeks before he was deported to Jamaica. "I was transported to my country as an illegal immigrant, without my salary, having been locked up for two weeks in another man's country, and I'm no criminal," Wilks pointed out.

This negative experience has not dulled the young seafarers' excitement as he is eager to get back to sea. "All my sea life has been challenging, but I've learned a lot. I believe struggles are there to make you stronger and I'm not going to give up that easily," he said.

While life at sea is a lonely one, the best thing about being a seafarer, Wilks noted, is the opportunity to build wealth. "You earn, but you don't get a chance to spend," he said. It also gives him the opportunity to live his dream of working around engines.

Since returning home, Wilks has found employment in St Eustatius and is happily working as the second engineer doing what he loves - ensuring that the engines are running smoothly.

As this article is being published, Rayon Wilks is sailing across the Caribbean Sea. "Once Christ is in the vessel, I can weather any storm," he said with a smile.