Interview and Text: Anja Conventz

In addition to the captain, nautical officers, deck and engine crew, electricians, electronic engineers, cooks and a ship’s doctor, the crew of the SONNE includes four stewards. One stewardess who is also on board during our cruise SO307 is Jessica Münch, who has been working on SONNE since November 2021. To give you an insight into the work of a stewardess on board a research vessel, we asked Jessi a few questions for you.

What does a ‘normal’ working day look like for you and what are your tasks on board?

‘My working day goes like this: I usually get up shortly after 4 in the morning, then I quickly get ready and off I go. The first thing I start with is clearing up the mess, then I prepare everything for the first meal of the day, which includes setting up the breakfast buffet, filling up with fruit, bread and muesli and putting out hot and cold drinks. From 7 to 8 is then breakfast time. During this time, I have a short break and check the mess from time to time to see if everything is still in order and available. After the meal, of course, it’s time to follow up on the mess. I refill everything again, make fresh coffee and sweep or wipe the mess once. Then I help the two chefs prepare lunch. After the 10 o’clock break, the trade fair is also prepared for lunch. While the lunch business is going on, I’m usually in the back of the kitchen cutting the fruit platter, which is then on the breakfast buffet the next morning. That’s a normal working day for me and I’m usually off work after lunch.’

What exactly are your working hours during our trip?

‘Always from 4 am to 12.30 / 1 pm’

You are four stewards in total, how do you divide the work between you?

‘Jinghao also works from 4 a.m. to midday. He goes through all the corridors once in the morning, checks the laundry downstairs and checks the sports room and sauna. Then from 9 to half past eleven he does the cabins of the scientists on the blue and green decks. After that, he’s also on lunch duty and then has the rest of the day off.

Alex (first steward) is always on the move somewhere. He starts at 7 a.m. and also helps with breakfast and then takes care of paperwork, depending on what is needed in the canteen (the on-board shop, so to speak), or orders what is to be delivered to the next port. From toilet paper to beer, sweets, washing powder, everything we all need for everyday life on board.

Sven also starts at 7 a.m. and is responsible for the yellow deck (deck 7, crew deck) and also cleans the cabins of the scientists. Alex and Sven then do the evening shifts, i.e. the evening meal.’

How long are you usually on board the SONNE at a time and how long do you have off afterwards?

‘Usually 3.5 months, about 12 weeks, on board and then 7 weeks at home’

Why did you choose a job on a research vessel and not a comparable job on land?

‘I previously worked in catering on land and, as is the case in the catering industry, it’s a world of its own with a lot of competition, stress, etc.. Then I pulled the ripcord and my dad (Lothar Münch, deck fitter on the SONNE) asked me if I would like to work here as a stewardess. Then I wrote an application and went for it. I thought to myself, I’m still unattached and want to see the world a bit more. Most of SONNE’s destinations are also very attractive, such as Tahiti, Noumea or Mauritius. Even if you spend a lot of time at sea, you still get to go ashore and see a bit of the country you’re travelling to.’

How do you spend your free time on board?

‘Definitely with sport! I somehow don’t get round to it at home. At home, I tend to prioritise family, friends and lots of other things. You don’t get to do any sport there, but here I try to do it regularly. I also like to spend my free time here on board in other departments. It’s important to me to get to know their tasks here on board. Most of the time I’m travelling with my dad as an ‘intern’ and I help him on one construction site or another. I always think that’s really cool and you always learn something new. Of course, I also like to be out in the kitchen in the afternoon and help with topping the pizza or putting together burgers. I don’t really have a routine there. I always see what’s going on and where things are happening.’ 

Do you miss anything in particular that isn’t here on board (apart from family and friends)?

‘The greenery, forest, trees, simply nature on land. Many people always say that they miss the ‘endless’ running so much, but I don’t think they’ve ever walked the whole ship in one go. You walk for quite a while and get your metres together.

I just miss the greenery… and my animals.’

Do you have a favourite place on board?

‘My favourite place is actually behind the sliding beam. I love hanging out in the hammock there. It’s great for hanging up, I have a perfect view of the water and when the sliding beam isn’t in action, it’s nice and quiet there too.’

What do you like most about life on board?

‘Of course, the view is a huge plus point. It’s always beautiful and I still feel privileged to be able to see it. Every sunrise or sunset has its own fascination and magic and I hope I never get tired of watching them. A particular highlight is of course the wildlife, which is also different on every trip. Whether it’s whales, turtles, albatrosses, dolphins or any kind of fish, it’s always wonderful to be able to see them in the wild. I also love the diversity of the people and the work here, be it from the crew or the scientists. It’s always interesting to see what topics the scientists come here with and what methods they use to get their samples. As I said, you always learn something new.’

Looking back, do you remember a particular trip in particular?

‘My first trip was super exhausting. We travelled to the northern Atlantic. The trip was great in terms of the people, but physically totally exhausting because the weather was bad. It was a trip where my favourite place was my bed. I got up in the morning, did my work and was happy when I could lie down again afterwards. I live on deck 5, so relatively high up, and when I lay in bed and looked out of the windows, I found it very scary when all I could see was the sky and then it swayed so much that all I could see was water. It makes you feel quite queasy.’