Recently, while the Singapore - flagged vessel "Hafnia Amessi" was docked at the IMC (Zhoushan) Shipyard for maintenance and repair, local personnel from Zhoushan were invited on board for a return visit and cultural exchange. This exchange was not an isolated event but a heartfelt response to a previous invitation to international seafarers. Just weeks earlier, the crew of “Hafnia Amessi” had been warmly welcomed to attend a thrilling Zhejiang Basketball Association City League (Zhoushan), where they cheered alongside local fans and experienced the city’s vibrant sports culture. Beyond the stadium, the seafarers tasted local delicacies like fresh seafood. Those memorable moments planted the seeds of friendship, prompting the crew to plan this return invitation as a way to express their gratitude and share their own cultural heritage.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/STnwUa9Y_DA
After boarding the vessel, people from both sides exchanged gifts. Zhoushan locals brought "Guanyin Cakes", a specialty from Zhoushan, symbolizing Zhoushan locals’ best expectations.
And they hope this can convey the blessings to these friendly international seafarers. In return, the crew from "Hafnia Amessi" treated Zhoushan locals to Indian special snacks, sharing a taste of their own culture.
Under the guidance of Indian Captain Saxena Ankit, they visited the wheelhouse, operation console, and the crew's living quarters in sequence. The captain provided detailed explanations about the functions of navigational instruments and the vessel’s operational status, enabling the visitors to gain a far more intuitive and comprehensive understanding of the demanding and complex work of ocean - going seafarers.
In the vessel’s activity room, a friendly table - tennis match was in full swing. The players displayed their remarkable skills, with rapid serves and powerful strokes creating one thrilling scene after another, drawing cheers from the onlookers. After the exciting table - tennis match, everyone gathered to experience the popular Bingo game in India. The international seafarers had thoughtfully prepared exquisite gifts for the winners, adding an extra layer of excitement and warmth to the event and making the atmosphere even more harmonious.
As the exchange drew to a close, the international seafarers treated their guests to a sumptuous feast of traditional Indian cuisine. The table was laden with Indian lassi, a refreshing yogurt - based drink, crispy Indian Papadum, and aromatic biryani, a dried rice with mutton and Indain Masala. Both sides sat together, raising their glasses to freely discuss topics spanning work, life, culture, and etc,.
“I’m truly delighted to share this wonderful time with all of you today,” remarked Captain of “Hafnia Amessi”, Saxena Ankit. “Earlier, we were very honored to be invited ashore for exchanges that left unforgettable and wonderful memories of Zhoushan. Today, inviting you aboard to tour our vessel, share cultures, and savor each other’s cuisines embodies what Chinese culture calls ‘lǐ shàng wǎng lái (courtesy demands reciprocity)’.” It’s very important that he specifically used the Chinese idiom "lǐ shàng wǎng lái" to express his recognition of Chinese culture.
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