Boarding the Bridge – from Naval Architecture Student to NAPA Trainee

by Oskar Mewes

From classroom to maritime excellence

Boarding the bridge of a massive ship can evoke awe and admiration for the sheer scale of the vessel, the importance of its purpose, and the responsibility it represents. That’s exactly how I felt when I joined NAPA as a Trainee in October 2024.

I’m Oskar, a Naval Architecture student from Bremen, Germany, and my connection with NAPA began at university. For three semesters, I worked with NAPA’s design software, an essential tool that helped me fully understand the iterative nature of ship design. I was impressed by how well the software aligned with this critical workflow. I realized that NAPA was far more than just a tool. It was a solution created by naval architects for naval architects, designed to tackle the unique challenges of our diverse field. This realization not only sparked my passion for ship design but also inspired me to pursue a future where I could work with NAPA professionally. And what better place to start than at NAPA itself?

Joining the NAPA Crew

Leaving behind the familiar comfort of my university life for the Finnish winter was a bold step, but the warmth and support I received from everyone at NAPA made me feel instantly at home. I noticed that the NAPA values, such as, Enjoy working together, are not just pretty words, but the Naparians are living up to them.  As part of the Customer Service team in NAPA Design Solutions, I had the chance to dive deep into real-world applications of the software and help solve unique challenges for customers around the globe.

Each inquiry provided new learning opportunities, showcasing the vast and varied applications of NAPA software. The strong customer relationships added a meaningful, personal layer to every task.

A culture of trust and collaboration

At NAPA, trust and independence go hand in hand. From day one, I, too, was able to build on this trust and get empowered to work independently on tasks, strengthening my analytical and problem-solving skills.

But what truly sets NAPA apart is its collaborative spirit. Whether tackling a tough challenge or exploring a new idea, I could always rely on the expertise and support of my colleagues. Curiosity is not only welcomed but encouraged. The culture at NAPA fosters innovation and continuous learning, making every day genuinely inspiring.

Charting a course ahead

The trainee experience at NAPA was pivotal in my academic and professional journey. Through my role in NAPA’s customer service, I gained a comprehensive overview of all-time permanent and ever-evolving challenges within the maritime industry, while discovering positions and tasks I hadn’t been aware of before. At the same time, and most importantly, I was able to deepen my expertise in one of the most widely recognized software solutions in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering.

NAPA’s dedication to providing such invaluable opportunities for future professionals is something I genuinely value, and I’ll carry that experience with me as I steer my future in Naval Architecture.

Cheers,
Oskar

Interested in joining NAPA?

Explore our open positions: https://jobs.napa.fi/#jobs. If there are no Trainee positions currently available, feel free to connect with us and select Trainee @NAPA as your area of interest so you can stay updated on future openings.