Qualifications: 2nd class engineer (mechanic) licence; Engineering, mechanics and ship machinery degree, Maritime Academy of Niznhy Novgorod

Went to sea: 1992

Age: 37

Hometown: Novorossyisk, Russia

Married: Tatiyana

Hobbies: Motorcycling - owns a Kharitonov. "I like old motorcycles and that's why I bought it."; Swimming - in rivers, seas and lakes. "I like swimming in natural waters - it's good for health."

"I like my profession very much," says Oleg Kharitonov. "I liked to see the sea and the ships. And I like engineering. So I decided to become a maritime engineer. I like repairing ship plant and other machinery," he explains.

Kharitonov, from Novorossyisk on Russia's Black Sea coast, is third engineer on the ITM-managed vessel, Front Champion. Kharitonov joined ITM about two years ago after colleagues within the industry spoke favourably of the company.

"I'd heard about it and knew it was a big company. It takes care of the workers and their health. There are stable jobs and a good salary. I'm glad to work for them," he says.

And there's promotion prospects too - Kharitonov says that he hopes to become second engineer. But he shuffles his feet and looks abashed when he's asked if hopes to become Chief Engineer. "Maybe one day, in the long future," he says with a smile.

Kharitonov started at sea back in 1993, after finishing maritime college, on a small 5,000 ton coastal vessel that operated on the Black Sea and around the Mediterranean. "There were a lot of problems with that ship - it was very old and not in a good condition. There were a lot of jobs to do and I got a lot of experience," he recalls with chuckle.

His situation couldn't be more different now aboard the gleaming Front Champion. He works from 08:00 to 18:00 and he's one month and one week into a six-month contract. And when it's done, he plans to do another. "When it finishes, then I am going to stay, maybe with this ship, maybe another. I'm not going to leave this company," Kharitonov asserts.