Shipowner and manager founded in Rome in 1952, owning over 50 vessels and managing around 110 in total: dry bulk carriers (Panamax, Supramax, Handy), product and chemical tankers, gas carriers and container ships.
I worked on a 2020-built ship as a third engineer. The fuel-oil separators mostly had to be operated manually, the auxiliary engines could only be synchronized manually, and the engine control room was located two decks below; there was no electrician, while the third engineer had many electrical duties. The cabin and shower were very uncomfortable, with one tap shared between the washbasin and shower, and the ship had only 20 GB of internet per month. The food was one of the few positive points, although there was a noticeable difference in catering between senior and junior officers.
I completed two contracts with the company. The vessels were relatively new, but the Indian management added a great deal of paperwork. Overall, I found it to be a decent company with average salaries on the bulker fleet and relatively modern ships.
I ended up working for the company and had to deal with a senior engineer who constantly shouted at crew members without a clear reason. A cadet cried after being treated this way, and another crew member became visibly nervous. In my experience, he would continue bullying people unless they confronted him or managed to find a way to work with him.
I worked for the company and had serious problems with an Italian captain. After I refused to discharge slops in a prohibited zone and referred to MARPOL requirements, he repeatedly tried to set me up and openly threatened me. At the end of the contract, he damaged my employment reference. Ordering supplies required lengthy correspondence, equipment and spare parts were often missing or delayed, and the computers frequently froze, making work difficult.
I worked for the company and know these conditions from personal experience. On one vessel, the attitude from the Italian office was extremely poor: when problems involved Indian crew members, the Indians were treated as being right by default. Supply was generally adequate and the food was mostly good, but the chief officer's workload was excessive and depended heavily on the captain's attitude.
I worked for d'Amico in 2021–2022 and completed two contracts with the company. There were good opportunities for career growth, and I saw crew members move on to become captains; the cadet program provided real training. The vessels were relatively new, but the office created a great deal of pressure and paperwork, including extensive ECP seal requirements.
I worked in the engine department on a bulker about ten years ago. The Italian senior officers made excessive demands while providing little support, and the crewing agency placed me on board and then left me to deal with the problems myself. The company economized on everything, which made the work very difficult. I eventually stopped working with them and did not want to return.
Ocean Star sent me to D'Amico on a 38,000 DWT bulk carrier built in 2016. A fee was charged for joining, and the salary was average. The managers were always available, although dealing with the Indian crew involved a lot of additional paperwork and various courses.
I completed my first contract through Danica with d'Amico. The crewing company was generally fine: my crew change was arranged as stated in the contract, wages were paid on time, and tank-cleaning work was paid properly. The food on board was mediocre.
I have never encountered such a terrible company. The Italian captains are simply insane. One of them tormented me for three months. After I refused to operate in a 30-mile zone and pointed out MARPOL regulations, I became his sworn enemy. He tried to set me up and even threatened me onshore. In the end, he ruined my reference at the end of the contract. The company claims to be the best with high standards, but it's complete garbage. Ordering anything takes a long time, and they often send the wrong items. Inspections should pass without comments, but if you get even one, they will blame you, not the fact that the necessary equipment was not sent on time or that something has been broken for over six months. There is an overwhelming amount of paperwork, and the computers crash every 15 minutes, making it impossible to work. The chief officer doesn't even have a personal work email, and you have to beg the old fool for any work correspondence, especially during night cargo operations. A lot of things are done poorly, but no one reacts until they receive a remark from an inspection, then the blame game starts. Overall, in my experience, this is the worst company!