Leonardo Conte

During my 4-year tenure with Carnival Cruise Line, I have consistently demonstrated technical excellence and leadership, leading to my promotion from 2nd Deck Officer to 1st Officer Junior (Bridge Manager). In this elevated role, I serve as a key link between the senior command and the bridge team, ensuring that all navigational and operational standards meet the highest safety requirements of the "World's Most Popular Cruise Line®."

My current role involves high-level oversight and management of bridge operations:

• Bridge Resource Management (BRM): As Bridge Manager, I oversee the effective coordination of the bridge team, ensuring clear communication, workload management, and strict adherence to the Navigator/Co-Navigator system during all phases of the voyage.
• Navigational Oversight: Supervising the execution of the passage plan and ensuring that all navigational equipment (ECDIS, Radar/ARPA, AIS) is fully operational and compliant with Carnival’s Global HESS (Health, Environment, Safety, and Security) standards.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Acting as a mentor to Junior Officers and Cadets, supervising their training, watchkeeping duties, and professional development on the bridge.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensuring the vessel maintains 100% compliance with SOLAS, MARPOL, and Flag State regulations. I play a leading role in emergency drills, often managing the Bridge Emergency Team or coordinating communications during critical scenarios.
• Administrative Management: Handling bridge-related documentation, including the deck logbook, voyage reports, and ensuring all certificates and nautical publications are up to date.

Prior to my promotion, I spent several years mastering the foundations of cruise ship operations:

• Officer of the Watch (OOW): Responsible for independent navigational watches, managing traffic separation schemes, and coastal navigation.
• LSA & FFA Maintenance: Acted as the designated officer for the inspection and maintenance of Life-Saving and Fire-Fighting Appliances.
• Stability & Ballast: Supervised ballast water exchange and ship stability calculations during port operations.

• Adaptability: Proven ability to manage large-scale operations on mega-ships with thousands of passengers.
• Decision-Making: Quick and effective problem-solving skills in high-traffic and complex maritime environments.
• Safety Culture: Deeply committed to Carnival’s "Culture of Care," prioritizing the safety of guests, crew, and the environment.

Core Responsibilities & Technical Expertise

In my role as 2nd Deck Officer and Dynamic Positioning Officer (DPO) at Phoenix Offshore, I operated at the frontline of complex offshore marine operations. I was responsible for the precise maneuvering and safety of specialized vessels during high-risk offshore installations and supply tasks.

My role required a high degree of technical proficiency and situational awareness, specifically focusing on:

• Dynamic Positioning (DP) Operations: Acting as the primary DPO during DP watchkeeping. I was responsible for maintaining the vessel's position and heading using computerized systems (DP2/DP3) while operating in close proximity to offshore platforms, subsea structures, and other vessels.
• Bridge Resource Management: Managing the bridge during complex operations, ensuring clear communication between the deck crew, ROV teams, and offshore installations.
• Safety & Risk Assessment: Conducting Daily Tool Box Talks and preparing JSA (Job Safety Analysis) and Permit to Work (PTW) documentation to ensure all offshore operations were performed within the "500m zone" safety limits.
• Navigation & Watchkeeping: Performing standard OOW duties, including safe navigation to and from offshore fields, monitoring AIS, Radar, and ARPA to prevent collisions in high-traffic areas.
• Deck & Cargo Supervision: Overseeing the loading, securing, and discharging of specialized offshore cargo, including heavy-lift items and hazardous materials, ensuring compliance with stability requirements.
• Maintenance of Navigational Equipment: Ensuring all DP sensors (MRU, DGPS, CyScan, Radius) and bridge equipment were fully operational and calibrated according to IMCA guidelines.

My five years with Giuseppe Bottigieri Shipping Company represent a period of significant professional development and increasing responsibility. Starting as a Deck Cadet and progressing to 2nd Deck Officer, I gained comprehensive experience across a fleet of large bulk carriers and tankers, mastering the complexities of international maritime operations and dry-bulk logistics.

As a 2nd Officer, I assumed a leadership role on the bridge and focused on the technical management of the vessel:

• Navigation & Passage Planning: Responsible for the preparation of the berth-to-berth passage plans using both paper charts and ECDIS, ensuring compliance with the Master’s standing orders and commercial requirements.
• Medical Officer: Often designated as the person in charge of medical care on board, managing the ship’s hospital, medical stores, and providing first aid/medical treatment as required by the STCW.
• GMDSS Radio Officer: Managing all radio communications, ensuring the functional readiness of emergency signaling equipment, and maintaining the radio logbook.

• Safety Officer Duties: Supervised the maintenance of all Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) and Fire-Fighting Appliances (FFA). I conducted weekly and monthly inspections to ensure the vessel remained in 100% compliance with SOLAS and Flag State regulations.
• Mooring Operations: Acted as the officer in charge of the aft or forward mooring station during arrivals and departures, managing the deck crew to ensure safe and efficient maneuvers.

• Foundational Learning: Under the mentorship of senior officers, I mastered the basics of seamanship, celestial navigation, and bridge watchkeeping.
• Cargo Operations: Assisted in the supervision of loading and discharging operations (specifically dry bulk/grains/coal), learning the importance of stability, shearing forces, and bending moments.

• Rapid Advancement: Successfully transitioned through three ranks within the same company, proving adaptability and a high standard of professional ethics.
• Vetting Success: Participated in numerous Port State Control (PSC) inspections and RightShip vetting, consistently maintaining the high operational standards expected by the Bottigieri fleet.

During my time with Caremar, I served as an Able Body Seaman (AB) aboard high-speed crafts (HSCs) and Ro-Pax ferries. Operating in one of the busiest maritime corridors in the Mediterranean, my role required extreme precision, physical stamina, and a constant focus on passenger safety during frequent arrivals and departures.

My daily duties were centered on the efficient and safe execution of deck operations, including:

• Mooring & Unmooring Operations: Executed rapid and frequent mooring maneuvers in various weather conditions. I was responsible for handling lines, winches, and capstans, ensuring the vessel was securely berthed within tight schedules.
• Watchkeeping Support: Assisted the Officer of the Watch (OOW) as a lookout and helmsman, maintaining a high level of situational awareness in congested waters.
• Garage & Cargo Management: Supervised the embarkation and disembarkation of vehicles and passengers. I ensured that all vehicles were correctly positioned and lashed (when necessary) to maintain the vessel's stability and safety.
• Safety & Life-Saving Maintenance: Conducted regular maintenance on deck equipment, including fire-fighting appliances (FFA) and life-saving appliances (LSA), ensuring all gear was ready for immediate use.
• Passenger Safety: Acted as a key member of the emergency response team, guiding passengers during drills or actual operations and ensuring all safety corridors remained clear.
• Vessel Upkeep: Performed essential deck maintenance, including scaling, painting, and cleaning, to ensure the vessel met the high standards of the company and maritime regulations.

• Efficiency: Mastering fast-turnaround operations in busy ports like Naples, Capri, and Ischia.
• Teamwork: Working closely with the deck department to ensure seamless transitions between voyages.
• Adaptability: Transitioning between traditional ferries and high-speed units while maintaining strict safety protocols.

Serving aboard a prestigious private yacht based in Monte Carlo, I functioned as a key member of the deck department. This role required a unique blend of traditional seamanship and high-end estate management, ensuring the vessel was always in "show-room" condition while maintaining the highest standards of safety and discretion for the Owner and his guests.

My duties were defined by precision, aesthetics, and technical reliability:

• Vessel Maintenance & Aesthetics: Responsible for the meticulous upkeep of the yacht’s exterior. This included specialized teak cleaning, stainless steel polishing, and paintwork maintenance using high-end marine products to meet "Superyacht" standards.
• Tender Operations: Acted as a primary driver for the yacht’s tenders, providing safe and professional transfers for the Owner and VIP guests between the anchorage and the Monte Carlo port.
• Mooring & Anchor Watch: Executed complex mooring procedures in crowded Mediterranean marinas. I assisted in Mediterranean-style berthing (stern-to) and maintained vigilant anchor watches during stays in the French Riviera.
• Watersports & Guest Services: Managed the deployment and maintenance of "toys" and watersports equipment (Jet Skis, Seabobs, etc.), ensuring guest safety during all recreational activities.
• Bridge Support & Navigation: Assisted the Captain and Officers during coastal navigation, performing lookout duties and ensuring the bridge was informed of all nearby traffic in the busy waters of the Côte d'Azur.
• Security & Discretion: Maintained strict confidentiality and followed rigorous security protocols to ensure the privacy of the Owner and high-profile visitors.

• Detail-Oriented: A "zero-flaw" approach to vessel cleanliness and organization.
• Service Excellence: Ability to interact professionally with high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in a formal environment.
• Versatility: Seamlessly transitioning from heavy deck work to guest-facing service roles

During my nearly two-year service as a Corporal in the Italian Army, I was stationed at the Recruitment Center in Naples. This role required a high degree of responsibility, clerical precision, and the ability to manage large volumes of personnel data while maintaining the strict standards of military conduct.

My role was essential to the logistical and bureaucratic flow of the recruitment process:

• Candidate Processing & Induction: Assisted in the management of new recruits, ensuring all documentation was accurate and compliant with Ministry of Defense regulations during the initial selection and enlistment phases.
• Personnel Record Management: Responsible for the filing, updating, and archiving of sensitive military records. I handled confidential data with the high level of security required by the Italian Army.
• Logistical Coordination: Supported the daily operations of the recruitment center, including the scheduling of medical examinations, aptitude tests, and physical evaluations for thousands of applicants.
• Public Relations & Information: Served as a primary point of contact for candidates and their families, providing clear information regarding the "VFP1/VFP4" career paths and the requirements for entering the military.
• Security & Guard Duty: Performed regular guard and sentry duties at the military installation, ensuring the safety of personnel and the integrity of the facility in accordance with established military protocols.
• Command Support: Acted as a direct assistant to senior officers, preparing daily reports and ensuring that the administrative chain of command functioned efficiently.