Claudia Wei

    claudiamente@hotmail.com

    CAPTAIN Giovanni Aprea said he feels sad when thinking about leaving Shekou, his home for the past eight years, when his contract expires near the end of this year.

    Aprea, a 54-year-old Italian, is a marine terminal supervisor who monitors the operations of oil tankers for CACT Operators Group.

    “There is so much about Shekou that I will definitely miss when I probably will be working in Brazil,” said Aprea, who first arrived to work for CACT in April 2005. CACT is a joint venture by China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC); Agip of Italy, which was later acquired by another Italian company, Eni; and Chevron and Texaco of the United States. CACT specializes in deep-water oil drilling and was set up in the 1980s. CNOOC will take over all operations at the end of this year, as agreed in the partnership contract with foreign partners. Aprea said he will probably relocate to Brazil with his employer, Chevron.

    Aprea has worked in the oil industry for the past 35 years as an oil tanker captain. He has worked on all continents except Australia and South America, but said his time in Shekou has especially created precious memories.

    “First of all, I feel safe working and living here,” said Aprea, adding that security is of top concern for professionals working abroad. “I don’t have to worry about my personal safety even walking alone on the street at 3 a.m., which is unthinkable in Nigeria. There, you dared not leave your hotel when you weren’t working.”

    He said life in Shekou is relaxing and welcoming.

    “There are a lot of expats and there are many facilities catering to expats in the neighborhood, which have helped us quickly get used to life in a foreign land,” he said, noting activities for people who are away from their beloved family members.

    Aprea’s wife and his two children, Michelle and Gaia, are back at home in Italy. They’ve never had a chance to visit Aprea in Shekou, for various reasons. But Aprea said he’s never been lonely or homesick.

    “I see them whenever I miss them,” said Aprea, pointing to a Webcam on his computer. And he visits his family four times a year: in June, in September or October, around Christmas and during the Chinese New Year.