Ignazio Decandia

Ignazio DeCandia was born in Molfetta, Italy, a fishing city on the north side of Bari, which is a major port city on the Adriatic Sea. His father owned a business where he restored furniture and his mother was a homemaker.Ignazio graduated from the “Istituto Tecnico Nautico - Francesco Caracciolo di Bari” and became a cadet engineer spending eighteen months in this position on the SS Raffaello and Donizetti, Italian ocean liners.

Upon completion of this journey, Ignazio was required to study and then pass an oral exam given by the Port Authority - in front of five people including the Commander of the Harbor.

The success of this exam allowed Ignazio to become “Aspirante Capitano di Macchina”, eligible for the Title of 3rd and 2nd Engineer Officer.

He began his career on the Italian Lines Ship “Italia Spa,” a national fleet.After 42 months, he was required to study again, pass the exam given by the Port Authority and became “Capitano di Macchina” eligible for the title of 1st Eng. Off., Staff Engineer and Chief Engineer.Within a few years, Ignazio reached the Highest Position (4 stripes) of Chief Engineer, responsible for the on board Machinery-Navigational- Communication, Electrical and Hotel technical operation. Dealing also with Classification Societies and Government regulations, regarding- Safety, Security, Health and Environmental. He was in charge of over 70 on-board personnel who reported directly to him.

Ignazio says, “I was very fortunate that my career allowed me to travel the whole world, yet the memory I cherish the most is meeting my wife onboard.Ignazio describes the ship as a ‘floating city’ with beauty salons, restaurants, doctors, fitness centers, lounges, spas, pools, and sanctuaries.

Ignazio and his wife traveled onboard till 1999.When Ignazio was abroad in Australia, the Vice President of Technical Services visited the ship and asked him to be a Superintendent Engineer, responsible for 3 ships. This was a land position which required him to move to Los Angeles, California.