How Matthew Onica strengthens crew readiness in HI-FOG® Onboard Training

When Matthew Onica boarded a cruise ship in early 2021 as a lifeboat service technician, he did not expect it to lead to a new professional direction. Originally from Michigan, he had moved to Florida for marine work. During the challenging COVID period, he met members of the Marioff team on board. Their discussion stayed with him, and he later realized that Marioff’s U.S. office in Fort Lauderdale was only minutes from his home.

Matthew joined Marioff first in a technical role, servicing and inspecting HI-FOG systems. As he prepared to move back home, a new opportunity opened in HI-FOG End-user Training, Marine. Today, he is happily based in Michigan, working as an HI-FOG Onboard Crew Trainer and Service Engineer, helping crews feel confident where they work.

Although Marioff’s HI-FOG Training facilities in Vantaa, Finland, provides a structured setting, Matthew emphasizes that onboard training offers something unique. “On the ship, everything is in its real place: the section valves, the panels, the compartments,” he lists. Seeing the system in context helps crews understand what each step requires.
Matthew adapts his approach to each group and adjusts explanations accordingly. “Guiding galley teams differs from training bridge officers. During training, if people recognize the situation relating to their own work, the learning becomes more intuitive.”

Once, the challenges of even a well-thought-out training program, as well as its importance, were demonstrated in a real-life incident. During a training session, a crew was reluctant to adopt Matthew’s recommended method, relying instead on familiar habits. During the same night, the HI-FOG system activated in the same circumstances as discussed in the classroom setting.

When Matthew returned the next morning, they reviewed the situation together, and the crew recognized that the steps he had explained—assessing the situation and using the tools and functions of the HI-FOG system as designed and instructed—would have been the way to go. The discussion reinforced how training supports clarity and confidence to use the system to its full functionality when unexpected situations arise.

Matthew has also noticed an overall shift in attitudes. “There used to be a tendency to avoid touching the system. The newer generation wants to understand it and use it correctly. Training supports and encourages confidence to drive that change.”

Matthew describes his approach as calm, structured and approachable. He encourages open questions and aims to create an atmosphere where participants feel comfortable speaking up. “If someone is unsure, it’s important they say so. That’s how understanding grows.” Matthew guides participants in connecting the content to their own routines, making sessions interactive and practical.

Recently, Matthew trained nearly 380 crew members across four days—an example of how efficiently HI-FOG Onboard Training can reach large groups. Conducting sessions on board ensures each participant learns within the configuration specific to their vessel, strengthening operational readiness.

For many customers, including HI-FOG Onboard Training as part of their agreement brings clear benefits. Crew turnover is frequent, and repeated training helps maintain competence. “You often have a completely different team six months later. Continuous training ensures the knowledge stays on board, maximizing safety for all crew and guests,” Matthew says.

Onboard delivery also reduces disruption: teams do not need to travel, and the training fits into the ship’s operational rhythm. Most importantly, it strengthens safety culture. “It’s to learn the lessons of failure and mistakes during training rather than during a real incident. Testing and training build trust in the system and in themselves.”

For Matthew, that trust is the core purpose of HI-FOG Onboard Training. “Crew readiness is everything. If people feel prepared, they act calmly, make better decisions and stay safe.”