It’s not your normal club. A Seaman’s Club is a great help for seafarers visiting foreign shores. In fact, it's their home away from home and an ultimate ally in a place where they may not know anyone or anything. I heard a story of a seafarer who met an accident on...
An essential step of the application process before getting hired is to successfully pass the cruise ship interview questions. But this industry is very competitive and many in the hospitality sector are vying for the same jobs. A flashy resume may get you noticed,...
I have mad respect for our early sailors who brave the seas and rely on celestial navigation to find their way. More than anyone else, these seafarers heavily studied and understood this subject matter to conquer the unknown. Back in the day, before fancy GPS and...
The marine sextant is one of those instruments that stood the test of time. It is a very reliable tool for seafarers and navigators crossing the seven oceans even before the introduction of electronic navigation. Even with today’s global positioning system or GPS,...
When it comes to emergency situations at sea, a properly equipped lifeboat can be the difference between life and death. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) sets the standard for lifeboat equipment as well as safety items required on...
It has been almost a year since Russia invaded Ukraine last 2022. The ongoing conflict between the two countries has taken a devastating toll on merchant ships and seafarers in the region. Since the start of the Russian Invasion last February 20, 2022, there were...
Maritime disasters have been a tragic reality throughout history. In 2022, the world witnessed several devastating incidents on the seas and rivers, resulting in a significant loss of lives and damage to property. Most of these accidents are a result of negligence and...
Some people say it's all about the money. And for me, it's about the money too, along with 98 other things why I love working on ships. So on one starry night, with a cold beer in my left hand and a few more bottles behind me, this idea popped into my head. I...
Having power and electricity is vital for ships to function at sea. It does not matter if it is a small yacht or a huge supertanker. They need energy to run and reach their destination safely. Hence, seafarers perform maintenance schedules for all the machinery and...
If you think that a deck cadet is an indispensable part of the shipboard organization, this will disappoint you. They may be an essential solution for the shortage of competent officers but these apprentices are not "must haves" on board. Sounds ironic? Let's...
What’s the big deal when a person falls into the water? If you are a seaman, you can just swim to the nearest shore, right? Or you can wait for the ship to turn around and pick you up. But that is not the case. As a matter of priority, a man overboard alarm signal is...
At one point in our seafaring career, we all experience emergencies in one form or another. My first was a fire in the swimming pool while discharging gasoline in the Port of Amsterdam. Fortunately, I managed to survive and live on to tell the tale. Nobody knows what...
Would you rather have a healthy, restful sleep and wake up in a pool of water, or be disturbed by a menacing alarm during your sweetest dreams? If you are on board, you don't really have a choice. Like it or not, emergency alarms are the number one priority to respond...
A ship's combination ladder is a setup where a pilot ladder is used in conjunction with an accommodation ladder to facilitate the embarkation and disembarkation of marine pilots. Since ladders are the only means of access on board, their proper rigging is always an...
D - Code flag; Keep clear of me, I am manoeuvring with difficulty. Sound signal; Vessel with manoeuvring limitations in restricted visibility. D - Morse Code ▬ ● ● D flag + six numerals - Code flags; Date. D shacke - Shackle having its sides parallel to one another....
C ▬ ● ▬ ● C - Code flag; Affirmative. Sound signal; Affirmative. C flag + three numerals - Course. Cab - Name given to screened shelter at wing of a navigating bridge. Caban or Cabane - Old spelling of 'Cabin'. Cabin - Small compartment in a ship set apart for use of...
B - ▬ ● ● ● B-class division - Divisions made of incombustible material and capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame up to the end of the first ½ hour of the standard fire test. B - Code flag; I am loading, carrying or discharging dangerous cargo. Sound...
A line-throwing apparatus (LTA) is a self-contained device that shoots a rocket projectile to a considerable distance while attached to a line. It is mostly used during rescue operations but sometimes on a ship-to-ship transfer where normal methods of contact using...
Emergency towing-off pennant or commonly known as “fire wire” is a long wire deployed on the side of a tanker ship. One end is firmly secured on the bitts while its eye on the other end is hanging one to two meters above the water line. Ships use fire wires...
Chipping and painting are one of the simplest maintenance jobs on board any merchant vessel. I haven’t experienced a ship where this task was not on the menu during my decade of sailing. Actually, I was for most of the time, sailing on tanker vessels. And these types...
If you stay long enough in your seafaring profession, you begin to see and experience crazy and unexpected things. This happened to me in a form of a promotion. And who doesn’t like one? Well, if you were just living a carefree life on board and didn’t care much about...
Imagine you are out to sea in a merchant vessel. The weather is fine and the tide is low. While enjoying the breeze, cruise, and booze, you notice that your draft is increasing! You scrambled the crew and after a few inspections, you discovered a hole in the side of...
Writing letter requests is one of the many formalities seafarers will eventually face. For one, these letters can be put into black and white and sent to the company which signifies seriousness on your part rather than hanging onto spoken words and promises. The most...
A Second Officer is a deck officer in charge of a navigational watch (OIC-NW). He is also called the Navigational Officer since his job description centers on voyage planning and chart works. At other times, he is called a Second Mate. If the ship’s captain gives the...
The ocean is not for the faint-hearted. And that’s where heroes are made. Since 2007, the IMO awarded individuals who displayed exceptional bravery at sea under extreme situations. These people put their lives on the line to rescue others in distress or prevent a...
The Master, as a shipboard manager, is in overall command of the vessel and personnel on board. Being the highest-ranking person, his duties and responsibilities cover the whole ship. Technically speaking, he is the "owner’s representative". He is responsible to the...
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