Fire presents a serious threat aboard vessels. It can spread quickly and cause extensive damage, putting the lives of crew members at risk. That's why it's essential for ships to have adequate fire fighting equipment on board. The type of extinguishing equipment...
When I was a deck cadet watching on the bridge, the Chief Officer was admiring the beautiful afternoon sun. Surely, this was a hint. I already had an idea that he wants me to check for our gyro error. Since then, I’ve been checking gyro errors and compass errors and...
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...
When a vessel is docked, she is at the mercy of the forces of nature. Wind and current can push her away, which makes it difficult to carry out any type of work. To secure her in place, the crew works with shore personnel to perform mooring operations. A successful...
A few days ago, we talked about the ship's emergency alarms and how bombastic, disturbing, and noisy they are. It should be that way since it's an alert system. In case something terrible happens, everyone on board knows what to do. So here's something to blow your...
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...
I must admit. Embarkation ladders were one of the most confusing nautical terms I encountered in school. These two words, simple as they are when separated, got me puzzled when combined. Partly because, the term "embarkation" in the most nautical sense, usually...
You might be rigging pilot ladders for many years already without knowing that your methods may not be correct. As a matter of fact, the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) studied 3,322 pilot boarding arrangements and discovered that 13.43% of them are...
If you think that using a ladder in a breathtaking setting only happens in movies, think again. The shipping sector also has this kind of struggle especially because the only access to a ship is by means of a ladder! Whether alongside, in the anchorage, or at sea,...
One of the most important firefighting components on board is the International Shore Connection. They are small but useful and have, what a like to call, a “VIP” (Very Important Purpose) status. It is very essential that even the big A’s may come looking for them....
There are many different types of lifeboats that merchant vessels use today. It is a vital safety appliance on board that it is mandatory to have them. That said, ships with no lifeboats, or have defective ones, are unseaworthy. Your ship may have the perfect...
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...
An Aneroid Barometer is a type of barometer that measures the weight of air or atmospheric pressure. It comes from the Latin words “baros” which means weight, and “metron” which means measure. Air exerts weight on everything around us but we don’t feel them so...
Anchors play an important role in a vessel. They are very crucial for the reason that ships with only a single anchor are unseaworthy to sail! That’s why all the parts of an anchor must be in good condition. Not just the anchor itself but its chain, windlass, bitter...
Pressure/vacuum (P/V) valves are essential safety devices on tanker ships. They are very important that no tanker vessel can operate without them installed. When I was undergoing a basic tanker training course before coming on board, our instructor hammered into us...
Anchoring is an operation on board that involves dropping a metallic object with “claws” called the anchor. It is attached to a chain connected to the ship and held at the bottom of the sea. Safe and proper anchoring maintains the ship’s anchor and its fittings in...
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