With the new generation of seafarers and an increasing awareness regarding safety, we can consider the maritime industry as one of the safest job. With the implementation of ISM, reports are documented and signed by the crew onboard the ship. But to some extent, the reports that we read may or may not be an honest and straight report? How will we be able to know that we are getting an honest report? The extent of not getting an honest report could result to a serious accident in the future.

Read More…

Stowaways are part of the normal life of seafarers. We always find ways to prevent stowaways from coming oboard our ship. A lot of reports were made wherein stowaways were thrown overboard by the crew or captain of the ship, and left to die at sea. A lot of reasons arise whenever we talk about stowaways. It usually relates to poverty and hunger that forces them to migrate illegally. Stowaways transport to different countries on different “stowaway cargo carrier”, if you’d like to call it that way. They would go onboard General Cargo Ship, Container Ship, Tanker Ship, and all other kinds of ship that you can think of. It can either result to a successful migration or they may end up being caught onboard the ship. The worst part of it is when they are thrown overboard.

Read More…

A cadet on a maritime school aspires to become a good seafarer someday. With his learned knowledge he strives to embark onboard a ship in a good company. Working onboard the ship for more than 6 months even up to 1 year gives him a chance to upgrade his profession and for possible promotion as an officer. After a few years of working onboard the ship he suddenly decides to stop and start to work on land. Nobody knows the reason why.

Read More…

Upon arrival at port a seafarer would normally finished his job and turn over his duties in order to go ashore. After a 15 to 27 days of voyage at sea, we normally get excited whenever we see land. Putting aside the idea of having a visa, a typical seafarer would normally ask permission to the officer in charge in order to go ashore. Imagine the disappointment of a seafarer whenever his shore leave is denied due to not having a visa. Why do they really require seafarers to have a visa? We only stay a few days or most of the time less than 24 hours alongside a port.

Read More…

Knot tying consists of the techniques and skills employed in tying a knot in rope, nylon webbing, or other articles; as said by wikipedia. It requires skills of a seaman or commonly called seamanship, defined as the skills of a seaman onboard the ship. At school they usually teach us a lot of knot tying techniques. But we only use less than half of it. Learning the basics of knot tying complicates a lot of people. But once you get the hang out of it, you will find it less difficult to do.

Read More…

A person who gives excessive complaints, also known as complainers are very common on the ship. You can consider yourself a lucky person if you haven’t work with a complainer. Mostly they complain about the food. Its either they don’t like the food, or the way the chief steward prepares it. Eventually they will eat the food, after a few minutes of whining and complaining. But most of the time they will say harsh words to the cook whenever they don’t like the food. After reading this article, maybe you would consider to stop complaining with your food, and start appreciating the cook.

Read More…

A lot of country considers Mindanao as a home for terrorist groups like the “Abu Sayyaf”. But not all people living in Mindanao are considered as Muslim terrorist. Being a victim of the circumstances, many of them needs help and assistance. The “USNS Mercy“, a US Navy ship on a humanitarian medical mission helps a lot of countries that they visit. They included the Philippines as one of the countries that they could help with there medical mission.

Read More…

A sophisticated equipment known as the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) can determine the past actions or movements of the ship in the event of an accident. It serves as the ship’s “Black Box” if you would compare it to an airplane. How would a Voyage Data Recorder help us in terms of safety? Many accidents that involve two or more ships often resulted to human error. With the invention and implementation of the voyage data recorder, solving ship related accident cases will consume less time and better result.

Read More…

Inert Gas System is a gas or mixture of gases, such as flue gas, that contain insufficient oxygen to support the combustion of hydrocarbons. Inert gas prevents formation of flammable atmosphere in cargo tanks during cargo operation in tankers.

Read More…

Most Deck Officers know about ship squat. Ship Squat is the reduction of the vessels under-keel clearance caused by its relative movement. A vessel tends to squat when making way through the water or riding with the current. How does a ship squat occurs?

Read More…

Its a very popular prank phrase that you would always hear whenever your on the high sea’s, and this heckler “Filipino Monkey” was one their reason during the incident in the Strait of Hormuz.

Read More…

As I have said in my post “How to make a voyage plan“, I mentioned there about the book Bridge Procedures Guide. I was trying to look for a free download so you can have an overview of it, but I can’t find any in the net. I’ll just list down for you its contents and include a photo of the book.

Read More…

The Search and Rescue Transponder or SART is a device that assists the location of a ship or a survival craft in distress if in case they have abandoned ship. The SART will respond only to a 9GHZ ( X-Band, 3cm ) Radar. It should be checked every month. Activate the SART and check in the 3cm Radar if you will see a dotted line which it would usually displayed when interrogated by the RADAR. But be sure that there are no ships or any other vessel around within the vicinity of more than 12 NM, because they may mistakenly think that you are in distress.

Read More…

A Notice to Mariners is normally issued on board the ship on a weekly basis. It contains vital information regarding changes affecting the charts, nautical publications, and other publication on board the ship. On other companies that are signed up to Thomas Gunn, Kelvin Hughes, etc., this provides the updates of the charts and publications and minimized the work of the officers on board. I’ll give you a short description of a Notice to Mariners.

Read More…

I will enumerate for you the “Statutory Publications” commonly found on board the ship. The “Ship’s Library” must contain the following books and it must be known to all crew. But the problem is that, some Deck Officers or Crew doesn’t even know that it exists. The following list is for your future reference. I’ll try to find their links, and post it later as an update to this article.

Read More…

The Bridge library is a collection of important and informative books that you need in all aspects with regards to ship’s and shipping. Among this important books are the “Admiralty Books”. I’ll enumerate them for you.

Read More…

Ship Reporting system is very important for safe navigation. Whether it is a local or international requirement, it should be followed diligently. The purposes of “Ship Reporting System” are:

Read More…