Our Blog
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❤️ 99 Reasons I Love Working on Ships – Life at Sea, Crew Bonds, & Perks
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, this idea popped into my head. I initially thought…
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Everything You Need to Know About the Ship Security Alert System
A Ship Security Alert System or SSAS is not your ordinary emergency alarm and is one of the vessel’s critical components that should not be overlooked. But before delving into that topic in detail, let’s have a recap of what we discussed lately. A few days ago, we talked about the ship’s emergency alarms and…
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⚡ Ship Emergency Generator: Purpose and SOLAS Rules
Electricity is the lifeline of any ship- whether it’s a fishing boat, a container vessel, or a supertanker. From steering and communication to lighting and navigation, every system onboard depends on electrical power. But what happens if all the ship’s main and auxiliary generators fail? In the middle of the ocean, a blackout isn’t just…
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🚢 Types of Bulk Carriers by Design: A Seafarer’s Guide
Bulk carriers are merchant ships specifically designed to transport unpackaged dry cargo- such as iron ore, coal, grains, and fertilizers in large quantities. Rather than using containers, these vessels load directly into massive cargo holds. According to SOLAS Chapter IX/1.6, a bulk carrier is defined as: “A ship constructed with a single deck, top-side tanks,…
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👨🎓 What Does a Deck Cadet Do and How Much is the Salary?
If you’re planning to become a Deck Cadet, you’re entering one of the most crucial training phases in a seafarer’s career. But despite their presence on many ships, deck cadets are not mandatory crew members– they are apprentices, not yet licensed officers. However, shipping companies that invest in cadetship programs recognize their value in addressing…
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Man Overboard: The Urgent Response Every Seafarer Must Know
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, when you hear a man…
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How Safety Drills on Ships Can Help You Survive an Emergency
Safety drills are an essential part of our seafaring life at sea. At one point in our careers, we all experience emergencies in one form or another. My first one 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…
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What are the Types of Ship’s Emergency Alarm Signals?
Emergency alarms on ships are essential for crew safety, signaling the need for immediate action. These alarms notify the crew of different situations, ranging from minor issues to life-threatening dangers. Knowing how to respond to each type of signal is critical, whether it’s a fire, a man overboard, or a general evacuation. But not all…
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MARINA to Speed Up Processing of COP/ COC Using New Policy
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) posted new policies for the filing of applications and rapid processing of Certificates of Competency (COCs) and Certificates of Proficiency (COPs). In their latest guideline which came out last October 10, 2022, Advisory 2022-54 emphasized several measures to accelerate the application and release of the sought-after STCW certificates. It can…
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SIRE 2.0 Will Upgrade Your Vetting Experience. Are You Ready?
A new inspection regime, called SIRE 2.0, will be served to all tanker vessels in the 4th quarter of 2022. According to OCIMF, this modern approach to vetting inspection will have significant improvements compared to the current version of SIRE. But we still don’t know how vetting exams will behave under SIRE 2.0. Though it…