Our Blog
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🥨 10 Most Useful Rope Knots Every Seafarer Must Know on Ships
Rope work is part of a seafarer’s daily routine. Whether it’s mooring, lifting gear, rigging stages, or securing ladders, none of these tasks are complete without the use of ropes and more importantly, knots. That’s why knot-tying is a critical seamanship skill required on every vessel. From the bridge to the engine room, deckhands, officers,…
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How to Become a Ship Captain in the Philippines
Becoming a ship captain involves lots of sacrifices in time, money, and effort. The process is challenging because the job of commanding a vessel is serious. Due to that responsibility, the master of a ship is compensated greatly compared to other crew. A ship captain in the Philippines sailing on international vessels is one of…
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☸ How to Steer a Ship: 7 Helmsman Tips for Safe & Skilled Navigation
Steering a ship isn’t just about turning the wheel. It’s about precision, timing, and awareness of forces acting on the vessel- elements every helmsman must master. From deck cadets to ordinary seamen preparing for their first bridge watch, this guide delivers the real-world insights you need to sharpen your skills and boost your confidence on…
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⚓ Standard Helm Orders: Meaning, Execution, and Proper Responses
Steering a ship isn’t like driving a car- one wrong command at the helm could put thousands of gross tons at risk. To avoid confusion during navigation, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) established a set of standard helm orders through the Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP). These are used globally on all vessels. Whether you’re…
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☸ 10 Steering Mistakes Helmsmen Must Avoid (With Bridge-Approved Solutions)
Even with autopilot and modern nav systems, many Captains rely on manual steering during pilotage, berthing, and narrow channels where precision matters most. But steering by hand leaves room for error. A delayed or wrong rudder response can quickly escalate into a grounding or collision. Whether you’re a seasoned helmsman or a cadet on the…
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🚢 Types of Ship Rudders, Their Parts, and Steering Profiles
Ship rudders are essential for directional control, allowing vessels to safely navigate the oceans despite wind, waves, or current. Whether it’s a small motorboat or a massive tanker, a reliable rudder system is critical for maneuverability and survival especially in emergencies when propulsion and steering are all a crew can depend on. ⚙️ What Is…
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🌊 Dredging Explained: Introduction to Maritime Sediment Removal
Dredging is the underwater excavation process of removing sediments like silt, sand, mud, and debris from the seabed and transferring them elsewhere. It plays a critical role in maritime operations by keeping harbors navigable, deepening shipping lanes, laying subsea pipelines, and even extracting construction materials. Most dredging operations occur in ports, rivers, canals, and coastal…
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MARINA Cuts COP Costs by 50% & Removes Appearance for Releasing
After giving zero payments for first-time SRB applicants and a 50% discount for renewals last January 01, 2022, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has made another move that will greatly reduce the burdens of our seafarers. Last February 4, 2022, MARINA released Advisory No. 2022-08 concerning additional guidelines on the application and issuance of STCW…
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46-Year-Old FPSO Trinity Spirit Explodes with 10 Crew On Board
Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Trinity Spirit exploded and sunk off the coast of Ukpokiti Terminal, around Excravos, Warri South-west, Delta State, Nigeria on Wednesday (Feb. 2, 2022) early morning. It is unknown how much she is carrying but the 132,995 DWT ship is able to process 22,000 barrels of oil per day…
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Bulk Carrier Julietta D Abandoned, Collides With Tanker & Platforms
Maltese flag bulk carrier Julietta D collided with tanker vessel Pechora Star off the coast of Ijmuiden, Netherlands on January 31, 2022, at around 0940H UTC. Storm Corrie was battering the area. Around the anchorage area are wind farms. This looks like a recipe for collateral damage. The 37,200 DWT ship was at the anchorage…