Our Blog
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🚫 Ships Can’t Have Guns? Top Private Maritime Security Companies That Fill the Gap
Between 2009 and 2011, the maritime world saw a dramatic surge in piracy particularly off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. Merchant vessels, often slow and unarmed, became easy targets. With millions of dollars in ransoms at stake, the maritime industry faced a critical question: “If piracy is a real threat,…
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Blended Learning on My Advanced Chemical Tanker Course
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) adapted its training requirements for maritime institutions to include blended learning or hybrid learning. As I wrote in my other article, hybrid learning is a combination of online learning and face-to-face education. The training is composed of two sets: an online class instruction and the practicum.…
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How Seafarers & OFWs Can Apply for an SSS Salary Loan Online
SSS Salary Loan is a program of our Social Security System that allows members to borrow a portion of their contribution for a short-term cash need. It is the most availed loan program of the SSS. Between January 2019 to August 2019, SSS released more than Php26.33 billion worth of salary loans. Of this figure,…
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MARINA SID – Mandatory or Not? And Why Fixers Can Book Their Schedules
As seafarers restart their careers this year, many are in desperate situations for that single piece of card presumably required for embarkation. Well, I guess everyone already knows what we’re talking about. It’s our Seafarer’s Identity Document or SID. And we all know that it’s been infested with fixers! What is SID anyway? Before that, let’s…
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Byaheng Manila Requirements: Traveling From Province to Manila
Metro Manila is still the epicenter of jobs in our country. As the government slowly reopens the capital, many of us are planning to go back to the Metro and return to the jobs we knew. However, it’s not like we used to be. Getting out of the province is not as easy as before.…
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List of Countries Allowing and Not Allowing Crew Change for Seafarers
Crew change is very much overdue for many seafarers at sea during this pandemic. According to the IMO, there are approximately 400,000 seafarers whose contract is expired and can not go home. That figure also translates to another 400,000 sailors who can not join their ships. Governments from around the world impose restrictions to crew…
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MARINA Approves Online Application for Resit & Reschedule of Theoretical Exam
All applications for the RESIT and RESCHEDULE of Merchant Marine Officers exam are now available through MISMO under the Examination Tab. To minimize unnecessary exposure of seafarers to COVID-19, MARINA implemented an online application of theoretical examination starting January 09, 2021. This means that all requirements for the above application such as examination permit and Medical…
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Filipino Seafarers Allowed to Travel Amid New SARS-CoV-2 Variant
The Philippine Government permits Filipino Seafarers coming from countries with reported cases of the new SARS-CoV-2 strain, to enter the country provided strict and mandatory protocols are followed. Additionally, they are allowed to leave the country following the exit protocols of the Philippines, as well as entry protocols to their destination countries. In a memorandum…
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🎄 How Seafarers Celebrate Christmas on a Tanker Ship
For most people, Christmas means family and time off. For seafarers, it could be spent in port, at anchor, or sailing mid-ocean. I’ve celebrated nearly half my seagoing career onboard. Some years felt festive, others were just another busy workday. 💡 Tip: Holidays at sea depend on schedule, weather, and company policy. Keep expectations flexible.…
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🚢 Types of Tugboats and Their Functions in Maritime Operations
Tugboats may not grab headlines like giant container ships or cruise liners but these compact powerhouses are the unsung heroes of modern shipping. From guiding tankers through narrow ports to performing offshore rescues, tugboats play an indispensable role in maritime safety and logistics. Despite their size, some tugboats cost over $20 million to build. Why?…