Our Blog
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🚢 How Do Ships Survive Heavy Storms at Sea?
Yes, modern ships are engineered to survive extreme weather. But surviving a storm at sea isn’t just about design- it’s about smart seamanship, proactive navigation, and onboard preparedness. From merchant vessels to cruise liners, ships have faced the fury of hurricanes and typhoons. Behind every survival story is a crew following key storm protocols: maintaining…
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List of MARINA-Approved Maritime Training Centers in Luzon (NCR Excluded) 2024
Now that COVID-19 restrictions are nowhere to be found, Maritime Training Institutions (MTI) are fully opening their training centers for seafarers. MARINA implemented special regulations like the blended learning mode which is a combination of online and face-to-face classes. This improvement helped keep our seafarers in compliance with international regulations. Here are the lists of…
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Seafarers are Getting Hired Using These Seaman Jobsites & Apps
Seaman job sites have become the new normal for sea-based job applications. This was the kind of hiring process that I preferred ten years ago. Actually, I tried this approach a few years back. I emailed 100+ local manning agencies, hoping to get hired. Only a handful of them responded, and they all wanted me…
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Top Ten Largest Shipping Companies in the World
Finding the largest shipping companies on earth is quite a bit of a challenge. At first, I thought this was an easy task. Just by thinking about the ships I see while sailing, it’s deceiving to conclude the company behind them is the biggest. Sailing for more than ten years made me think that the…
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🚢 Shipboard Organization Explained: Ranks, Duties, and Seafarer Salaries
A shipboard organization is the backbone of every vessel’s safe and efficient operation. Much like a national government, ships have a structured hierarchy that assigns specific roles and responsibilities to each crew member. This hierarchy ensures that operations, from navigation to engine maintenance and catering, run smoothly and without confusion. Every merchant vessel- whether it’s…
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💪 Bosun Duties, Responsibilities, Salary, and Career Path
A Bosun, also known as Boatswain, Bos’n, or Deck Boss, is the most senior rating in a ship’s Deck Department. Tasked with organizing and supervising daily deck operations, the Bosun plays a critical leadership role in maintaining the vessel’s hull, equipment, and external structure. Whether you’re an Able Seaman aiming to level up, or a…
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🌍 Best Mobile Top-Up Sites for Seafarers & Travelers
Staying connected at sea or while traveling internationally is essential for seafarers, tourists, and digital nomads alike. Whether you’re contacting family, coordinating crew changes, or managing online transactions, having mobile credit ready on-demand is a must. Fortunately, mobile top-up sites make this possible. These platforms allow you to recharge international SIM cards or eSIMs online-…
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🛰️ Top Free Vessel Tracking Websites (Reviewed & Ranked for Seafarers)
Vessel tracking has become an essential tool for seafarers, ship owners, maritime analysts, and even hobbyists. Thanks to AIS-based tracking platforms, we can now follow a ship’s movement live across oceans, ports, and terminals- all without stepping foot onboard. But with so many tracking websites out there, which one is the most reliable? Which offers…
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Expiring Seaman’s Book in 2020 is Extended for Another 12 Months
Recognizing the restriction this pandemic has brought us, MARINA extends the validity of the expiring Seaman’s Book for all Filipino seafarers. The Maritime Industry Authority, through its Advisory No. 2020-67, auto-renews all Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB) and Seafarer’s Identification Record Book (SIRB) expiring between March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020 for another 12 months…
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Seafarers’ Training to Continue Using Blended Learning Mode
Online/ offline training or Blended Learning Mode is now available for seafarers. You can now apply for or renew your SCTW certificates despite the raging coronavirus pandemic. Distance learning, which is new to the industry, will help us get our COP and COC much faster. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) launched its Blended Learning Advisory…