Our Blog
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💰 Eight Budget-Friendly Shore Leave Guide for Seafarers
Shore leave is more than just stepping off the gangway. It is a chance to relax, explore new places, and take a break from shipboard life. Whether you are alongside for 24 hours or a full week, planning ahead ensures you enjoy every moment without draining your hard-earned wages. Many seafarers return onboard wondering where…
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🌊 10 Life Lessons You Only Learn Working at Sea
Life at sea is unlike any other career. The challenges, camaraderie, and unpredictable nature of shipboard life teach lessons you won’t find in any classroom or office. Here are 10 valuable insights every seafarer gains through experience- lessons that make us tougher, wiser, and better prepared for both sea and shore life. 1. The Captain…
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⚠️ Medical Scams Targeting Seamen? A Seafarer Shares His Story
Seafarers in the Philippines and around the world rely on Pre-Employment Medical Examinations (PEMEs) to secure contracts. But what happens when the system that’s supposed to protect your health… actually puts it at risk? In recent years, multiple seafarers have reported suspicious medical findings, forced referrals, and unnecessary procedures with many leading to extra costs…
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Renew Your Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate in 7 Minutes
It was way back in February 2009 when I had my first shot of the yellow fever vaccine with my classmates. The Bureau of Quarantine Cebu branch gave us a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate also known as a Certificate of Vaccination after that. Initially, our yellow fever certificate is valid for ten years. When it…
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Why Manning Agencies Use Backer System & How to Overcome It
To get on board today, you need a backer. The backer system in our shipping agency is so entrenched that cadets without someone backing them up will have difficulty getting on board. One of the most challenging aspects of the career for fresh graduates or those aspiring to work at sea is getting into a…
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SSS Salary Loan for First Timers: One-Day Approval
The SSS or the Social Security System is a social insurance program designed to promote the welfare of its members and their families against economic hardships caused by life’s contingencies such as sickness, maternity, disability, old age, and death. I heard many stories from my fellow Filipino seafarers about how they received financial assistance from…
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The Cost of BECOMING a Seaman – Expenses from School to Ship
For the uninitiated person, becoming a seaman looks deceptively easy. Thousands of new graduates flood the seafaring industry every year hoping to fulfill their dreams of seeing the world for free while getting paid in hundreds or thousands of dollars. These new cadets, fresh from their school, aspire to help their families by becoming a seaman. This is…
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🚢 Strange Ship Terminologies and Their Surprising Maritime Origins
Ever wondered why ships have terms that sound more like jokes than serious nautical lingo? From “poop decks” to “kamote,” maritime language is filled with unusual words- some funny, some puzzling, and most with stories rooted deep in seafaring history and tradition. 🌊 Whether you’re a cadet still learning the ropes or a seasoned officer…
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How to Create and Update Your POEA/ DMW e-Registration Profile
POEA was recently renamed to DMW or the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). But still, the POEA e-Registration facilities and their functions stay the same. The layout on their eRegistration website is also similar but with a few added elements to reflect its new name. I updated the tutorial steps here to reflect the steps…
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POEA Online Registration System to Replace SRC
POEA Online Registration System will replace the old Seafarer’s Registration Certificate according to POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued guidelines on the registration of seafarers online in compliance with POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 13, Series of 2016. This move started in August 2016 and changes were made to…