13 Things Sailors Must Keep in Mind About Their Sea Job Contract

Working at sea can be a dream turned into reality for any person who has harbored even slight love for the sea. However, at end of the day, it is a job that you need to be careful about.

It is important that a sailor reviews his contract carefully before signing it, for maximum safety against unprecedented events. Here is a list of things that a sailor must look for in his/her sea contract.

1. Written contract – Get your Own Copy

A written contract is more than necessary before you join a sea job. Verbal agreement or vocal mutual consent can be risky, even if working with acquaintances. Always make sure you own your personal copy of a written contract for all future references.

2. Know what you are signing in for

Work at sea can be just as exhausting as it can be thrilling. So it is important you go through your sea contract thoroughly before signing it. Your signature is your consent for everything mentioned in the contract and waives your right for any reverting in future. Hence, read carefully. Always!

3. Show faith in work, not in contract

Signing a blank contract in name of faith on the other party can be a fatal decision. NEVER sign a blank contract, even if it is just a blank paper. Your signature makes it appropriate for any legitimate purposes.

4. Consult guidelines

Clauses of a sea contract should be assigned in accordance with guidelines of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in shipping, to be precise. This agreement grants you rights in a sea job like right to form trade unions which are counted as basic human rights in any job.

Hence, your contract cannot debar you from such rights example right to consult or form trade unions, wage scales etc. It is important to cross check your sea contract with CBA.

5. Mutual consent

When you sign a contract, make sure it does not grant right for any alterations in any of the aspects of working on sea to one party alone. Your contract should ensure that any such changes in contract can only be made through mutual consent, which should be suitably notified.

6. Time duration

Check that the work duration of your sea job is clearly mentioned in your contract. Any clause suggesting a chance for change in the duration, extension without consultation should be flagged and appropriately considered before you sign the contract. Also, make sure your contract mentions compensation for premature termination of contract, conditions for extension of contract and penalty for quitting job before contract maturity.

7. Working conditions

The contract should clearly mention the working conditions of a sailor job especially the basic amenities. Working hours, working days and paid leaves should be clearly and separately mentioned in the contract. Absence of these clauses or ambiguity in their nature should be an alert sign.

These conditions are set by International Labor Organization. Make sure your contract adheres to the minimum standards set by ILO. For example, ILO states that no sailor can be made to work on ship for more than 48 hours per week with a minimum paid leaves of 2.5 days per month.

8. Pay scale 

A sailor job should adhere to pay scale standards set by ILO. And this pay scale should be clearly mentioned in the contract. Make sure there is no clause in your contract stating any possibility of change in pay scale without your consent or prior notice.

Also, ILO sets standards for compensation for overtime which should be at least 1.25X the normal pay grade. It is important your contract mentions compensation for the overtime you’d do while working on ship.

9. Compensation for damages 

A contract at sea should clearly state clauses for compensation of any damage during time on ship. Loss of property, physical injury, mental or psychological trauma and death (compensation to mentioned beneficiary) should be provided for due compensation.

10. Fine print and conditions applied 

Check the sea contract for any fine print clauses that may be mentioned. Withholding salary, unsuitable working conditions or waiver of any of the rights mentioned as basic human rights under CBA are unacceptable clauses. Do not sign a contract if it mentions any such clauses especially any scope of change in future without notification.

11. Deeming responsible 

• Make sure the contract does not unknowingly make you liable for being held responsible for any kind of damages that may occur during your sea job. Loss of vessel, losses incurred due to such circumstance, pirate attacks, ship safety etc are unfavorable conditions that a sailor cannot be held responsible for unless mentioned in his contract.

You cannot be deemed responsible for the same unless the contract has been signed by you in full knowledge.

12. International guidelines and not of a private region

Your contract should be made in accordance with guidelines of international authorities. A clause mentioning a particular region as the place of jurisdiction for the contract at sea should be considered.

13. Discretion

Keep in mind that a contract you sign legally binds you in all the clauses mentioned in it. Hence, always make sure you read it carefully and consider all the clauses and their implications before you sign it.

Work at sea is a fun experience especially for those who love it. But it is in your hands to make sure that you receive due perks for the same. All sea job contracts should be thoroughly read and then only signed.

Top 14 Things a Junior/Trainee Marine Engineer Shouldn’t Do When New to Ship

Trainee marine engineers, also famously known as junior or 5^th engineers on board ships, come on merchant vessels as part of their learning process and also to gain practical knowledge in order to qualify for competitive exams.
Every professional, irrespective of the field, start his/her career from an internship position, an on-site learning process. On ships, the junior engineer is an intern, who is not only excited of this new wonderful world called “ship” but is also equally naive, both professionally and personally.
Often termed as “Alice in wonderland”, “liability”, “useless”, etc. by senior officers on board ship, a junior engineer is like a new born baby who is over-enthusiastic (not always) about learning and exploring almost everything onboard ship. Now though he or she is at the least position of responsibility and cannot be blamed in case of any mishap, the consequences of any wrongdoing can be dangerous to other personnel on ship. For this reason, junior engineers should be properly briefed both before they join the ship and onboard ship by office and ship’s staff.

Also, though the responsibility of the junior engineer is of the 2^nd engineer of the vessel and the over all in charge is the chief engineer, the junior engineer himself should himself take care of certain things to avoid getting into trouble or causing any kind of dangerous accident.

We have enumerated top 14 points that a junior engineer on ship must not do to avoid landing him or her into any kind of trouble or creating any fatal situation on board ship.

1. Don’t Wander Around on Ship without Informing

Now we know that being new to an interesting place like ship can make anyone highly intriguing; therefore a junior engineer should show some restrain and also should not go to any part of the ship in working and off hours without informing a senior officer.

2. Don’t take any decision related to work without consulting

A junior engineer has been sent to a ship to observe seniors and learn from them. Because of lack of experience, a junior engineer should never take any work related decisions.  He must not touch or explore any machinery, switches or valves in the engine room without senior officer’s permission.

3. Don’t Go Onboard Main Deck without Informing

A junior engineer must know how to take care of himself and should give utmost importance to personal safety. He must not go out on the main deck without informing anyone onboard, especially during rough weather.

4. Have Doubts? – Stop there!

Even while working under senior officer, a junior engineer must not take any kind of further actions if he/she is in any kind of doubt regarding the work. Wait, ask, and then proceed.

5. Don’t Take Any Shortcut

It is obvious that anyone who is new to the working environment of the ship might get a bit frustrated and can start avoiding work or taking short cuts. A junior engineer should never indulge in taking any kind of shortcut for he would not be aware of the consequences. Tempted to take a shortcut? Stop! Ask the senior and take a brief break instead.

6. Don’t go to the Shore without informing

As interesting as the ship is to the junior engineer, equally interesting is going out on shore leave when the ship is at ports. A junior engineer should never ever step off the ship without informing seniors, or else it can land him in great trouble. In case he wants shore leave, 2^nd engineer or Chief engineer must be asked.

7. Avoid Messing with Environmental Policies

With the rise in awareness around the world regarding marine pollution, environmental policies should be the last thing a junior engineer should mess with, even if he or she is forced by any senior officer. In case of pressure from the senior officer to carry out any kind of mal practice on board ship, the junior engineer should directly inform ship’s captain or chief engineer regarding the issue.

8. Avoid Arguments – Be a Team Player

A ship has very less number of people working on board. They have to stick together through all kind of situations, irrespective of personal and professional differences. A junior engineer should try his best to avoid getting into any kind of argument with the seniors and should make the best out of the golden opportunity he has got to learn and update him or herself.

Respect seniors and fellow crew members, even if they shout or scold, it is for junior engineer’s own good.

9. Don’t Indulge in any kind of Mal Practices

Sometimes monotonous routines or lucrative intentions can provoke a person on board to indulge in mal practices. Being someone who is just starting his or her career, a junior engineer should stay away from all kind of mal practices on board ship in order to prevent threat to the professional career.

10. Don’t Skip Safety Procedure and Life saving equipments

Personal safety should be given utmost importance on ship. A junior engineer should know and learn how to use all personal safety equipments and should never skip any safety procedure, related to both machine safety and personal safety.

11. Don’t Miss Safety Meeting and Drills

Proper training at the start of the career adequately grooms the officer as he forwards on the hierarchy level. A junior engineer should never miss any safety meeting, personal protective equipment training, and drills on board ship. These important sessions play a great role in deciding how an officer will react in times of emergencies.

12. Be Honest – Made a mistake? Admit it!

No one is perfect, and being a junior engineer you are tend to make mistakes. Even if you make a major one, admit the mistake and take the blame. This would not only help you remember the lesson learnt but also prevent any kind of accident that can take place from the same. It would also make seniors respect you!

13. Keep Away from Strangers

When a ship is at port, several people come on board ship for some or the other work. A junior engineer should always be careful whom he or she talks to, for there are people who would try to take undue advantage of your lack of experience. In order to prevent any such incident, do not deal or talk directly with any person coming on board.

14. Shun Restlessness! Practice Patience

A junior engineer should know how to keep his cool for it will help him in the long run to face and tackle emergency situations. Don’t be overenthusiastic and restless. Learn to develop patience as haste will lead you nowhere.

Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Merchant Navy Zone. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Merchant Navy Zone do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Merchant Navy Zone.

Top 5 Female Sailors of the Marine World

Women have taken the world by storm on different occasions, for different reasons.  Sadly that has never stopped world from judging them as ‘weaker’ sex. But that only means women have sought even greater pleasure in proving their mettle time and again. Marine world was a world considered way out of a woman’s domain.

However, the notion changed when woman sailors arrived and arrived big. Here is a list of top woman sailors who changed the history forever.

1.       Grace O’ Malley

Considered one of the best female sailors of the world, her life presents a tale of heroism, sailing skills and determination. She was born in Ireland and took over sailing after her father’s death. But  when she did that, she not only set out to do what she loved but also to prove to the world that she was just as fine as any of her male counterparts when it came to sea life.

Even though history refers her as the greatest female ‘pirate’ of the world, there is no denying the fact that her sailing skills were better than most of the male sailors at the time, hence making her such an efficient pirate. Also it indicates the extent of traditional norms that she broke through her life and earned her current status. Pirate or not, Grace O’ Malley continues to be one of the best female sailors of the world.

2.       Skipper Thuridur

One of the world’s earliest woman sailors, Skipper Thuridur was a celebrated fishing captain in Iceland. Considered to be a pro at sailing and all its aspects especially rowing and steering of heavy wooden open boats, her skills made her one of the most efficient fishing captains in the area.

Her sailing career started at a young age of eleven years when she first joined her father’s fishing crew, never to leave it again. It was then that she discovered the true love of her life and paved way for many more female sailors to come in the future.

3.       Krystyna Chojnowska- Liskiewicz 

On 21^st April, 1978, the world history changed for better and forever. A young woman sailor docked her ship ‘Mazurek’, a Conrad in Poland becoming the first female sailor of the world to have single handedly circumnavigated the earth.

She completed her voyage in a span of 401 says without any break. Her trip was eventful, journey was difficult but the ultimate reward was sweeter than entire toil.

4.       Naomi James

A young sea ‘fearing’ but determined woman set out to test waters of the world’s oceans and returned a meager 272 days later on 8^thJune, 1978.

The reason this span has been referred to as meager is because her trip was around the world! Completing a circumnavigation of earth in 272 days, this young woman sailor broke the earlier record for the same held by Sir Francs Chichester by two days. Add to it the fact that she made this trip on her own and you shall be able to appreciate extent of her skill and prowess at sailing much better.

5.       Kay cottee

This Australian sailor made the world sit and notice her presence when she completed a single handed voyage around the world in a span of 189 days.

In 1988, at an age of 34 years, she set out from Watsons Bay to travel across the globe in her yacht named ‘ Blackmore’s first lady’. 189 days later, she made an entry into the Sydney Harbor and the world history for ever. Securing her name in the list of top female sailors of the world, she became an inspiration for many more like her.

Female sailors have made their presence felt. These are only five of such women who changed the world but there are numerous such women who have contributed to the marine world by breaking the norms and just going for what their hearts desired.

Do you think there are more fabulous female sailors that are worth mentioning? If yes, we would love to hear about them.

Are Rest and Working Hours Regulations for Seafarers Overrated?

The concept of rest hours and working hourson board ships is probably overrated. People from the industry have lately been harping on thorough implementation of rest and working hours’ regulations on board ships. However, the fact is those working on ships already know how to manage these hours quite well, irrespective of any document or regulations stating the same.

Going by the rest and working hours’ regulations, “rest” on board ships technically means sleep. However, working conditions on ships are way too different. In a planned sort of work, one can have planned hours of sleep, but in case of a breakdown or some problem, even if one is sent to sleep, he won’t be able to do so as his mind would be over-engaged with the existing problem.

The implementation of MLC 2006 is undoubtedly meant to benefit the seafarers, but in formulating certain provisions, they have gone overboard without realizing that the best people to make and enforce such rules for resting hours are those who are working on board ships. Though these rules would surely help seafarers globally to a certain extent, the truth is even without these rules; maritime professionals working on ships surely know how to look after each other without any one telling them how to do so.

Seafarers on board ships are good at keeping a track of working hours of their fellow mates. If a person has been working continuously, his colleague wouldn’t hesitate to take his place and ask him to come back after a certain period of time. On the other hand the relieved person would happily accept the concern shown by his colleagues and in most of the cases turn up earlier as he would be concerned about his colleague and also about the job that the other guys are doing and the stuff he’s missing out on.

Also, one cannot expect every shipping document to be perfect. People need to understand that more than the document it’s the spirit of a particular provision that is more important. It is not necessary that MLC 2006 would be written by people having long experiences of shipboard work. Thus, we shouldn’t be afraid to modify, adjust and innovate, but of course within limits.

Rest and working hours violations are serious. If rest hours are not given at all repeatedly or if there is dissatisfaction among seafarers, then it is a serious matter.  But if a certain number of “Xs” are not put on the excel sheets, it shouldn’t be considered an issue to be concerned about. Presently on most of the ships, the juniors sit down on a certain day and affix crosses (“x”) on working hours sheets of all professionals, obtain their signatures, and stack them in fat files. Needless to say, most of the seafarers consider these rules just a formality, which needs to be done away with whenever required.

Many a times seafarers on ships get overworked, say, when calling Singapore port( example) for taking fuel oil and lube oil bunkers, provisions, stores and spares during a limited port stay. They manage all these jobs along with the inward and outward maneuvering of the ship in the port. This increases their working hours substantially.  However, seafarers have always been managing such jobs sportingly and with the right spirit. They then compensate later by catching up on sleep when the ship is in open seas. When such habits occur naturally to a seafarer, one need not bother too much about the quantum of “X” marks on certain sheets related to working hours documentation.

Thus, in spite of all the regulations enforcing controlled rest and working hours for seafarers on ships, the right work-life balance on ship is achieved by the seafarers themselves who perfectly know how to adapt to any kind of working condition.

Having said all this, if the whole issue of rest hours is considered from a different angle, fatigue and stress on board ships, in many cases, is the result of incompetence and bad habits. A competent and skilled seafarer, who loves his job, is rarely seen complaining of fatigue. Hours of work and hours of rest are simply meaningless for such seafarers.

How to Become a Ship’s Cook : Types of Galley Jobs

Out of the various jobs on ships, one of the most important and often neglected-to-mention professions is that of a ship’s cook. Deckhands are the ones who serve meals to people aboard a ship but the responsibility of making those meals falls on the shoulders of a ship’s cook. Hence, if one aims to pursue the career of a chief cook, it is very important to first understand as to how to become a ship’s cook.

In layman terms, the galley is what is generally known as the kitchen of the ship. There are various types of ship galley jobs on ships. Every such galley jobs on ship are unique and allow a person to gain a lot of experience and proficiency so as to advance in the hierarchy.

Photograph by Shailesh Jani

The point of hierarchy is very relevant because just like in other areas of jobs on ship, even ship galley jobs follow a particular hierarchy. Every person aspiring to be a ship’s cook, after getting the necessary educational qualification, reaches the highest point in the galley only through the hierarchy.

The following points mentioned below will elaborate on the aspects of educational qualification, types of ship galley jobs, and the hierarchy that these jobs follow:

Educational Requirements: The basic requirement for having jobs on ship and in the galley is about knowing how to cook. This being the case, a person aspiring to be a ship’s cook has to have the necessary degrees from recognized institutions and universities that provide courses on culinary subjects. In addition to this, a person also needs to have a prior work experience for a minimum of at least two years. Experience is a very important factor because of the hugeness of the field where a person is required to work. An experienced person will know how to deal better with a larger crowd of people as opposed to someone who is completely inexperienced and unaware. Also, when it comes to experience, it has to be noted that certain ship galley jobs accept candidates who have experience in terms of restaurants and hotels on land while some strictly require a previous experience of working in a ship as the ship’s cook.

Types of Ship Galley Jobs: The aspect of hierarchy is a major factor that comes into place here. The sub-points of various jobs on ship pertaining to a ship’s galley, according to the hierarchy will help clarify further:

• The Chief Cook: This is the highest level in the hierarchy of ship galley jobs. The chief cook is the one who is in-charge of the galley as a whole. He is also known as the Executive Cook. It is the chief cook’s responsibility to check for the menus and assign duties to other professionals working in the galley.
• The Assistant Chief Cook: As the name suggests, the assistant chief cook is required to assist the chief cook in the planning and organising of meals and menus. Also the duty of the assistant chief cook extends to maintaining the presentation aspect of the meals and menus.
• The First Cook: It is the duty of the first cook to oversee the preparation of meals and menus in the galley. The first cook is further assisted by the second and the third cook when it comes to the preparation of meals and menus.
• Second and Third Cook: Their main duty extends to helping and assisting the first cook in the preparation of meals and thus ensuring uninterrupted flow of quality meals to the people aboard the ship.
• The Party Chef: The more formal name for this professional is the ‘Chef de Partie.’ As the name suggests, the party chef is the one who is responsible for planning and managing party meals in a ship. Buffet meals also come under the purview of this particular ship’s cook.

These are the main jobs on ship in the ship’s galley. Some of the other jobs on ship include Cook Trainee, Assistant Cook Trainee, Storekeeper, Assistant Storekeeper and Pastry Man.

It needs to be noted that ship galley jobs are very lucrative and the pay is very high. This is a major attracting factor for being a ship’s cook. In addition to this factor, another USP of being a ship’s cook is the fact that the job offers a very high level of exposure to not just various places but also various dishes and cuisines in the world.

With so many benefits and features, there can be no denying that working on ship galley jobs is not derogatory but is a matter of dignity and appreciation. The shipping industry would not be as flourishing, popular and thriving without the added advantage of excellent chefs and cooks who prepare food for ship’s crew and passengers.

INDos Number and its Benefits to Indian Seafarers

INDos number can be considered equivalent of a complete identity for every seafarer in India. It is a computerized national database that includes important information of every certified seafarer in India. This information has been compiled in a single database to make it easily accessible for statutory authorities like Flag State, Port State, employers and Immigration staff etc.
INDos number stands for Indian National Database of Seafarers. A complete INDos number includes a seafarer’s full name, address, photographs, signature, telephone number, qualifications etc. It is made of eight alphanumeric characters and can provide as a means to crosscheck a seafarer’s identity.

INDos number is an example of better technology entering the Indian marine industry to make matters simpler and better to handle. The biggest advantage of such marine identification number is that it provides a centralized base for all the information of a seafarer at one place. This means every certified seafarer working in or from India will be provided with such a number, making it easier to access his/her information.

Credits: Sudan Maden/Flikr

Also, this number allows a quick system for cross reference. Any company or authority can easily run a background check on any seafarer’s claims and qualifications, using this simple number and a single database. Easy to use INDos number checker comes in handy for the cross reference with centralized database.

An INDos number ensures authenticity of a seafarer’s qualification. Possessing this number makes it much easier for a person to find a job in the merchant navy. Marine numbers are issued after strict and close examination which rules out any chance for error. This is exceptionally beneficial for seafarers as this number alone is sufficient to speak for genuineness of their qualifications.

Besides this, having an INDos number eliminates the need for a seafarer to carry his original documents with him all the time, especially when working abroad. This single marine number is a sufficient identity proof for any seafarer to pass as a certified mariner throughout the world.

With a single INDos number, complete identity of a seafarer can be found out. It includes his/her basic information like name, photograph, address and qualifications. Every Indian and foreign national holding a Certificate of Competency given by the Indian government or the Continuous Discharge Certificate or someone who has completed modular courses approved by DG shipping is issued such number before entering into the merchant navy.  This means a better system of record keeping and a better tracking of whereabouts of every seafarer from India. That comes as a remarkable advantage in industry like marine industry where there are no fixed boundaries of work.

What Are The Duties Of A Ship’s Lookout?

A lookout is a person at the ship’s bridge who maintains a continuous watch of the sea to report any kind of hazard that can be an obstacle in the navigation and cause harm to the ship. According to COLREG, a lookout is required to give his uninterrupted attention at all times to the ship’s navigation in order to inform the officer on watch (OOW) about other ships, shipwrecks, debris, floating objects etc.
Though the job might sound simple, the duty of a lookout is a responsible one and should be taken with utmost seriousness. Lookout helps in carrying out the duties of the officer on watch (OOW) more efficiently.

The lookout should inform the officer on watch when he observes any of the following:

• Any kind of floating object
• Navigation mark or lights
• Any type of distress signal from other ships or ports
• Land
• Ice, irrespective of size or form
• Any type of ship irrespective of its size
• Sandbags or prominent navigational features
• Problem with any of the ship’s navigation systems, including navigational lights
• Any kind of hazards or derelicts that can be dangerous to the ship’s navigation

The main duties of a lookout are:

• To give utmost attention through sight, hearing, and any other means in order to assess any change in the operating environment
• Detecting and reporting on ships, shipwrecks, debris, shipwrecked person, and other navigational hazards
• Reporting on possibilities of collision,stranding, and other dangers to navigation
• The lookout should remain at his position at all times until he is relieved from his duties. On relieving, he should provide all the information to his reliever about things that he has reported.

The job of lookout is mostly carried out by Able Seaman (AB) or Ordinary seaman (OS) of the ship. However, it is to note that the lookout duties cannot be shared with other works.

Today, the job of a lookout is of utmost importance on ships plying in piracy affected areas.

8 Ways for Mariners to Fight Frustration During Job Search

Job search is no easy task. The highs and lows of it can take a toll on anyone’s morale. The circumstances that led to joblessness become redundant once you get into the phase of job search. What matters then is how well you face the current situation.

The maritime industry has been seeing the rough side of employment for some time now. Many major marine based economies have had setbacks due to sinking recession which means more seafarers find themselves looking for jobs than before. Besides, there are also those mariners who wish for a job change due to other reasons.

In end, job search is becoming a common thing for seafarers and so is the frustration that accompanies job search. Fighting off this frustration is just as important as it is easy, if there is a planned way to go about it. Here are some ways to that can be used to fight off the demons of hopelessness.

1.   Contemplate: something that most mariners in the phase of job search will get wrong is the understanding that job search is a full time job in itself. Once out of a job, it is important to realize that job search is going to be exhausting, to say the least. If you jump into it not understanding this fact, frustration is bound to sink in sooner than it should. So when you face this situation, begin your search with an understanding that it might be tougher than you anticipate.

2.   Strategize:  So the first practical thing to do to beat that frustration is to make a strategy. It will be your ready-for-action plan that will allow you to ward off any frustration that could build up later. Start with laying down what you need to do and how to do it, their order and how you will get it done. For example, lay out a plan networking that happens to be very important in job search. Getting in touch with people through phone, internet or using websites such as LinkedIn for your job search or a combination of all these (the best option!) are all probable choices and you need to make a plan how such things will be handled. However, do not spend a lot of time on making the strategy and get to work quickly.

3.   Research: This is the most important step of any job search. Your research lets you know about all the available opportunities out there for you and the resources available at your disposal. For example, if you are looking for a shore based job, start by looking what kinds of jobs are available. For example, many marine engineers are presently finding jobs as quality managers or commercial consultants, insurance inspection chiefs etc in shore based shipping companies. Start looking for all such job openings in your local area, look for people you can contact- colleagues from vessels you worked on previously or people you know who work in similar jobs. And if there is a position that you are interested in but need some special skills (like accountancy, report writing, typing or additional languages) then you should focus on finding out what they are and how to acquire them.

4.   Make over:  the frustration hits every job searcher when all search leads to a dead end. How to avoid that? Search via a new path i.e. doing things differently. Start with your resume. Make it a more achievement based depiction of experience you have gained over your years in service. Mention all skills you have acquired, tasks you have performed and chances you have taken. For example, instead of using a preformed template for resume, make one of your own from scratch. Add all your skills singularly, in bullet points.

5.   Socialize: most seafarers report highest rate of frustration once they start cutting off from rest of the world. Absence of job is a difficult situation to deal with but cutting people out of life would only make the frustration more pronounced. Best idea is to go out and meet people. Networking and forming connections is very important at this stage. Go out for lunch with someone you know, maybe even vaguely who works at a prospective company or in field of your choice. Offer to buy.

6.   Follow a schedule: Mariners, especially seafaring mariners often find it very hard to deal with situation of having no job. Sans hard routine of a ship, life seems like a void that is often filled up with frustration. What you can do to avoid it is to make a schedule and follow it. Don’t stay in bed. Get out. Do something. Meet people. Send out emails and your resume. Call everyone you might know. Get on with your job of job search.

7.   Set realistic goals: if you expected to be back at job within a month of losing your previous job, you might end up with only frustration a month later. At present, oil and gas extraction industry in America alone has one of the lowest employment rates.  Situation is similar in many other parts of the marine industry. That spells not so good news for all mariners out there who are looking for job change. Under such circumstances, it is best to understand gravity of situation and plan your job search accordingly to avoid being hit by pang of frustration when you might be very close to the end.

8.   Take a break:  Loss of job means a change in many things but giving up on things you like with the job search pressure is only going to increase frustration levels. Go out with family, have a few drinks, go fishing, read, play monopoly. Do things that make you happy and continue doing things that will lead to the final end. Just don’t give up on yourself and your dream of finding the right maritime job for you.

Who is a Ship Superintendent?

A ship superintendent is a person who is in charge of ensuring whether the necessary repair works on a ship are being executed properly, especially during the dry dock of the ship. A ship superintendent’s role and scope, when it comes to the shipping industry, is huge and requires complete alertness and vigilance because of the great responsibilities bestowed upon him.

In simple terms, a ship superintendent can also be referred to as a supervisor or an overseer. He is the one who has the documents that specify the necessary repairing and conditioning require for a ship and he is the one who has to reassure that the repairing and reconstruction of the ship is being carried out properly in the allocated shipyard or dry dock.

Credits: depositphotos.com

As mentioned above, in terms of marine jobs, the job of a ship superintendent is not an easy one. He is the one who will be blamed primarily in case there is any problem with the ship when a voyage is about to be undertaken or if the ship is in mid-sea and encounters any problem. As an overseer, a ship superintendent has to be constantly in touch with the ship repair company for updates and progress on the repairing work. This continuous diligence ensures that the ship repair company does not take any extra time and thereby any extra costs for the purpose of repairing.

A ship superintendent is generally assigned to a particular shipyard where he is provided with the paperwork of the ship that is in need of immediate attention. After getting all details about the repairs required by the ship and the paperwork, the ship superintendent, also known as ‘ship sup’, takes care of all the proceedings right from the time the ship comes to the shipyard, until the time all documents verifying that the maintenance of the ship has been carried out effectively are handed down to the concerned authorities.

However, it has to be noted that the profession of a ship superintendent is not something that one can easily apply to. There are specific institutions that provide superintendent training to become good and successful ship superintendents.

These institutions provide superintendent training to aspiring candidates on various subjects like how to respond in emergency situations, document verification and processing, how to survey the extent of damage to a ship, cost efficiency and maintaining effective budgeting and many other relevant points.

These points are important when it comes to superintendent training because only when such training is provided can a candidate be proficient in the shipping industry and prove to be an asset to the ship owner or shipping concern.

Experience is also an important factor when it comes to ship superintendents. More the experience a professional has, the better it will be when the supervising duty is taken into account. An experienced person will have a better practical idea about the duty that the profession involves than an inexperienced person. This point is therefore considered as very relevant while hiring ship superintendents.

There is no denying that the profession of ship superintendent is unique and offers lot of opportunities. As out-of-the-box professions go, there is no doubt that being a ship superintendent is one of the most prominent choices of all the other marine jobs present in the market today.