Shoreleave is considered one of the most time honoured and important aspects of being a seafarer. The ability to get away from the ship and pressures of work have been long considered untouchable but things are changing, and not for the better.
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Sleep is one of the most important issues at sea. Tired, fatigued, stressed and distracted people make mistakes. So ensuring there is enough time to rest, and that you can get quality sleep is all important. Is enough done at sea to aid restful sleep?
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The Philippines' House of Representatives committee on overseas workers has approved a new “Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers” designed to ensure working and living conditions that are consistent with Philippine law and international maritime conventions.
Read MoreSeafarers are not the only group of people who suffer the effects of separation and solitude – but they are unique in the circumstances of being at sea, and of how hard it is to tackle the issue.
The cyber security concerns which are facing shipping are often talked about. However, it seems this could just be part of a wider problem. With an aging seafarer population, there are concerns some crews are behind the curve when it comes to technology. Is this true?
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There have been some very sad stories lately of seafarers being beaten, and of relationships breaking down at sea. There can be a pressure cooker atmosphere on some ships. So what can seafarers do to build relationships and make life at sea one of friendship and camaraderie? Let’s look at the 12 steps to making good things happen
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There are many criticisms that seafaring is not as exciting as it used to be. Given that it may have involved historically involved keel hauling that may not be a bad thing. But how can work be more fun and battle back against boredom?
Read MoreAccording to the obvious evidence of our own eyes, industry data and a report by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), it is still rare to find women workers at sea. However, thanks to work of innovative companies and organisations such as WISTA and the trades unions, more women are confronting prejudice and becoming valuable members of ships' crew. But what are the problems for women at sea, and what happens if romance breaks out?
We often talk about seafarer happiness, and the effect that has onboard. What about seafarer pain? It is too easy to forget that shipping safety and performance can rest on how seafarers feel as they go about their business – and teeth are a big part of this.
Read MorePeople have always gone to sea for many different reasons – for some there is still a sense of adventure, for others the challenge, while some are in for the money - and pay the cost of being away fro...
Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin…when you are all set to leave the house to head back to sea it can be a real pain. So what are the essential bits and bobs which every seafarer needs....
In the multi-cultural maritime world, “Maritime English” is the key to making things happen. But how did it become that way, is it for the best and just how important is it to understand the language ...
One of the most challenging aspects of life at sea is to somehow keep relationships and friendships alive despite being away so often. Communication via the internet can help those fortunate enough to...
One of the more popular pastimes for many seafarers is fishing. It seems no sooner has the anchor grabbed the bottom, then the lines and hooks are thrown over the side and the angling begins. However...
There has been a massive evolution in different vessel designs – back in the day all vessels were created to the same basic template, and no matter what they ended up doing it was a similar pattern. B...
