3 Safety Lessons You Learn Working at Sea

Entering a maritime school for college is equal to challenging yourself to go out of your comfort zone. You will receive serious trainings and when you have finally finished school, you will be exposed to a different work culture. You will even work under different weather conditions.

To survive the sea faring life you have chosen, here are three basic courses you should know about. These will help you survive and even enjoy your chosen career.

Sea Survival Basics

Working at sea is far different from working offshore and more so on land, and having fears and worries can intensify the struggle of overcoming sea life. Make sure to remain calm all the time whether you are in the center of a storm or sailing through the quietude. Being calm will keep you mindful of the things you need to do.

In doing on board tasks, keep yourself hydrated. Considering the weather and location, there might be chances that you’ll get dehydrated faster so take extra care of yourself.

Do not expose yourself to too much sun. Put on some sunscreen and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. It’s one thing do be in danger of storms but it’s another to be made sick by the sun.

Remember, keeping your body in a good shape is a good start in surviving a life at sea so make sure to give your body proper workout.

First Aid

Immediate aid for wounds and small injuries is the adage “prevention is better than cure” at work. Since unexpected things can happen whenever and wherever, utilizing knowledge about first aid is preventive and, ultimately, cost effective.

Familiarize yourself with the common sea-related injuries such as attending to a sea buddy who accidentally steps on a sea urchin. You can help by cleaning the affected area and soak it in hot water. Soaking it in hot water will help the skin be more pliable so it will be easier to remove the spine. See this for further information.

Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention

Though you are surrounded by water, fire is ironically, something you need to take serious precaution with. So to keep your ship out of fire, keep the engine rooms clean. Track down leakages in fuel or other flammable systems and attend to them properly. Apart from this, put flame detectors, heat detectors, and smoke detectors on board. Above all, make sure that the fire management equipment are functioning well. See this guide on how to prevent fires in engine rooms.

Courses about how to survive a career at sea can be learned detail by detail in maritime schools, however this should not end on just passing trainings and written exams. More than surviving, living a career at sea will require you to be open-minded with all the possible things and situations that might happen to you, including little surprises or big unexpected accidents. But no matter what the situation is, keep yourself calm and try to remember what you have learned from your maritime school and training center.

Want to be a Seafarer? Check this list for Maritime Schools in the Philippines.

Maritime Schools Accredited by MARINA and CHED

Maritime Schools in the Philippines

If you want to become a seaman and seafarer, look for a Maritime Schools in the Philippines. The list of schools is below to make you know if the school you choose is accredited before you take Maritime courses or training. The school or training center must be accredited by MARINA and CHED to fulfil your dream to be one of the seamen in the world.

Completing a basic training can give you a chance to on-board. Or be part of the Navy, why not. Taking course between BSMT and BSMarE is the key to level-up your marine journey or for better position.

Working as a seaman has lot of benefits that’s why many Filipinos choose this profession.

1. Higher Salary
2. Opportunity to travel the world
3. Stepping stone to the higher position
4. Paid Leave, etc.

If you want to become one, read How to become a Seaman in the Philippines. For the meantime, find first a school where you start the maritime life. Listed below are accredited maritime schools, universities and training centers.

NCR

• Asian Institute of Maritime Studies
• FEATI University
• Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training under Malayan Colleges Laguna
• NAMEI Polytechnic Institute
• Our Lady of Fatima University
• Philippine Merchant Marine School
• Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
• PNTC Colleges (Formerly Philippine Nautical and Technological Colleges)
• Technological Institute of the Philippines
• West Bay Colleges

CARAGA

• Surigao Education Center

Region I

• Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy
• Panpacific University North Philippines
• Philippine College of Science and Technology

Region II

• University of the Cagayan Valley

Region III

• Baliwag Maritime Academy
• Central Luzon College of Science and Technology
• Dr. Yanga's Colleges, Inc
• Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific
• Midway Maritime Foundation

Region IV

• University of Antique
• Western Institute of Technology

Region IV-A

• NYK-TDG Maritime Academy
• Private University of Perpetual Help System DALTA

Region V

• Bicol Merchant Marine College Academy
• Private Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (Canaman Campus)
• Private Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (Legazpi City Campus)

Region VI

• Iloilo State College of Fisheries
• John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
• Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College
• University of Iloilo
• VMA Global College

Region VII

• Bohol Institute of Technology
• Cebu Technological University
• Eastern Visayas State University – Public
• Private PMI Colleges (Philippine Maritime Institute)
• University of Cebu
• Western Visayas College of Science and Technology

Region VIII

• Naval State University
• Palompon Institute of Technology

Region X

• Capitol University
• Misamis Institute of Technology
• Private Southern de Oro Philippines College
• Technological University of the Philippines

Region XI

• Holy Cross of Davao College

Region XII

• Mindanao Polytechnic College

*Source Wikipedia

What is a Seaman Book or CDC?

Seaman Book is one of the requirements you need if you want to work on a ship or any maritime job. Like a passport, the book will verify your identification and if you are capable to work as a seaman. A Seaman Book is also known as CDC or Continues Discharge Certificate. This document is needed if you are a seafarer and getting on board. It will certify a Seafarer as the evidence of his all services done.

You can only get this record book once you pass a maritime training. Many maritime schools offer trainings, but make sure you got a training center that certified by the Maritime Industry Authority. (Visit http://www.pntc.edu.ph/, they are one example of maritime training center here in the Philippines.) Let’s know about what is a seaman book is.

Seaman Record Book

Once you got on board, the captain will sign the book that shows that you are part of the boarding ship included the time duration and position.

A CDC is mostly valid for 10 years and need to renew 6 months before its expiry date. But if you are still on board when the CDC expires, the end day of your trip will be considered as your CDC expiration date.

Every country has their authority agencies that issue this book. In the Philippines, MARINA is the one who handles maritime industry and they are also the one who issue a record book. See how to get the seaman book in the Philippines.

The Seaman Record Book contains information about the Seafarer. His/her basic information, country, birth place, past jobs done and feedback from the captains. It is a vital record you need to know in any seaman. And in case it lost or something happens, case of emergency information is included in the book.

The CDC all over the world have the same format. This is why it is easy to understand its contents.

A Seaman Record Book is an important weapon to a seaman without this they can’t travel.

I hope this will help you to know more what a Seaman book is and its purpose.

How to get a seaman’s book in the Philippines?

Every seaman needs a seaman’s book or SIRB to embark. All Filipinos seamen can get their Seaman Book at MARINA. What are the requirements and How to apply? See it below.

1. TOR or Transcript of Record. High School TOR for Undergraduate and College TOR for Graduate.
2. School Diploma. High School and College Diploma
3. NSO Birth Certificate.
4. NBI Clearance with Visa Seaman.
5. 2 copies of ID picture passport size. The picture must be colored, white background and you must be in proper uniform.
6. Basic Safety Training Certificate. If you don’t have yet. Enroll to an accredited marine training center. Check www.pntc.edu.ph.

Xerox all the requirements to avoid interruption. Once all the requirements are settled, file them at MARINA or Maritime Industry Authority office.

The processing fees is Php990 and get your seaman’s book after a month but if you need it in rush, you will pay Php 1,670. You may get your Seaman’s Book at the Marina where you apply or deliver it to your home with delivery fee.

By the way, you can set an appointment, kindly visit http://marinaappointment.com/marina/index.php for more information.

This is one step to reach your dream. Good luck! Keep safe while on the sea.

The Environmental Effects of Shipping

Maritime schools in the Philippines should not only produce competent and able seamen that could face any threats and hurdles during their expeditions but also have compassion for the environment.

Shipping plays an important role in the transport of goods both in global economy. The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) says in their Regional State of the Coast Report for the Western Indian Ocean published on June 2015. Almost 90 per cent of goods are transferred via oceans and seas. However, unknown to others, especially those who are not environmentalists at heart, shipping activities have a great impact in our environment.

The said report identified the negative environmental impacts of the shipping industry such as…

Pollution resulting from the ship’s day-to-day activities

It has been all over the news, the issue about Shell’s Arctic Challenger just this June 2015. The ship was assigned to drill oil in the Arctic. Oil exploratory drillings are not new but it is quite alarming that we have to disturb the most isolated places in the planet as if it is our last resort. Of course, environmental activists cried foul and even hang on to the ship’s anchor for 63 hours to prevent it from leaving.

Aside from the danger of an oil spill, the black soot emitted by ship’s smokestacks contributes to polar ice sheet melting, Earthjustice says. Let us not forget, drilling also worsens global warming because of the toxic gases from ships like sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. As for the Arctic Challenger, the drilling activity commenced.

Pollution as result of accidents

We don’t have to look outside our borders to cite an example. One of the notable sea accidents happened at Tubbataha Reef, a Unesco World Heritage Site, last January 17, 2013 caused by the 68-meter USS Guardian. The estimated damage is at least 2,345 square meters. Only this year on January 20th, the Philippines received a compensation of $ 1.97 M (P87 M) from the US government. A measly amount compared to the damage it caused because it would take a generation for the reef to regrow.

Coral reefs serve as a shelter, a breeding and a feeding ground, and a nursery for thousands of aquatic species. It is a potential food source for the years to come—that is, if the marine ecosystem remains intact.

Translocation of invasive alien species via ballast water and hull-fouling

Ballast water is necessary to the ship’s daily operations as it provides stability by filling the ballast tanks with water as it unloads cargo and releases it after a new cargo is loaded. Unfortunately, it is not just ocean water; a million of alien marine species hitchhike when they do this. One other thing is hull-fouling. It happens when microscopic and aquatic animals, i.e. barnacles, mussels, sponges, algae and sea squirts, stick in the ship’s hull thus fouling it.

What are the threats these stowaways bring once the ship transfers into a different location? According to UNEP’s “Invasive Alien Species – A growing threat in Regional Seas” report, once invasive alien species colonized a new area it could compete against the food source of indigenous species; affect the fisheries production; and cause harmful algal blooms that may result to shellfish poisoning.

Maritime training centers in the Philippines don’t have enough powers to impose changes in the system alone. They could introduce new lessons discussing the harmful effects of shipping to their students and how it could be prevented. But it should be an international effort and not just proposed by few concerned individuals. We have already abused our land’s natural resources. Do we need to endanger our seas and oceans as well?

Welcome

Hello, welcome to my Blog. Most of my posts will tackle about seaman life, tips and issues that anyone may encounter. Also, how environment can affect on this job. Thank you!