Wave – The Seafarers’ Digital Wallet

Tag: Cadets Corner

  • First Day Onboard a Ship? Take a Breath — Your Cadets Corner Guide

    First Day Onboard a Ship? Take a Breath — Your Cadets Corner Guide

    CADETS CORNER

    First day onboard? Take a breath.

    New ship. New faces. A staircase that apparently leads to another staircase. Welcome aboard — nobody expects you to know everything on day one.

    Your first day onboard a ship can feel like arriving in a new country where everyone knows the rules, the shortcuts and which door you definitely should not open. Everyone, that is, except you.

    That unfamiliar feeling is normal. Every seafarer had a first day — including the captain who now seems to know everything from the weather forecast to who borrowed the good pen.

    These cadet tips focus mainly on oceangoing merchant ships: tankers, bulk carriers, container ships and similar vessels. Many apply elsewhere too, but your company’s procedures, your ship’s instructions and your assigned training programme come first.

    1. Safety first. Everything else comes after.

    Before your first watch, your first task or your first enthusiastic “Yes, understood,” remember the most important thing: your safety — and the safety of the people around you — comes first.

    Look after yourself. Seriously. No task is worth getting hurt over, and nobody needs you to prove your enthusiasm by taking risks. Your actions can affect the person beside you, the team working nearby and the people who come after you.

    ! Our number-one rule: leave the ship as safely and as healthy as you joined it.

    With more knowledge, more confidence and a few good stories — not an injury. You came onboard to build your career, not to become the example in the next safety meeting.

    • Wear the required PPE and follow the instructions for the particular job.
    • Do not attempt unfamiliar work without proper instructions, authorisation and supervision.
    • Watch your surroundings: moving equipment, slippery surfaces, stairs, ropes and other ongoing operations.
    • If you do not understand, ask. Never pretend you understood an instruction just to avoid feeling awkward.
    • If something appears unsafe, stop and speak up. Alert your supervisor and follow the ship’s safety procedures.

    Being new is normal. Asking for help is professional. Guessing your way through a dangerous task is neither.

    2. Introduce yourself and find your bearings

    A simple introduction goes a long way: your name, your role and a friendly greeting. Ask who you should report to, where to take your joining documents and who will guide your first-day familiarisation.

    Deck cadets work within the deck department; engine cadets within the engine department. Confirm your immediate supervisor and designated training officer rather than guessing from someone’s uniform.

    If the ship is busy with cargo operations, manoeuvring or a crew change, keep introductions brief and follow instructions. You will have time to tell your life story. Probably over several meals.

    3. Respect the hierarchy. Respect every person.

    A ship has a clear chain of command. Learn who assigns your work, who supervises it and how to raise a question or concern. Understanding that structure helps the team work safely.

    But respect is for every seafarer, every department and every rank. Nobody needs officer’s stripes to deserve courtesy — or to teach you something valuable.

    Deck cadets: do the watchkeeping maths. Imagine an experienced able seafarer has spent five years on a schedule involving two bridge watches per day. Using 180 watchkeeping days per year as an illustration, that is 1,800 watches. Your first six months on that same illustrative schedule? Around 360.

    Actual schedules and duties vary. The point is simple: that person may have years of practical experience with lookout duties, steering and bridge teamwork. Listen. Your training and their experience can complement each other.

    Engine cadets: an experienced oiler or motorman may have completed countless machinery rounds and maintenance jobs. They may notice that a sound, smell or vibration has changed before you have worked out which machine you are standing beside. Ask what they look for, under your supervisor’s guidance.

    Learn from everyone: officers, ratings, the bosun, the cook and colleagues from other departments. A ship works because people contribute different skills, not because everyone has the same title.

    Learn from their experience while checking tasks against approved procedures and your training officer’s instructions. “We have always done it this way” is a reason to ask questions, not permission to copy an unsafe shortcut.

    4. Familiarisation comes before figuring things out yourself

    Ship familiarisation is your introduction to working safely on this particular vessel. Pay attention when someone explains alarms, your muster station, escape routes, lifejacket arrangements and how to report an emergency.

    Ask for anything unclear to be shown again. Complete familiarisation records honestly; do not sign to say you understand something that has not been explained.

    Follow access restrictions. An unfamiliar door is not an invitation to explore an enclosed space or machinery area alone. This is a ship, not an escape-room challenge.

    5. Be punctual — and check which clock you are following

    Confirm ship’s time, your duty schedule, meal times and when you are expected to report. Your phone may still be living happily in your home time zone.

    ! Deck cadets and apprentice officers: aim to be on the bridge at least 15 minutes before your assigned watch starts.

    Agree the reporting time with your supervising officer and follow the ship’s instructions. Arriving early gives you time to settle in, listen to the handover and understand what is happening before your assigned duties begin.

    This is a practical recommendation, not a universal STCW “15-minute rule”. Required preparation and handover time should be included in the work schedule and recorded correctly, with rest requirements respected. A cadet joins under supervision; they do not independently relieve the officer of the watch.

    ! Closed footwear on the bridge. Wear the footwear and clothing required onboard. Slippers and casual clogs can stay in the cabin — the bridge is a workplace, even when the sea looks like a holiday brochure.

    Bring your notebook. Keep your phone put away unless authorised for a work task. Listen without interrupting critical communications, and never operate controls without instruction and authorisation.

    Engine cadets should likewise confirm their reporting time, required PPE and supervision arrangements before joining a watch or job.

    6. Show willingness to learn through small actions

    You do not need an impressive speech. Be ready when expected, listen carefully, take notes and follow through on the tasks you are given. Your attitude shows in the small things you do consistently.

    • Ask when unsure: “Could you show me the correct way to do this?”
    • Confirm instructions: “Just to check, you want me to do this first, then report back?”
    • Be honest about experience: “I have studied this, but I have not done it onboard yet.”
    • Report problems promptly: mistakes and uncertainty become harder to fix when hidden.
    • Welcome feedback: use corrections to improve, rather than treating every correction as a personal attack.

    Choose a suitable moment for general questions. During a busy manoeuvre, follow directions and save the long discussion for afterwards. If an instruction is unclear or safety is at stake, speak up immediately.

    And yes, you may need an explanation twice. Your brain has just travelled across several time zones and is now trying to memorise twelve new names.

    7. Learn the routine, and give yourself time to settle in

    Ask about mess-room arrangements, laundry, cabin standards and shared spaces. Be considerate with noise, cleanliness and other people’s rest. Your midnight video call may be someone else’s very short opportunity to sleep.

    When permitted, let your family know you arrived safely. Follow company rules for photographs, social media and information about the vessel or crew.

    If you arrive exhausted after travelling, tell your supervisor. Willingness to learn does not mean pretending you do not need rest. Follow your assigned work and rest schedule, and report fatigue or illness.

    Getting used to life at sea takes time. You do not have to feel completely at home before your suitcase is even unpacked.

    8. Start your training record — one step at a time

    Ask your training officer how to organise your training record book, what your initial objectives are and when you can review progress together. Keep a small notebook for new terms, tasks and questions.

    Complete records honestly and seek signatures only for training actually completed. Your training record is there to support your development, not to win a speed-signing competition.

    Keep your certificates and joining paperwork organised too. Download Wave to help organise your digital maritime documents, alongside the originals and copies your company requires. For more on digital organisation, read our offline maritime document wallet guide.

    Your first day is for starting properly. Nobody needs six months of training squeezed into the afternoon before dinner.

    9. If the atmosphere is difficult, keep your direction

    Not every crew has the same atmosphere. People may be busy, tired or less welcoming than you hoped. Stay courteous, keep learning and build a professional relationship with the people responsible for your training.

    Keep your focus on what you came onboard to do: learn, work safely and develop into a capable professional. Ask for clear training objectives and guidance if you feel your learning is getting lost in the daily routine.

    However, bullying, harassment, discrimination and unsafe instructions are not something you must accept to prove yourself. Raise concerns through the ship’s or company’s reporting procedures. If your immediate supervisor is involved, use another designated contact. Seek help promptly if you feel unsafe.

    Remember this for your future rank: good mentors teach you what to do. A difficult experience can also show you what you never want to repeat.

    When you become the person giving instructions, remember how it felt to be new. Be clear, fair and patient with the next cadet. You cannot change every experience you have, but you can choose the kind of colleague and officer you become.

    Your first-day checklist

    • Put your safety and the safety of others first.
    • Introduce yourself and confirm your supervisor.
    • Complete your safety familiarisation.
    • Check ship’s time and your reporting schedule.
    • Wear the required clothing, footwear and PPE.
    • Listen, take notes and ask when unsure.
    • Respect every person onboard, whatever their rank.
    • Protect your rest and report concerns.

    Take a breath. Bring your manners, your notebook and your willingness to learn. Above all, look after yourself and each other. The rest comes one day at a time.

    Still preparing for your first contract at sea? Start with our guides to your first journey to the ship and what to pack for life onboard.

    More Cadets Corner articles will follow, with practical explanations for your first weeks onboard, learning from the crew and building confidence at sea. No need to become the captain by Friday.

    Further reading: IMO STCW Code: familiarisation and watchkeeping; MCA Code of Safe Working Practices. Practical cadet advice complements, and does not replace, your vessel’s procedures and supervised training.

  • First Contract at Sea? What to Pack for Life Onboard

    First Contract at Sea? What to Pack for Life Onboard

    CADETS CORNER

    Your first contract. Your suitcase. Not your entire bedroom.

    Pack the useful things. Leave the “what if I need twelve outfits?” committee at home.

    Three months? Four? Five? Six? Your first contract can sound like a very long time when you are standing in front of an empty suitcase. But you are packing for a ship with laundry arrangements, not disappearing into the wilderness with 180 clean T-shirts.

    Wondering what to pack for your first contract at sea? This practical seafarer packing list covers clothes, footwear, toiletries and everyday essentials for life onboard. It is mainly for cadets joining oceangoing merchant ships: tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships. It is for everyone, regardless of gender. Cruise ships and other vessel types may have different uniform and equipment requirements.

    We already covered airports, baggage allowances and travel documents. Now let us decide what actually belongs inside the bags.

    Ask before you shop: What workwear, safety boots, towels and bedding are provided? What are the laundry arrangements? Is there a crew shop? Is a uniform required? What climates will the vessel visit? Buying things already waiting onboard is a very efficient way to make your wallet lighter.

    1. Clothes for life onboard: enough for a rotation

    On many cargo ships, most working hours will be spent in approved coveralls or other workwear. Your own clothes are mainly for travel, accommodation areas and time off duty. Choose comfortable basics that wash easily.

    These numbers are packing suggestions, not rules. Use your laundry access, climate, personal needs and baggage allowance to adjust them. A longer contract mainly changes your replacement and resupply planning; it does not mean doubling your wardrobe.

    Contract Casual tops Underwear Pairs of socks
    3 months 6–8 8–10 8–10
    4 months 6–8 8–12 8–12
    5 months 6–8 10–12 10–12
    6 months 6–8 10–12, plus spares if needed 10–12, plus spares if needed
    • 2–3 pairs of casual trousers: comfortable trousers or joggers; one pair of jeans is usually plenty.
    • 1–2 pairs of shorts: for permitted off-duty use in warm weather.
    • 2 sets of sleepwear: one to wear while the other is being washed.
    • 1 presentable outfit: for travel, shore visits or company expectations.
    • 1–2 warm layers: a sweatshirt, fleece or similar practical clothing.
    • 1 jacket or rain jacket: chosen for the expected weather. Joining and signing off may happen in different seasons.
    • Thermal layers and a warm hat, if the route needs them: confirm the protective clothing supplied onboard.
    • 1 swimsuit, if useful: some ships have a pool, but availability and permission to use it are not guaranteed.

    Choose socks that fit comfortably inside your work boots. Pack enough to change when needed and let washed pairs dry fully. Expensive outdoor clothing is optional; clean, practical clothing you already own is a good starting point.

    2. Safety footwear and everyday shoes

    • 1–2 pairs of comfortable, closed everyday shoes: trainers or similar suitable footwear for travel and permitted onboard use.
    • Approved safety footwear: confirm what the company provides and what specification applies before buying a personal pair.
    • Simple shower footwear, if wanted: for appropriate bathroom or accommodation use, not working areas.

    Deck cadets: the bridge is not the pool deck. Wear suitable closed shoes when going to the bridge. Leave slippers, flip-flops and open clogs for the places where they belong. Respect the workspace, arrive ready for duty and follow the company’s footwear rules. Your navigation skills should make the first impression, not your toes.

    If you can afford personal safety boots, seek company approval first. Under EN ISO 20345, S2 includes protective toe caps and water-resistant uppers; S3 adds sole penetration protection and a treaded outsole. Newer categories include S3L and S3S. No single category is automatically the correct minimum for every vessel or task.

    Check the required slip resistance, antistatic properties and any quick-release requirement separately. A toe cap can be steel or an approved non-metallic material. Good fit and the correct protection matter more than a dramatic price tag.

    3. Workwear and uniforms: do not buy the ship’s wardrobe

    Required workwear and PPE are normally arranged by the company. Confirm sizes, what will be issued and when. Do not assume you need to purchase coveralls, helmets or gloves yourself.

    For oceangoing cargo ships, your academy uniform is often unnecessary unless the company asks for it. Cruise-ship uniforms can be supplied, fitted onboard or required before joining, depending on the employer and role. Follow your joining instructions.

    4. Toiletries and personal hygiene at sea

    Bring a starter supply and enough of any specific product you rely on. Some ships stock basics in the crew shop or bonded store, but supplies, brands and prices vary. Ask rather than assuming a floating supermarket awaits.

    • Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental-care essentials.
    • Your shampoo and body wash: small bottles, a suitable solid shampoo and soap bar, or purpose-made washing sheets.
    • Deodorant and a small perfume or cologne, if used: your cabin does not need a duty-free fragrance department.
    • Shaving supplies, if used: razor, replacement blades and a small shaving product.
    • Comb or hairbrush, hair ties and your usual grooming items.
    • Nail clippers and basic nail-care items.
    • Your usual face cleanser, moisturiser and other personal-care essentials.
    • Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher: follow the label and reapply as directed, especially after heavy sweating.
    • One personal towel, if wanted: confirm supplied towels and bedding before packing extras.

    Soap sheets and suitable powder products can reduce leaks and weight, but are optional. Use products intended for hair, skin or laundry as labelled. Ordinary dry shampoo does not replace washing. Keep sheets dry and protect bottles in a leak-resistant pouch. Check airport rules for liquids, powders, blades and aerosols.

    5. Laundry: a bag, a plan and no sock mountain

    A washable laundry bag is useful. A dry bag you already own can also carry dirty clothes to the laundry or an approved washing bucket, but do not leave damp items sealed inside it for days. Separate wet items and let them dry as permitted. Otherwise you are packing a smell with its own career ambitions.

    If you prefer hand-washing underwear or small items, bring a small amount of suitable detergent: powder, laundry soap or sheets labelled for hand washing. Tablets are suitable only if their instructions explicitly allow it; machine capsules are not a substitute.

    Hand-wash in your cabin bathroom only where permitted, following care labels and using an approved drying arrangement. The ship’s laundry is also a normal option. Keep contaminated workwear separate according to onboard procedures. Never dry clothing over heaters, electrical fittings or ventilation openings.

    A simple reusable bag is enough if a dry bag is outside your budget. Laundry organisation does not require premium equipment.

    6. Stationery: arrive with something to write with

    The ship will usually have supplies, but bringing a few basics means you can start taking notes immediately.

    • 1 small notebook.
    • 2–3 pens.
    • 1–2 pencils, an eraser and a small sharpener.
    • A small ruler or highlighter, if useful.
    • Your academy’s required training record book or documents.

    Your notebook is for learning, questions and reminders. Official records still belong in the required forms and systems. “I wrote it somewhere on a loose receipt” is not a filing method.

    7. A small personal health kit

    The vessel has medical arrangements, but plan your personal needs before joining. A compact kit might include a few adhesive dressings, blister dressings, sterile gauze and any personal medicines agreed with your clinician or pharmacist. Check company and destination rules; keep medicines in original labelled packaging with supporting documents where required.

    • Motion-sickness medicine, if needed: discuss the appropriate product and supply beforehand. Products such as Dramamine may cause drowsiness, which matters on watch and around machinery. Follow professional advice and tell the responsible officer before taking anything that may affect alertness. Bring an agreed supply, not a suitcase of tablets.
    • Electrolyte or rehydration sachets, if advised: useful in appropriate circumstances, not a cure for overheating. Follow product and professional instructions. Regular hydration, breaks and the ship’s heat procedures remain essential.
    • Your regular prescription medicines: arrange the quantity and storage needed for the contract. Do not assume the ship’s medical chest carries your personal prescription.

    Tell the right person: follow the company’s procedure for declaring personal medicines. Inform your supervisor, normally the chief officer for deck cadets, and the master or designated medical officer as required. Explain what you carry, what you take and any effect on fitness for duty. Feeling unwell after heat exposure? Stop work and report it promptly. Confusion or collapse needs urgent assistance, not another sachet and “I will be fine”.

    8. Small comforts and useful extras

    • A book or downloaded reading: useful when internet access is limited.
    • A family photo or small keepsake: your cabin can feel personal without an interior-design shipment.
    • A reusable water bottle, if available: follow onboard water and cleaning arrangements.
    • One buff or neck gaiter, if useful: secure, suitable for its purpose and compatible with required PPE. Avoid loose clothing around machinery.
    • UV-protective sunglasses: for suitable use; they do not replace required safety eyewear.
    • Your phone, chargers and a suitable adapter: check voltage and sockets. A plug adapter does not necessarily convert voltage.
    • Spare prescription glasses, if available, and your usual contact-lens supplies if used.
    • A luggage tracker, if affordable: an AirTag or a compatible alternative may help locate a bag. Check phone compatibility and airline rules; updates can lag and do not replace an airline baggage report.

    Add anything personally important that is permitted, compact and useful. You do not need to buy every optional extra on this list.

    9. Packing the suitcase without sitting on it

    • Lay everything out first. Remove duplicates and most “just in case” outfits.
    • Roll or fold clothes into groups. Ordinary reusable bags work; packing cubes are optional.
    • Bag shoes separately and protect toiletries against leaks.
    • Use spare space inside clean shoes for bagged socks or small soft items.
    • Share essential clothes between two cases if using two, and keep a change in your backpack.
    • Weigh each bag. Check your ticket’s total allowance, permitted number of bags and limits per piece.
    • Keep a jacket accessible for travel, especially if joining and signing off in different climates or seasons.

    Your backpack is the important bag.

    Original passport, seaman’s book, certificates, diplomas and joining papers stay with you. Keep your electronics and power bank in cabin baggage, following airline rules. If your cabin bag is taken at the gate, remove documents, valuables and the batteries or devices required to stay in the cabin first.

    Keep digital document backups organised in Wave – The Seafarers’ Digital Wallet. Check offline access before leaving. Your suitcase may take an unexpected holiday; your papers should not join it. Digital backups help, but required originals still travel with you.

    True story: the 30-plus-kilo “little spare”

    About 26–27 years ago, one of us was joining a first ship as a cadet. The company handed over a spare part at the office to take along. It weighed more than 30 kg.

    At the airport, it caused serious difficulties because it was not clear exactly what the equipment was. In the end, it stayed behind. It never travelled with the cadet.

    The lesson: if asked to carry ship equipment, make sure crewing arranges the correct airline acceptance, baggage allowance, technical identification and any necessary customs or dangerous-goods paperwork before travel. Do not carry unknown or undeclared items. “The office gave it to me” is not a substitute for documentation. You are joining as a cadet, not as the vessel’s cargo service.

    Final check: useful, affordable, approved

    Clothes you will wear. Shoes that fit. Toiletries you use. A notebook that will actually leave the drawer. Approved personal medicines and your documents close by.

    Use what you own, confirm what the ship provides and leave some room. Your first contract is a learning experience, not a competition to transport the largest percentage of your bedroom.

    Read our previous guide: Packing Tips for Your First Journey covers flights, connections and baggage.

    For digital backups, explore our offline maritime document wallet guide. More practical Cadets Corner articles will follow.

    References: footwear categories, HSE footwear selection, travel soap sheets, sun protection, motion sickness, heat and hydration, travelling with medicines and IATA baggage guidance. Quantities are practical suggestions. Company instructions and vessel procedures take priority; medicine selection requires individual professional advice.

  • First Time Joining a Ship? Packing Tips for Your First Journey

    First Time Joining a Ship? Packing Tips for Your First Journey

    CADETS CORNER

    Pack your bags. Keep your papers close.

    Your first ship is waiting. Your suitcase does not need to contain your entire bedroom.

    Maybe you have flown before. Maybe this will be your first time on a plane. Either way, travelling to join your first ship can feel different: unfamiliar airports, connecting flights, important documents and a suitcase that suddenly refuses to close.

    So let us start from the beginning, as if this is your first joining journey. No question is too basic, and you are not expected to know everything already. These first-time seafarer packing tips will help you get yourself, your bags and your papers to the ship. We will cover what to bring for life onboard in a separate Cadets Corner article.

    1. The 40 kg question: check every flight

    From our own joining experience, 40 kg is a familiar checked-baggage allowance on seafarer tickets. But it is not an automatic entitlement on every booking. Confirm the allowance with your crewing team or travel agent, especially for local or domestic flights with tighter limits.

    Total allowance is not the same as the limit per suitcase. Check the permitted number of bags, weight per bag, dimensions and separate cabin allowance. If your booking permits two bags and 40 kg total, 20 kg in each may work. One 40 kg suitcase may not.

    One manageable suitcase is a good start if it meets your needs and the rules. If using two, spread essential clothes between them: one missing bag should not take all your underwear on its own holiday. Weigh bags at home, including the cases themselves.

    2. Your documents travel with YOU

    Keep your passport, seaman’s book, certificates, diplomas, medical certificate and required original documents in a secure folder in your backpack. Never pack them in checked luggage. Follow your company’s joining checklist.

    Keep digital copies organised in Wave – The Seafarers’ Digital Wallet, too. Check that the documents you need are available offline before leaving. Digital copies are useful backups; they do not replace required originals.

    The letter matters. Carry two or three printed copies of the company’s joining letter, often addressed “To Whom It May Concern”, plus your itinerary and other supplied travel papers. You may be asked for them at several points along the journey. If your cabin bag is taken for checking at the gate, remove your documents first.

    3. Connections: where are your bags going?

    At check-in, ask: “Are my bags checked through to my final destination, or must I collect and recheck them somewhere?” Check the destination on the baggage tags and keep the receipts. Different airlines, separate tickets or customs procedures can mean collecting bags en route. Do not guess.

    Photograph your suitcases, remove old flight tags and put your contact details inside and outside. If a bag does not arrive, report it to the airline’s baggage desk before leaving the airport. Keep the report reference and tell crewing or the port agent where you are heading.

    4. Give your backpack a backup plan

    A change of clothes, underwear, your charger and essential personal items can help if luggage is delayed. Keep a light extra layer handy for long flights: aircraft cabins sometimes seem to be training for Arctic service.

    Save your joining instructions and agent’s phone number offline. A written copy is useful, too. Your arrival plan should survive a flat battery or missing Wi-Fi.

    5. Helpful extras, if your budget allows

    You do not need a shopping spree before your first contract. These are optional conveniences:

    • International SIM or travel eSIM: check phone compatibility, coverage and cost for your destinations. If it is not affordable, agree an arrival contact plan with crewing beforehand.
    • Power bank: useful when travelling, but keep it in cabin baggage, never checked luggage. Check the airline’s capacity, quantity and onboard-use rules; remove it if your cabin bag is gate-checked.
    • Universal travel adapter: check the plug types you need. An adapter changes the plug connection; it does not necessarily convert voltage.
    • Luggage tracker: an AirTag or a compatible Android alternative can provide another clue to a bag’s location. Check compatibility and airline rules. Updates can lag; a tracker does not guarantee delivery or replace an airline baggage report.

    6. Keep the receipts. Check the policy.

    Extra baggage on a local flight? Necessary travel expenses? Check what your company approves, keep itemised receipts and record what each expense was for. Present them politely to the captain or designated person, following the company’s process for reimbursement or credit to your account. A receipt alone does not guarantee repayment.

    Keep alcohol and personal purchases out of your claim unless expressly authorised by the company policy or a relevant voucher. Ask for a separate receipt. The captain needs a clear expense claim, not the story of your airport beer.

    Before you zip up

    Check the allowance. Keep originals close. Print the joining letter. Confirm the baggage route. Save contact details. Then take a breath. You are joining your first ship, not entering an airport obstacle championship.

    New here? Start with Welcome to Cadets Corner.

    For more on organising digital backups, read our offline maritime document wallet guide.

    Useful references: IATA baggage guidance, battery guidance and connection guidance. Your ticket, operating airlines and company joining instructions determine the rules for your journey.