Wave – The Seafarers’ Digital Wallet

Tag: Crew Welfare

  • First Sunday at Sea? It’s Okay to Miss Home.

    First Sunday at Sea? It’s Okay to Miss Home.

    CADETS CORNER

    First Sunday at sea? Take a breath.

    You can be excited about your first voyage and still wish you were sitting at the kitchen table back home. Both feelings are allowed onboard.

    Your friends are posting Sunday brunch. Your family is getting together for a meal. You are somewhere at sea, learning a new routine and negotiating with the Wi-Fi over whether one photograph is really too much to ask.

    Welcome to your first Sunday at sea. For some cadets, it feels exciting. For others, a little strange. Sometimes it is both before breakfast.

    This guide is mainly about life onboard oceangoing merchant ships. Your actual duties, rest periods and Sunday arrangements depend on your vessel, department and instructions — not the day displayed on your phone.

    Missing home does not mean you chose the wrong career. It means there are people, places or familiar routines that matter to you. You do not have to pretend otherwise to be taken seriously as a seafarer.

    1. Sunday is special. The ship still operates.

    On many ships, Sunday has a different rhythm. Where operational needs and the work schedule allow, it is a valued chance to rest, relax and spend time together. For many seafarers, that quieter day is precious.

    But the bridge still needs its watchkeepers. The machinery still needs attention. Cargo operations, port calls, essential work and emergencies do not necessarily consult the weekend calendar.

    Check your own arrangements with your supervisor. Do not assume Sunday automatically means a day off, and do not assume you should invent extra work to look enthusiastic. Be clear about your duties and protect the rest you have been given.

    A quiet Sunday is not a competition to see who can look the busiest.

    2. Allowed a lie-in? Enjoy it.

    If you have no watch or assigned work, and your supervisor has confirmed that the morning is yours, enjoy the chance to sleep a little longer. Within your agreed schedule, you do not need to set an early alarm just to prove you are committed.

    Know when you next need to be ready. Keep track of ship’s time, meals and any agreed check-in. Rest does not mean missing a duty — and enthusiasm does not mean arriving at your next watch exhausted.

    A note for the night-watch team: nobody should expect you to interrupt your protected sleep just to appear sociable. Clarify the arrangements beforehand. Good teamwork includes letting people rest.

    3. Say hello at coffee or a meal

    Some ships have a Sunday morning coffee gathering — perhaps 10:00–10:20. That is an example of a shipboard routine, not a worldwide rule or an extra compulsory duty.

    If you are awake, free and not protecting sleep after a watch, come along. Or join your colleagues at a meal that fits your schedule. Say good morning, sit down and get to know the people behind the ranks.

    As a new cadet, a simple hello helps people know you are settling in. If you have agreed to attend or check in, follow through; if your plans change, let the appropriate person know. Nobody needs to organise a search party because you decided to sleep through an agreed arrangement.

    You do not need to deliver a speech. “How is your Sunday going?” is enough. This is coffee, not your oral examination.

    4. Call home — without turning the call into another watch

    Agree a realistic time to speak with the people you care about. Explain your watch schedule, time difference and any limits on connectivity or data. A short message or voice note can be an option when a video call is not practical.

    You do not need an expensive international plan or a new gadget to prove you care. Use the communication options available to you and permitted onboard.

    And remember the people back home who are waiting to hear from you. Friends and your girlfriend, boyfriend or partner matter — but remember your mum, dad, or whoever raised and supports you too, where those relationships are safe and welcome. Especially on your first trip away, a short call can mean a great deal. They are adjusting to your absence as well.

    You do not need to deliver a full voyage report. A few honest words about your day, a question about theirs and a realistic plan for your next call are enough. Keep it brief when time, rest or data are limited — but brief does not mean you are forbidden to say that something is wrong.

    It is also okay to say: “I am still settling in. Today I miss home a bit.” Every update does not need to be a promotional video for life at sea.

    A difficult day is not automatically a bad voyage. Learning unfamiliar routines, accepting reasonable feedback and finding your feet can take effort. Describe the situation honestly, without turning one frustrating afternoon into a verdict on your whole career. Your family can listen and support you; practical help onboard comes from speaking with the appropriate people there too.

    But adapting is not the same as tolerating harm. Bullying, harassment, unsafe instructions or distress that affects your wellbeing are not things to hide or simply put up with. Tell someone you trust and use the appropriate support and reporting channels. Being away from home does not mean you must deal with everything alone.

    And if your signal disappears halfway through a sentence, it does not necessarily mean the conversation went badly. Sometimes the satellite has simply chosen a dramatic exit.

    5. Make room for something that is not work

    Your time off does not need an impressive itinerary. Choose something simple that suits you and the ship’s arrangements:

    • Have a quiet conversation over coffee.
    • Read a book or watch a film in the Recreation Room, where available.
    • Play a board game or join a friendly console game without taking over the room.
    • Use the gym if permitted and conditions are safe.
    • Spend a little time on a hobby, without disturbing resting colleagues.
    • Enjoy some fresh air only where access is permitted, following the ship’s bridge-notification and safety procedures.

    You do not have to buy anything to take part. And you do not have to be sociable every minute: quiet time is allowed too.

    For the shared-space basics, revisit our shipboard etiquette guide for cadets. Yes, the sofa still belongs to everyone on Sundays.

    6. Look at the week you have completed

    Instead of measuring your whole contract in remaining days, try looking at one small piece of progress. Perhaps you learned the route to your muster station, understood a new term or finally stopped opening the wrong cupboard.

    If it helps, write three short lines:

    • One thing I learned this week.
    • One thing I want to ask next week.
    • One thing I enjoyed.

    This is optional, not Sunday homework. Your training record book has enough official company already. For a simple approach, see our cadet notebook guide.

    7. You do not have to handle a difficult day alone

    Feeling homesick can happen at different stages of a sea career, not only on a first trip. Staying connected with people at home and getting to know colleagues are practical options — not a demand to “cheer up”.

    If things feel difficult, speak to someone you trust onboard: a fellow cadet, a colleague, your supervisor or the designated welfare contact. You do not need a perfectly prepared explanation. “I am finding things difficult and could use a conversation” is a useful start.

    If the distress persists, feels overwhelming or affects your sleep, daily functioning or ability to work safely, seek appropriate support promptly through the ship’s welfare or medical arrangements. You do not need to wait until it becomes a crisis. If you feel unsafe or unable to carry out a task safely, tell the responsible officer immediately.

    Support beyond the ship: ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp offers free, confidential, multilingual emotional, wellbeing and practical support for seafarers and their families, available around the clock. Visit its official page for current contact options.

    Homesickness is not a reason to dismiss bullying, unsafe conditions or another serious concern. Those deserve to be reported and addressed through the appropriate channels.

    A small word to the experienced crew

    If you see a new cadet sitting quietly, an invitation to coffee can mean a lot. No interrogation, no jokes at their expense and no “we had it worse” competition. Offer a seat, listen and respect their choice if they need some quiet.

    You remember your first voyage. They are living theirs.

    One practical thing you can organise before your next busy week: your personal maritime documents. Explore Wave — The Seafarers’ Digital Wallet for keeping certificates and sea-service records together, with offline access. It is a tool for your paperwork, not a substitute for a conversation or wellbeing support. That part still needs people.

    Missing home and building a future can happen at the same time.

    Take your rest. Say hello when you can. Call someone you miss. You do not have to become an experienced seafarer by next Sunday.

    This article offers general peer-support ideas, not medical advice. Sunday routines vary; follow your vessel’s duties, rest arrangements and safety procedures. Further reading: UK P&I Club: Homesickness and ISWAN SeafarerHelp.

  • You Share a Ship, Not Just a Workplace: Onboard Etiquette for Cadets

    You Share a Ship, Not Just a Workplace: Onboard Etiquette for Cadets

    CADETS CORNER

    You share a ship. Not just a workplace.

    Your contract comes with a cabin, colleagues and shared spaces. It does not come with ownership of the sofa — or the mysterious slice of cake in the fridge.

    Your first weeks onboard involve learning equipment, routines and approximately a thousand unfamiliar words. But there is another part of life onboard a ship that matters just as much: learning how to live with other people.

    These shipboard etiquette tips for cadets focus mainly on oceangoing merchant ships. Facilities and routines vary, so always follow your vessel’s rules, company procedures and supervisors’ instructions.

    The big idea: the ship is your home for the duration of your contract, but it is a shared home entrusted to all of you. Settle in, feel welcome and treat the people, spaces and equipment with respect. You are not in your private living room.

    1. Your free time might be someone else’s sleep

    Somebody may have just finished a night watch. Somebody else may be resting before taking over. A quiet corridor is a small act of teamwork.

    • Keep conversations, music, television and video calls at a considerate volume.
    • Close doors gently. Your cabin door does not need to announce your arrival to three decks.
    • Do not gather outside someone’s cabin for a late-night conversation.
    • For this onboard routine, leave headphones out of the picture: keep yourself able to hear alarms, announcements and people calling you. Follow any additional vessel restrictions.

    Respecting rest is not just good manners; fatigue is a safety concern. And being off duty does not make you unavailable to hear an emergency signal.

    2. An open cabin is not an invitation

    A colleague’s cabin door may be open or unlocked. That does not mean you can walk in, borrow something or have a look around while they are away.

    Knock, wait and ask. Respect privacy and personal belongings. This is about everyday social visits, not authorised inspections or emergency access. Follow the ship’s security and fire-door rules; do not prop fire doors open.

    The same respect applies to photographs and social media: ask before sharing images of colleagues, and follow company restrictions on recording onboard.

    3. The Recreation Room: relax, without taking over

    Use the Recreation Room in your free time where available and permitted. Depending on the ship, you might find a PlayStation, films on an onboard entertainment system, DVDs, books, board games or musical instruments. Not every ship has every facility — enjoy what is available and look after it.

    • Share the television, console and seating. Other people also get a vote in tonight’s entertainment.
    • Keep the volume down, especially after hours. Musical instruments need a suitable time and place too.
    • Keep your feet off sofas, armchairs and tables. Lighter, clean footwear may be appropriate under the rules; taking it off and stretching across the communal sofa is not.
    • Return controllers, remotes, games and other items to their proper places.
    • Collect your cans, cups, popcorn and snack wrappers. Sort waste correctly and return used dishes to the designated collection point.

    Borrowing a book? Follow the borrowing system. If there is a register, record the book number or title and your name. If there is no clear system, ask the person responsible; a note with your name, cabin and the title can help if that arrangement is accepted. Return it promptly and before signing off.

    A guitar is a different conversation. Before taking a shared musical instrument or other communal equipment out of the room, ask your supervisor or the person responsible and obtain permission. Agree where it may be used and when it must be returned. “I thought nobody was using it” is not a borrowing policy.

    4. Mealtimes: respect the food and the people serving it

    On some oceangoing ships, lunch might be served from 12:00–13:00 and dinner from 17:00–18:00. Those are examples, not a universal timetable: learn your ship’s actual hours and arrangements.

    Arrive with clean hands and appropriate, clean clothing. Leave dirty workwear where it belongs, according to the vessel’s mess-room rules. Be polite to the catering team, whether meals are served by a steward or arranged as self-service.

    Do not enter the galley without authorisation, especially during service. If your watch means eating later, arrange it in advance. After-hours meals depend on the ship’s procedures, including safe food storage and reheating — not an assumption that someone will provide room service at any hour.

    Take reasonable portions and remember those eating after you. When finished, put leftovers in the designated waste stream, rinse dishes where instructed and place crockery and cutlery in the correct baskets or collection points. Do not wander into a restricted galley to do it.

    The toothpick treaty: a dessert with a toothpick stuck in it may be somebody’s unofficial “saved for later” sign. It is not necessarily a complimentary snack for the next person opening the fridge. Ask first. A name label is clearer, but either way: the cake may already have a captain.

    5. An alarm interrupts dinner? Safety first. Clear up afterwards.

    Imagine it is 19:00. You are an engine cadet having an arranged after-hours meal when an engine-room alarm interrupts you. You respond as instructed, within your assigned role and under the appropriate supervision. An alarm is not an invitation to enter a machinery space or investigate on your own.

    Dealing with the situation may take time. Leaving your plate at that moment is understandable: never delay an alarm response to tidy a table.

    Once your duties are complete and it is safe to return, go back at the first suitable opportunity. Clear the leftovers, return the dishes and leave the table clean. If you cannot return, arrange help when practicable. Do not assume food left out during a long interruption remains safe to eat.

    The emergency took priority. Your plate did not become someone else’s permanent assignment.

    6. The gym: leave it ready for the next person

    If your ship has a gym and conditions allow its use, exercise can be a welcome part of your routine. Follow the equipment instructions, ship restrictions and your own limits — without sacrificing needed rest.

    • Return weights, bars and attachments to their designated racks and use the provided securing arrangements. A ship can roll; loose weights are not harmless clutter.
    • Do not improvise lashings or modify equipment. Ask if you do not understand how it is secured.
    • Wipe sweaty handles, benches and contact surfaces with the supplied suitable cleaning products, following instructions. Do not spray liquid into electrical equipment.
    • Stop machines properly before leaving. Never leave a treadmill running unattended.
    • Do not exercise when ship movement or other conditions make it unsafe.

    Your workout is finished when the equipment is clean, returned and secured — not when your fitness app congratulates you.

    7. Going outside for fresh air? Tell the bridge.

    Being off duty does not automatically make every part of the deck a leisure area. Weather, cargo operations, security measures and other hazards may restrict access.

    Where an off-duty visit to the deck is permitted, follow the vessel’s procedure and inform the bridge Officer of the Watch before going out. Explain where you intend to go, who is going and your expected return. Obtain clearance where required, follow any clothing, PPE or accompaniment instructions, and report back when you are safely inside.

    Informing the bridge does not override a restriction. Keep communication brief, and do not interrupt a critical bridge operation for a non-urgent leisure request.

    Why does the bridge need to know? Personnel accountability depends on communication. Under the vessel’s arrangements, the bridge watch should have appropriate awareness of deck teams’ locations and status. The bosun or team leader reports working areas, changes and completion, including confirmation that everyone has returned as required.

    The exact responsibilities and reporting method come from the ship’s Safety Management System and standing orders; this is not a claim that one identical tracking rule applies worldwide. Do your part: do not disappear from the count. If someone is unexpectedly overdue or unaccounted for, report it immediately and follow instructions — do not start a solo search.

    8. Notice a problem? Say something.

    A failed light, loose fitting, damaged gym cable or something that simply looks wrong: tell your supervisor or the designated responsible person. Give the location and explain what you observed.

    You do not need to diagnose the fault before reporting it. If there is immediate danger, raise the alarm or notify the responsible watch promptly according to procedure. Do not attempt unauthorised repairs.

    Leaving a shared room? Switch off ordinary lights and equipment only where instructed and permitted. Never switch off emergency, escape-route or operational lighting, or disable safety equipment.

    9. Small habits build a reputation

    Nobody sensible expects a first-trip cadet to know everything. Ask questions, make an honest effort and learn the routine. Respect every rank and nationality; jokes should bring people together, not humiliate them.

    But remember: small habits are noticed. Returning a borrowed book, clearing your plate, keeping quiet near cabins and reporting a defect all tell your colleagues something about your reliability.

    This is not about being frightened of making a mistake. It is about showing that you listen, care and follow through. Respect goes both ways: being new never makes bullying or humiliation acceptable.

    Getting your personal maritime paperwork organised too? Download Wave to help keep your certificates, documents and sea-service records together. Your personal wallet complements your preparation; it does not replace required originals or the ship’s official procedures.

    Feel at home. Remember who shares it with you.

    Good seamanship includes knowing how to share a ship. And knowing when the cake is not yours.