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As seafarers, we meet many different cultures and each of them think in a different way. About safety too. And we try hard to understand them and get the best from both sides to perform the work ahead in a safe way. Why we do that? Well, the answer is simple, we don’t want anybody on board to get hurt or injured because the safety was set aside, we want our crew to come home in the same condition as they came on board.
Christmas Eve is upon us, but for some Christmas Eve will not be spent at home with family, but instead with a whole other family – the family onboard. I have spent many Christmas’ onboard, but one particular Christmas Eve stands out. Most of the crew were sound asleep. As you can probably imagine the 24th of December is a day just like any other – the ship still sails and work still needs to be done. So I don’t think that anyone expected this day to be much different than any other. But, the captain had a different idea.
I often get the question: “Isn’t it tough to be openly gay at sea?” To that I am happy to say; no, not at all. I have been out of the closet and open all the years, since I started as a deck cadet 25 years ago, and I have never had a bad experience because of my sexuality. At sea, we are a mix of...
This month's 'Seafarer story' is a little out of the ordinary. Though we are in the year 2017 heads are still turned when a solemnly female-crewed ship cast away for five days at sea. Captain of the ship, Lise Mortensen, put together her crew consisting of eight women who with great spirit and enthusiasm boarded the ship Palnatoke and participated in the sailing competition: 'Fyn Rundt' - a competition for old sailing ships who are worth preserving.
"There have been many reactions to the crew of the ship and most of them were positive, though the best was my girlfriend's husband who, in full earnestness asked if that was even legal?" says Lise Mortensen.
Being at sea have always been a job where you will meet many cultures and new people. In today’s world, many of the crewmembers will be from other countries with other traditions, languages, religion etc.
Well, in time of emergency - all ports in a storm as you say. Today, at sea we are filled with technology and long distance support in many ways. But once in a while, you have to mobilise your old school Seamanship to solve a high-tech problem. Once, when sailing across the Pacific Ocean, we experienced this the hard way..
Let’s move away from iPads, smartphones and violent video games and into the real world. To all the sailors out there, you know what I’m talking about. In our world inserting a needle into your classmate is part of the basics in the maritime college. Should an accident occur miles away from shore you must step up and be the one to help a fellow seafarer in need, even if it involves asyringe.