LIFE AT SEA: MV KAIYO
Over thousands of Filipino, seafarers are circumnavigating the world, and many say that life at sea is difficult. So why is there 
such a quantity of seafarers? I think no one really knows the answer except us, seafarers, who can personally experience life on board a vessel.
A 9-month contract is short compared to other OFW’s who are having years of a contract abroad, but nevertheless, for us seafarers, 9 months of being at sea are long enough. It’s long enough for us to miss out a lot of precious times with our loved ones. Long enough for us to set aside our solace times and get out of our comfort zones. Life at sea is both good and challenging.
Personally experiencing life at sea, I can say that so far it’s all good. Depending on how you’ll look at it, life at sea is not that bad. With everyone on-board supporting each other, in times of work and operations or even in times of recreation we can all have a blissful life at sea. With our company’s goal, us the officers and crew of MV KAIYO, is continually supporting in achieving the FOUR ZEROS. And onboard MV KAIYO we have our own exposition of the word S.A.F.E.T.Y. which is one of the priorities of our company. Let me describe what Safety really means to us.
S- SAFETY.
This is our top priority here on-board. Every day officers remind us to always practice safety in work and in everything that we do. During our toolbox meetings, we make it a point to have a slogan regarding safety so that we can bear in mind that even in the simplest things that we do or even in our routine jobs safety is always important. We are also in line with this year safety campaign of MOL regarding “STOP AND THINK MORE” for we never miss practicing safety.
A-APPETITE
how can we focus on safety if our stomach is empty? Of course, food is an important factor in safety. We can’t work safely if we are hungry. Also, food helps us to be healthy so that we can work properly. Here on-board, our catering department never failed by giving us the right food to maintain our health. Even just by cooking our chief cook and messman supports our mission on maintaining safety on board. They always ensure that we get the proper nutrition that we need so that we can work efficiently and can focus our minds towards the tasks that need to be done.
F-Fitness
Health is wealth, which is why here on-board aside from having delicious and healthy food we are also keeping our body fit. Every day before going to work we do our stretching exercises by following the MOL Body Fit Exercise so that we can avoid any accidents while doing our work. Also here in our vessel, we are provided with gym equipment which we can utilize during our free time so as to keep our body healthy and fit.
E-Evoked
Here on board we always make it a point to never forget safety. Posters about safety are posted around to evoke in us the importance of safety even in the simplest tasks that we do. Also, our officers on board never get tired of evoking in us that safety will always be our priority. There is never a job more important than one’s life.
T-Teamwork
Teamwork is a generic word when it comes to safety but it should never be neglected. Here on our vessel, we exhibit our teamwork in a way that we all work individually in achieving a common goal and that is total safety. But I think on board, teamwork will not be that effective if even one member of the team is not cooperating. So our tendency is to have a harmonious relationship within us hence we can be sure that everybody will cooperate to work as a team. By having recreational activities, we were able to nurture our camaraderie thus making us like a family, who always supports each other. And being a family and working as one we continue to attain safety within us.
Y-Yourself
With so many factors in contributing to safety, I think the word YOURSELF will be the most important one. It’s true that endless efforts are being done by our company for us to instill in our minds that safety is the most important thing on board, also our officers on board never get sick of reminding us to always be safe but all of these things will be worthless if you yourself never gave any effort in being safe. It will be on your own disposal if you’ll be safe or not. We should always remember that safety is by choice not by chance.
Life at sea is not that simple, adjusting yourself to hectic schedules, long tiring working hours, living in a small cabin for the next 9 months with a limited internet connection and seeing the same faces whom we might like or sometimes dislikes. Nonetheless, life at sea teaches us how to be all of ourselves being away from the comfort of our home, how to maintain the relationship with individuals who have their own unique characters, how to respect the cultural diversity present on board and most importantly it teaches us how to be happy for several months being away from the materialistic world.
In the end, I would just say, life is tough, everywhere, but life at sea teaches us the bitter realities of life and how to have a contented life living in a small floating island, which others may or may not experience in other professions. Also, life is how you take it, how you decide to face it and how you want to live it with everyone else is trying to pull you down.
