by Barista Uno | Feb 4, 2013 | Manning and Training, Seafaring
Many have command of ships, but not all are leaders of men. Certainly not the captain who’s the first to get on the lifeboat, leaving behind his passengers to fend for themselves. Or the captain who doctors the ship’s documents soon after his vessel runs aground. The following are some of the best quotations about leadership you will come across. Some are so inspiring that they should be displayed in ship’s galleys or in the offices of shipping companies. (more…)
by Barista Uno | May 7, 2011 | Manning and Training
We recently had the privilege of watching 81-year-old Filipino maritime lecturer Michael B Cuanzon in action. He was conducting a competency assessment class at the National Telecommunications Commission as part of the IMO model course 3.12 for assessors offered by the state-run Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). The man was up on his feet all afternoon, fielding questions from the participants and coaching them individually. His energy would put to shame many ship officers half his age, which is hardly surprising. Captain Cuanzon has as much passion for maritime education as for seafaring (his sea service spanned 18 years, the last seven in command of various types of ships). He still drives, by the way, in traffic-blighted Metro Manila. ~Barista Uno
by Barista Uno | Jan 11, 2011 | Manning and Training, Media, Communications and Language, Shipping
New technology and new international regulations are re-shaping maritime shoptalk. To be honest, some of the current terms and buzzwords have us bemused. We understand what’s meant by “management level” and “operational level” and have a fairly good idea of what knowledge and skills are required of ship officers in each category. But why doesn’t the International Maritime Organization (IMO) stick to tradition and refer to the fellows simply as “senior officers” and “junior officers”? Why complicate life? (more…)
