Financial Tips for Filipino Seamen

Being a seaman entails a great deal of sacrifice both for yourself and your loved ones...

Of course these sacrifices you have to make or are going to make are being traded with huge pay and allowances by your companies.

Technically yes, it is your salary and no one should tell you how are you going to spend it.  But hey, we all know that most of the people working aboard ships does not want to spend his entire life working aboard and away from their family. Every penny that you earned while working aboard should be spend wisely so that the sacrifices you make will not be put into waste when time comes that you don't want to work aboard ship any longer.

So, here are some few tips that a seaman and an OFW alike should do so that you will not spend the rest of your life working as a seaman.

1.  Usually a seaman before getting a high paying job has to borrow money first to finance training fees and other expenses.  Before anything else, pay off your debt first and thank your financiers for helping you land the job.

2. Set in mind that you should not spend all your salary in a month.  Set a scheme where you save a portion of your salary.  A 20% ratio of your salary would be a good start.  If you can set it automatically like an automatic deduction going to your savings account, it would be much better.

3. Control your spending.  Know what is necessity and caprices.  A mobile phone is a necessity but it does not have to be a thousand dollar worth.

4. As much as possible never use you credit card when making purchases but if you do, make sure to pay it before they charge your monthly billing so that it would not accrue interests.

5. If you are planning to buy big ticket items such as house or car make sure to save at least half of the price so that you will not pay big interest from loan companies.

6. Talk to you family about why you are working abroad.  You want to support them but you don't want to spoil your family.  Spoiling your family especially your kids creates a wrong impressions to them, they would think that making money as a seaman is as easy as growing banana plants in your backyard.

7. Try to study how to invest your money.  It is your responsibility to learn how to grow your money by investing.  I would recommend investing in stocks as a great vehicle for achieving what you want with your finances.

8.  Do not just put your money on savings account. Invest it because inflation will devalue your money over time.

Remember that you cannot work forever as a seaman or as an OFW. You don't work and live for the present, you are working overseas as a seaman because you are working for the future.

photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jssz/

By Sarge Sailor with No comments

Schedule of PRC Licensure Examination for Seaman

albertogp123

Here is the complete listing of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the seaman related licensure examination to include their dates, place and last date of filing.  

Be sure to read on how to file for examination application including the process on how to submit it.  You can read and download application forms for Marine Deck and Engineer Officers here.  

                                          

Name of Examination	Date of Exam	Place	Deadline of filing
Marine Engineer Officers (Written)	Jan 21-22, 2012	Manila and Iloilo	Jan 9, 2012
Marine Deck Officers (Written)	Mar 3-4, 2012	Manila and Iloilo	Feb 3, 2012
Marine Engineer Officers (Written)	May 23-24, 2012	Manila and Cebu	Apr 23, 2012
Marine Deck Officers (Written)	July 21-22, 2012	Manila and Cebu	June 21, 2012
Marine Engineer Officers (Written)	Sept 15-16, 2012	Manila and Davao	Aug 15, 2012
Naval Architects & Marine Engineers	Oct 19-11, 2012	Manila	Sept 19, 2012
Marine Deck Officers (Written)	Nov 10-11, 2012	Manila	Oct 10, 2012

By Sarge Sailor with No comments

How to Get Your Seaman Book in the Philippines

One of the most important requirements of being a seaman in the Philippines is having a Seaman's book or SIRB (Seafarer's Identification AND Record Book).  This book details everything about a seaman's career experience and training, it is also regarded as seaman's passport but obviously this cannot replace a passport being issued by the government.  This particular book is unique only for seafarers.

Information pertaining to name of vessel, official number and place of registry, gross tonnage, rank, date of place of embarkation and disembarkation, signature of master.  These are the standard information you will see in a seaman's book or (SIRB).

To be able to secure your own Seman's book, you have to file necessary documents at Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) located at PPL Bldg., 1000 U.N. Ave. cor San Marcelino, Manila, Philippines.

Documents needed

• Transcript of Record (High School TOR for High School Graduates) (College TOR for College Graduates)
• School Diploma (High School Diploma for High School Graduates ) (College Diploma for College Graduates)
• Certificate of Authentication and Verification (CAV) from DECS or CHED
• Birth Certificate from NSO
• NBI Clearance - visa seaman
• 2 pcs Passport size colored picture with white background
• Basic Safety Course Certificate ( SOLAS)
• P550 for 3 day processing or P750 for one day processing. 

By Sarge Sailor with 6 comments

What is Safety of Life at Sea?

SOLAS or also known as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea is an international maritime safety treaty and considered to be the most important treaty concerning maritime safety.

It has several revisions with the first treaty was created in 1914 after the Titanic disaster at sea.  The newest version of the treaty is the version which was created in 1980 prescribing the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) as a replacement for Morse Code.

The 1974 SOLAS requires the flag state to observe the minimum safety standard for operation, construction and equipment.  It also sets out general obligations and followed by 12 Chapters that includes following topics

• General Provisions
•  Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
•  Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction
•  Life-saving appliances and arrangements
• Radiocommunications
• Safety of navigation
• Carriage of Cargoes
• Carriage of dangerous goods
• Nuclear ships
• Management for the Safe Operation of Ships
• Safety measures for high-speed craft
• Special measures to enhance maritime safety
• Special measures to enhance maritime security

Of all the provisions on the treaty, only Chapter V or the provisions on Safety of Navigation applies to all types of vessels at sea including small crafts and yachts, local trips as well as to commercial vessels on international trip.

Many countries have adopted this Chapter V of  SOLAS and had made it into international and local laws so that anybody who is in violations of such provisions can be subject to legal proceedings.

By Sarge Sailor with No comments

How to Become a MAAP Cadet

If you are planning to become a seaman or seafarer someday, being a Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) Cadet maybe your best bet.  The school offers quality education for future seaman of the country and every cadet receives a standard 4 year course to be able to become one of the finest seaman in the world.

MAAP is a non-profit maritime higher education institution which is owned and operated by Associated Marine Officers and Seamen Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP).  AMOSUP is composed of several maritime organizations that collaborated to develop the premier maritime training center in the Philippines.

Qualifications for Entrance Exam

• Filipino Citizen (Male/Female)
• Physically fit
• Morally upright with no derogatory records
• Age 16 and more than 20 yrs of age until Dec 31 of the year of examination
• High School or College graduate or high school graduating
• Minimum height of 5'2" for Female and 5'4" for Male
• Never been previously admitted as MAAP cadet

If you deem that you are fit with the above requirements, you can submit your applications with the following documents and payment.

• 2 pcs 2x2 colored picture
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• Photocopy of valid school ID or certification from the school principal that you are a graduating student
• Non refundable processing fee of Php 300.00 in cash or check
• 2 pcs self address envelope with stamps worth Php 30.00

Along with the above requirements, you must fill up the completely the MAAP application forms which you can get from Naval ROTC units or PCG stations nationwide and submit it to designated filing centers either by mail or in person.  After you have accomplished the above requirements, wait for your admission slip by mail or get it from designated filing centers.  Your admission slip is your permit to take exams to be administered for cadet candidates.

You must pass the following criteria to be able to become a MAAP cadet.

• MAAP entrance exam which includes the following aptitude, psychological, intelligence, emotional and neuro-psychiatric test.
• Personal Interview by the Board of Admission members
• MAAP medical exam includes physical, lungs, drugs, dental, laboratory and color blindedness test, visual acuity and with one dose of Hepa B vaccine
• Orientation training for a month (May-June) with refresher courses on English and Math with regimental type training.

If you think you can pass all the requirements mentioned above then you have a big chance of being admitted as a MAAP cadet.

You can download application forms here

By Sarge Sailor with No comments

The Filipino Seaman

The Filipino Seamen are the best in the world, as such they are one of the most sought after ship's crew in the world.

Often times, the life of a seaman is in constant danger.  Aside from the uncertainties that the ocean brings to the already hard life of being on board, it even becomes awfully dangerous with the threat of pirates at sea.

Every one knows that a life of a seaman is not always good as others would expect it to be.  Although they may enjoy a lot of perks and large salaries, life being on board sailing at sea is one of the saddest thing that a man can experience.  A certified seaman could even attest that the salaries and perks they are receiving might not be enough to compensate for the lost time with their families and loved ones.

This website is dedicated to our our great seamen who have rendered countless and selfless service to our country and their companies as well.  They are the member of our so called modern day heroes for helping the economy afloat with their money remittances back home which in turn creates a more desirable economic status of our country

To our most able seamen out there, this site is for you.  I hope to bring all the related events and news that may of concern to you and for that I invite you to share or comment on any articles and yes! you can share it with your friends and fellow seaman too.

By Sarge Sailor with No comments