The Day of the Seafarer – Day 2

In today’s blog we asked Archie Smiley Ex-Chief Engineer, Superintendent, Technical Manager, General Manager, Technical Director and now ‘semi-flexi-retired’, for his thoughts on a career at sea and any advice for those starting out in the industry. 

What did you enjoy most about your career at sea? 

The freedom of the ocean, the breadth of skills and experience gained across multiple disciplines, and most of all the unique bunch of people with whom you share your experiences, and on whom you rely each and every day onboard. 

What drove you to pursue a career at sea?  

I grew up in a shipyard town and apprenticed in the shipyard. My parents had both served in the Royal Navy, so I was immersed in it all my life. 

What challenges have you faced in your career as a seafarer, and how have you overcome these? 

Ever reducing numbers onboard, increased demands from external parties and shore management, the ever-increasing reporting requirements, and the ‘dumbing down’ of skills onboard. 

They have never really been overcome, but once I came ashore into shore management, I worked my entire shore career (35 years), trying to implement positive change. 

What advice would you give to young people who are looking to start a career at sea? 

Speak to several people, both at sea and in shore management, to get a ‘true’ picture of modern seafaring. It is a far cry from the ‘romance’ and ‘call of the sea’ of 30 years ago. It has become more a ‘job’ than a calling or profession, with those onboard being more like ‘operators’ than seafarers and long, hard thought needs to be given as to whether it is the right career path to choose. 

You can follow the hashtag #DayOfTheSeafarer for 2023 content and come back to this blog page tomorrow for another interview. 

The Day of the Seafarer – Day 1

The Day of the Seafarer was originally established to recognise the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade and the global economy. 

In support of the Day of the Seafarer on June 25th, Spinnaker have asked Seafarers both past and present for their thoughts on a career at sea and any pieces of advice they would have for those starting out in the industry. 

We start the week with Captain Yasser Hashem Fleet Personnel Director from Bahri Shipmanagement. 

What do you enjoy most about your career at sea? 

Being able to spend time on the open ocean, surrounded by the vastness of the sea and the beauty of nature. 

What drove you to pursue a career at sea?  

The opportunities for personal growth and skills development, as well as a personal interest and passion for the maritime industry. 

What challenges have you faced in your career as a seafarer, and how have you overcome these? 

Working long hours, irregular shifts, fatigue and sleep deprivation. I was able to manage these challenges by prioritizing rest and ensuring sufficient sleep whenever possible. Following proper work-rest routines, practicing good time management, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and balanced nutrition (also helped). 

What advice would you give to young people who are looking to start a career at sea? 

Starting a career at sea can be an exciting and rewarding choice, but it’s essential to be well-prepared, informed, and committed to the challenges it entails.  

Working at sea can be challenging due to the ever-changing environments and conditions. Cultivate adaptability, resilience, and a positive mindset to thrive in this industry. Be prepared to work in multicultural teams, adjust to different time zones, and handle the demands of the job with professionalism. 

Depending on your desired career path, ensure you acquire the necessary education and training. Look for reputable maritime academies, colleges, or vocational training institutes that offer programs aligned with your goals 

You can follow the hashtag #DayOfTheSeafarer for 2023 content and come back to this blog page tomorrow for another interview. 

Maritime is shifting from transactional to transformational leadership

shipping rope

Article by Phil Parry, Chairman, Spinnaker. Published in Riviera Maritime Media on 5th June 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of business leadership, the concepts of purpose and a positive culture have taken centre stage.

While everyone acknowledges their importance, these terms often remain elusive, akin to jelly that is hard to grasp. Put simply though, they are conspicuous by their absence.

In a recent wide-ranging conversation with the chief executive of a prominent shipowner, it became clear that people-related issues are harder to get right than industry-specific strategic issues. This is not unique to the maritime industry; post-Covid, every business sector is grappling with the consequences of a shifting landscape. The talent shortage, commonly referred to as the ‘great resignation,’ has led to a wave of early retirements and career changes. Factors such as Brexit, immigration challenges, and changing attitudes towards work have further exacerbated the situation, making recruitment, retention, motivation and performance management more complex than ever.

To truly understand purpose, I cannot help but recall the famous story of John F Kennedy’s visit to NASA in 1962. While touring the facility he asked a janitor about his role, the janitor proudly responded, “Mr President, I’m helping put a man on the moon.” This exemplifies the power of purpose, both on an individual and organisational level. Purpose may encompass lofty ideals, but at its core, it is what drives people out of bed every morning. It can be social, ethical, consumer-driven, or people-driven. Attempting to articulate purpose through some kind of strapline is commonplace, but ultimately, it is about how and why people come to work, the intrinsic motivation that fuels their actions. Plenty of organisations that really believe motivation breeds good outcomes in all sorts of ways, have no formal description of their purpose.

Moving beyond theoretical discussions, I invited the audience at Spinnaker’s 2023 Maritime People & Culture Conference to share their perspectives on their own jobs. The response was telling. While most liked their jobs, fewer loved them. The distinction between liking and loving work is significant. It represents the difference between mere contentment and a deep sense of fulfilment and purpose. As leaders, it is our responsibility to at least to attempt to inspire such devotion in our employees, creating an environment where they feel valued, psychologically safe and integral to the organisation’s mission.

The conversation with the chief executive highlighted several key issues leaders need to juggle. Balancing internal promotions with external hires is crucial for infusing fresh perspectives and diversity into a company’s culture and, of course, its decision making. While promoting from within fosters a cohesive atmosphere and provides incumbents with evidence of possible career paths, it also risks breeding an echo chamber that potentially hinders innovation and change. Additionally, the challenge of toxic high performers can present itself; highlighting the need to recognise and address those who excel in their work but erode trust and negatively impact the team.

Gender diversity emerged as another pressing concern. This individual was passionate about the fact that more women, particularly in senior positions, are needed. It’s encouraging that this genuine sentiment is ever more commonplace.  

I feel strongly that chief executives must actively engage with their staff, including younger members, to gain insights into the organisation’s culture and identify areas for improvement. If you’re willing to ask – and if the staff trust you – you’ll soon find out who the troublemakers are.

Throughout the discussion, a recurring theme emerged: authenticity and trust are the foundation of effective leadership. Creating an environment where relationships and trust can flourish is essential. Leaders must also cultivate psychological safety, where employees feel comfortable raising concerns and challenging the status quo. It is important for leaders to encourage dissenting opinions and empower individuals to voice their thoughts without fear of retribution.

I recall a chief executive I recently spoke with who expressed his desire for people to disagree with him more. He acknowledged that employees often hesitate to voice their opinions, and he recognised the need to create a safe space for open dialogue. In one instance, a new hire apologised for speaking up and disagreeing, which surprised the chief executive. He wished more people felt confident enough to express their opinions openly and constructively. This highlights the importance of building an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and employees feel secure in sharing their thoughts.

The Covid-19 pandemic served as a prime example of how trust can shape outcomes. In the face of uncertainty, leaders who demonstrated trust in their teams experienced remarkable results. When the pandemic hit, businesses were forced to downsize and make rapid decisions. Key individuals were identified, and others were placed on furlough, resulting in smaller teams. This necessitated decisive leadership and immediate empowerment of employees, granting them autonomy and the authority to make quick decisions.

The purpose became clear: to keep the business afloat during these challenging times. With a shared sense of purpose, individuals became highly motivated and worked tirelessly to save their organisations. The concept of “autonomy, mastery, and purpose”, as advocated by Dan Pink, is well known as the key to motivation. New-found autonomy allowed employees to excel in their roles and contribute to the business in ways they had not previously been able to do.

Experts in leadership, including Simon Sinek, emphasise that purpose must be clearly defined, must provide direction for the entire organisation, and be authentic to truly motivate individuals. It cannot be a mere marketing gimmick orchestrated by the company’s marketing department. I do disagree with part of this. Authenticity is crucial, but I’m not sure that clearly defining purpose is. As I’ve mentioned above, not every organisation that seems to get this right has a formal description of their purpose. Think of it this way – having a purpose means being purposeful. A trustworthy leader or leadership team that is authentic and fosters the psychologically safe environment that I’ve talked about can create a purposeful culture where individuals feel that they have purpose and they wake up in the morning happy to go to work. If your staff lose that spark, that motivation, then you’re like a sports manager that’s lost the dressing room.

When purpose is authentic and aligned with the values and vision of the organisation, employees find fulfilment and personal satisfaction in their work. This sense of purpose fosters engagement, teamwork and improved performance.

I see these dynamics at play at Spinnaker and even in a small classic car restoration business that I part own. When communication is effective, and everyone feels that the environment is fair and aligned, the businesses thrive. However, the moment trust erodes, when people feel that things are not fair, that others are not pulling their weight… and if issues go unaddressed, a decline in atmosphere and performance follows. It’s very clear that a leader’s role goes beyond the daily operations and that it’s not just about being a ‘nice leader’ but a consistent and communicative one that addresses the concerns of their people and constantly corrects the course to keep them pointing in the same direction. To achieve this, it is essential in larger organisations to engage with middle management and those they manage; they set the tone for the organisation daily and if they are watering down the ethos and the message then the game is lost.

Creating an environment of trust and authenticity requires communicating and aligning expectations, decision-making, recruitment, and internal promotions. One of our recent conference speakers pointed out that young workers nowadays say the most important thing to them is career development. Therefore, transparency is crucial when hiring externally rather than promoting from within, making it clear why those decisions are made. Addressing cultural issues or the need for new skillsets within teams will sometimes require bringing in new leadership from outside the organisation

In the financial sector, purpose and culture have traditionally revolved simply around making profit and regulatory compliance. However, a shift is occurring, driven by the understanding that healthy cultures, characterised by inclusivity, diversity and safety, lead to improved outcomes. Regulatory bodies, such as the Financial Conduct Authority, are recognising the importance of these factors and placing much greater emphasis on and promoting the importance of purposeful organisational cultures during their inspections.

Companies like Slack are a useful case study for the maritime industry. Here, leadership recognises the significance of culture and actively works towards improvement. The walls are adorned with the slogan “work hard and go home on time.”

Embracing empathy, work-life balance, and fostering a supportive environment has become a priority because in the present business environment. Staff have a choice and attitudes change. If their job makes them feel like they don’t want to get up in the morning, they will realise that purpose is missing and go elsewhere.

You can read the article on Riviera Maritime Media via the link below

https://www.rivieramm.com/opinion/maritime-is-shifting-from-transactional-to-transformational-leadership-76439

Hot Jobs – Top 10 maritime vacancies – June 2023

port

For 25 years, Spinnaker have been assisting shipowners, shipmanagers, oil majors, and P&I clubs in fulfilling their maritime recruitment requirements. Every day, we receive a constant influx of new job openings, all conveniently listed on our website. To simplify your job search, we have handpicked a collection of the ten most sought-after positions available right now. Get in touch if you’re interested but do it quickly as they won’t be around for long!

A full list of current vacancies can be found on our website:

European Sales Manager, United Kingdom

This position offers an opportunity to gain experience in maritime supply outside of the UK while working closely with company directors to fulfil the corporate strategy. The role provides full support from an operational team based in the Head Office, enabling you to concentrate on executing the directors’ vision for business growth.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017146-european-sales-manager-northeast-london

Junior Bulk Vessel Operator, Dubai

In this role, you will be responsible for handling time and voyage charter operations of handy-Panamax vessels.

You will need to have between 1-2 years’ experience as a Vessel Operator within the bulk market.

This is a great opportunity for someone who is looking for a new challenge in a company that offers great long-term career opportunities.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017144-junior-bulk-vessel-operator-dubai

Business Development Director, United Kingdom

In this role, you will be working with the executive team and trustee board to develop the corporate fundraising strategy for the Seafarers’ Charity.

Whilst managing a team of three people, your role will be focusing on building key relationships through face-to-face meetings and attendance at networking events.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017145-business-development-director-london

QHSE Advisor, United Kingdom

A market-leading vessel owner is looking for a QHSE Advisor to oversee standards for their UK fleet. You will need to attend vessels and onshore facilities to provide coaching and training for staff, as well as conducting audits.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017143-qhse-advisor-newcastle

Energy Management & Efficiency Officer, United Kingdom

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Energy Management & Efficiency Officer to join their London office.

As a leading provider in the maritime industry, our client is committed to sustainable practices and energy efficiency across their fleet of vessels and offices.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017142-energy-management-efficiency-officer-london

Chief Financial Officer, Singapore

A shipping group in Singapore is recruiting a Chief Financial Officer. You will need to have a strategic outlook as you will have financial oversight for various business areas including ship management, ship owning and crewing.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017141-chief-financial-officer-singapore

Head of Marine Operations, Middle East

Our client is looking for a Head of Marine Operations based in the Middle East. You will be responsible for directing safe and efficient marine operations in the port. You will also lead marine emergency operations in coordination with other responding entities.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017140-head-marine-operations-middle-east

Marine Operations Coordinator, United Kingdom

This position will support the operations of a chartered LNG fleet used for the worldwide delivery of LNG cargoes.

To be considered for this opportunity you will need to have knowledge of LNG operations. Experience in joint ventures is also an advantage.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017139-marine-operations-coordinator-london

Finance Manager, Qatar

If you have a degree in Accounting or Finance, knowledge of IFRS and GAAP, and experience working in financial management, including project & cost controlling and financial modelling, this could be the next step in your career.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017138-finance-manager-qatar

Marine Pilot, Middle East

Our client is looking for an individual to provide marine pilotage to all types of vessels calling at QP Operated Ports. The ideal candidate will have extensive sea-going experience as an Officer of the Watch and have adequate experience on large-size vessels as Chief Officer or Master.

https://spinnaker-global.com/job/pr017137-marine-pilot-middle-east

For more information on any of the jobs above, please call the office on +44 (0)1702 480142 or email [email protected]

View these jobs, and more on our website https://spinnaker-global.com/jobs/job-search

100 Top Women in shipping by allaboutshipping.co.uk for 2022

In February 2023 Allaboutshipping.co.uk ran its annual list of the Top 100 women working in the maritime industry.

The list was launched in 2019 to tie in with the IMO’s theme for World Maritime Day which was “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.

We are delighted that Spinnaker’s Managing Director Teresa Peacock has made the list every year since launch, and this year said about the awards “I was absolutely delighted to feature amongst such amazing women, and I am thrilled to have appeared each year since (launch).  We have a workforce of extremely talented women in the maritime industry, each and every woman working in shipping is making a contribution to keeping the world turning and should feel very proud.  I would like to thank Allaboutshipping for continuing to raise awareness of the importance of equity in maritime sector!”

If you missed it, here is the full list.

1. Semiramis S. Paliou, CEO Diana Shipping Inc., President of HELMEPA, Greece (2)

2. Dr. Marina Papaioannou, Head of the Maritime Academy Hellas, Maritime Service Centre & Advisory at DNV GL Maritime, Greece (3)

3. Sabrina Chao, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport, Hong Kong and President of BIMCO (4)

4. Mia Krogslund Jørgensen, Head of People, Culture and Strategy at HAFNIA, Denmark (0)

5. Katharina Stanzel, Managing Director at Intertanko, London, United Kingdom (7)

6. Elvia Bustavino, Lawyer and General Secretary in the Panama Maritime Authority, Panama (9)

7. Mary Carmen Barrios, Senior Vice President for Ports, Terminals and Stevedoring Ops for Europe, Middle East & Africa at Wallenius Wilhelmsen (42)

8. Karen Martin, Commercial Director, London International Shipping Week (LISW) (0)

9. Nicola Good, Journalist and Global Head of Brand & External Relations Marine & Offshore at Lloyd’s Register, UK (8)

10. Dr. Helen Thanopoulou, Professor at the University of the Aegean at the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, Greece (11)

11. Elpi Petraki, president WISTA Hellas as well as president of WISTA International, Chartering Manager at ENEA Management Inc., II Vice President at EENMA, Greece (12)

12. Dorothea Ioannou, CEO The American P&I Club – the first female for over a century and WISTA Hellas member (44)

13. Katerina A. Mahera, Commercial director in Greece for Q88 (16)

14. Melina Travlos, Head of Neptune Lines Shipping  and Managing Enterprises, Head of Neptune Dry and President of the Union of Greek Shipowners – the first female president in over a century (63)

15. Danae Bezantakou, CEO at Navigator Shipping Consultants, Secretary at the International Propeller Club Port of Piraeus, founder YES Forum, and president iforU, Greece (13)

16. Despina Panagiotou – Theodosiou, former WISTA International president and CEO Tototheo Group, Cyprus (14)

17. Captain Helen Peter Davis, a ship’s officer, a college lecturer, a solicitor at Hill Dickinson, and WISTA UK BoD member (0)

18. Maria J. Angelikousis, CEO Angelikoussis Group., Greece (20)

19. Lesley Bankes-Hughes, publisher, director of publishing, Petrospot Ltd (Bunkerspot and ship.energy), UK (40)

20. Katerina Raptakis, IT Department of Navios Group of Companies, Greece (0)

21. Elina Souli, Lawyer,Deputy Head of the Britannia Piraeus Office and WISTA Hellas Secretary-General(19)

22. Pailette Palaiologou, Vice President, Marine & Offshore Division, Hellenic, Black Sea & Adriatic Zone, Bureau Veritas Hellas A.E., Greece (10)

23. Elena Sendona, Fashion designer and journalist, the heart and soul in fashionality and beyondgreeksalad, hospitality, tourism including maritime tourism, Greece (28)

24. Maria-Christina Ktistakis, CFO Genimar Shipping & Trading S.A. and WISTA Hellas former President (66)

25. Eleni Letoni, Communications, Sales & Marketing Co-ordinator for Greece, Cyprus & Malta, CSR officer at SEEBA Zone, Bureau Veritas Hellas, Piraeus, Greece (29)

26. Jillian Carson-Jackson, ex – President of The Nautical Institute, United Kingdom(23)                           

27. Maria Karahaliou, PA to GEMA Marine Manager Marine Internal Training Coordinator at Lloyd’s Register EMEA, Greece (24)

28. Suzanna P. Laskaridis, Director Lavinia Group, Laskaridis Shipping Co. Ltd. and founder Real Time Graduates, Greece (25)

29. Natalia Margioli, Head of HMC and ICS Piraeus Branch, Greece (27)                           

30. Anna Vourgos, co-founder Aphentrica Marine Insurance Brokers and former WISTA Cyprus President (17)

31. Philippa Charlton, Chief Marketing Officer of Lloyd’s Register and member of the Executive Leadership team, UK (0)

32. Daphne Angelidou, president WISTA Argentina and CEO at Agencia Maritima Intercontinental, Argentina (30)

33. Frances Baskerville, Senior Vice President of CIRM, London, United Kingdom (31);

34. Katerina Skourtanioti, managing director, Venlys Greece (32) 

35. Prof. Averil MacDonald, OBE, DSc, DUniv, FRSA Deputy Master of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers and Freelance Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, United Kingdom (33)

36. Ioanna Prokopiou, CEO Sea Traders and founder of Prominence Maritime S.A., Athens, Greece (38)

37. Claudia Ohlmeier

DNV, Head of Section Class Systematics Data and Operation Centre at DNV in Hamburg, former president of WISTA Germany (34)

38. Heidi Heseltine, co-founder of the Diversity Group and Halcyon Recruitment, United Kingdom (48)

39. Susan Terpilowski, OBE,  Founder Image Line and former president WISTA UK (36)

40. Dr. Sasha Heriot,  Business Development and Portfolio Manager, Wärtsilä Corporation,(37)

41. Helle Hammer, CEFOR, Represents Cefor in external forums such as stakeholder committees in Bureau Veritas, RINA & DNV GL, and as a Board member of the Norwegian Maritime Forum. Chair of the IUMI Policy Forum, and Secretary to the Cefor Technical Forum, Norway (38)

42. Claire N. Tsavliris, Tsavliris Salvage Group (39) 

43. Sanjam Sahi Gupta, founder of Maritime SheEO also the director for Sitara Shipping (India) (0)

44. Anna-Maria Monogioudis, Director, Aegean Protective Coatings, Piraeus, Greece and WISTA Hellas former president (41)

45. Nikisha Reagan, Master Freight Broker at NR Swanks Freight Brokerage LLC (0)

46. Sinikka Hartonen, Secretary General of OneSea (0)

47. Kristie Loutsiou, PA to Professor C. Th. Grammenos, Administrator for the Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance at BAYES Business School (former CASS Business School), United Kingdom (68)

48. Lady Teresa M Stevens, Founder and Director, Guardian Maritime Limited, UK (45)

49. Teresa Peacock, Managing Director Spinnaker Global and WISTA UK (33)

50. Dr. Anne Marie Warris, founder ecoreflect Ltd, United Kingdom (47)

51. Unni Einemo, director of IBIA, IBIA’s representative at the IMO (100)

52. Angeliki Frangou, CEO of Navios, Greece (48)

53. Anne H. Steffensen, Director General of the Danish Shipowners Association, Denmark (50)

54. Dorthe Bendtsen, Head of Corporate Services at global marine energy provider KPI OceanConnect (0)

55. Katrina Davis, Marine Insurance Broker at Gallaghers, United Kingdom (90)

56. Greta Bedard, Société des Traversiers du Québec, Canada (0)

57. Debbi Bonner, Founder of JLA media, UK (54)

58. Martina Meinders–Michail, Managing Director at MSM, WISTA Cyprus member (55)                

59. Kathy Metcalf, CEO, Chamber of Shipping of America, USA (57) 

60. Monica Kohli, GARD (UK) Ltd office and WISTA UK president (58)

61. Patty Apostolopoulou, Lloyd’s Register, United Kingdom and HESGB Secretary (59) 

62. Natasha Brown, Media and Communications at the IMO, London, United Kingdom (60)

63. Shelagh Ingledow, Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards and Greek Shipping Hall of Fame Events secretariat, Greece (100)

64. Sadan Kaptanoglou, Kaptanoglu Shipping Group of Companies, ex-President & Chairperson of the Board, BIMCO, Turkey (62)

65. Zoe Upson, FACT Director of Freight and Commodity Talent, and Founder of WOMEN TOGETHER. (0)

66. Milena Pappas, Commercial Director of Star Bulk Carriers Corp., Greece (0)

67. Camila de Oliveira Diniz, HESGB Events, Brazil (67)

68. Holly Birkett, Reporter TradeWinds News (82)

69. Maria Mavroudi, Marine Insurance Broker and Founder of Searock Marine Insurance Brokers. Founder also of Kallichoron Boutique Hotel, Island of Astypalaia Greece, and former WISTA Hellas BoD Secretary (69) 

70. Makiko Toni, Deputy Manager, Cyber Security Team, ClassNK, Japan (70)

71. Eleni Polychronopoulou, ERMA First and the full group of companies owned by them – also President of METIS and HEMEXPO, and Vice Chair of Sea Europe. (70)

72. Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO secretary general, Brussels, Belgium (71)

73. Carleen Lyden Walker, CEO at Morgan Marketing & Communications, IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador, NAMEPA, SHIPPINGInsight, WISTA USA(72)

74. Artemis Vamvakopoulou, co-founder/managing partner at Exrovert Business Communications and Posidonia Exhibition Press Office, Greece (73)  

75. Olga Jaques, Business Development & Events Manager at Maritime London, UK (74)

76. Sofia Falida, Business Development Manager at Polyeco Group, Greece (75)

77. Maria Papadoyanne, Manager at Seascape Marine & Trading Ltd, WISTA Hellas, Greece (76)

78. Sandra Spears, writer. The heart and mind of The Maritime Advocate (77)

79. Michelle Wise Bockmann, Markets Editor at Lloyd’s List (78)

80. Sophia Konstantopoulou, Global Head of Marketing & Events at IBIA (International Bunkers Industry Association) in London and founder of GIWA (Greek International Women’s Awards) (96)

81. Katerina Fitsiou, Director and Relationship Manager at XRTC Greece and treasurer of the Association of Banking & Shipping Executives of Hellenic Shipping – the only woman in the board and long lasting member, Greece (80)

82. Karin Orsel, Marin Ship Management BV and former WISTA International president, vice president ECSA and BIMCO BoD member representing The Netherlands (84)

83. Evgenia Benavides, Terpel, WISTA Colombia and IBIA (64)

84. Peggy Papastavrou, lawyer at ATHEX Exchange, WISTA Hellas member (98)

85. Gina Panagiotou, Lawyer, ESG Manager, responsible for leading Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy at the West of England P&I Club, Founder of Oceans Arena, Concept Founder of It’s All about Shipping, journalist and WISTA UK Secretary (99)

86. Maria M. Tripolitis, Director PMS and Special Secretary at the Chios Marine Club, Greece (91)

87. Olga Bornozis, Managing Director at Capital Link, USA (87) 

88. Clare Gomes, Strategic Planning & Communications Executive at AMSOL, South Africa and WISTA South Africa President (88)

89. Irene K. Notias, country manager for Sing Fuels, governor of the Propeller Club of Piraeus, founder of Project Connect and Adopt a Ship, Athens, Greece (95)

90. Laia Politou, Attorney-at-Law, Claims and Insurance Manager at Goldenport Shipmanagement, Greece (90) 

91. Maria Angelidou, Manager at GAC Greece and former BoD member at WISTA-Hellas, Greece (98)

92. Ida Stier, founder Stier Group, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (94)  

93. Kira Phoenix K’inan, Glass Artist Photographer, Painter, Environmentalist and Glass Tutor, London, United Kingdom (86)

94. Ana Irene Delgado, Senator in Panama, former Ambassador of Panama in  the United Kingdom, Ireland and Iceland and member of Panama’s Olympic team in fencing, devoted participant at the annual Davos Forum, Panama; (92) 

95. Anna Kaparaki, Lecturer in Maritime Law at John Moores University, Liverpool, and Senior Solicitor at Mackinnons Solicitors LLP, United Kingdom (93)

96. Mia Jensen, Greek Director & Events Manager at Marine Money International  (91)

97. Jaqueline Burton, Kongsberg Maritime, Head of Creative Design, chair for the board for SAMS, Sustainable Autonomous Mobility Systems (0)

98. Chrysoula Patrikiou, CEO & Founder of Potentia, Greece  (96)

99. Marina Tzoutzouraki, co-founder & CFO at eShipfinance, Athens, Greece; (97)

100.  Jean Grasso, attorney, partner at Black Rome LLP and WISTA USA board member   USA (91).

The full list is taken from the allaboutshipping website on 17th February 2023. You can read the original article here.

CV Advice from David Tubb, Director of Recruitment, Spinnaker

One of the impacts on the job market post covid was the great resignation.  This created a real problem with the availability of talent and created a skills gap in the maritime recruitment sector.

We currently find ourselves in a candidate-driven job market, with demand outstripping supply. Despite this, there is still a need to stand out to potential employers when it comes to finding a new job in shipping.

We asked Spinnaker’s Recruitment Director David Tubb for his top tips when it comes to writing a CV that stands out from the crowd.  Here’s what he had to say:

Tip 1 – How important is the length of your CV?

It’s a common belief that a good CV must be kept to no more than 2 sides of A4.

Whilst a shorter CV may be better for those applying for junior positions, employers will still want to see the full breadth of your experience for senior roles. That said, once you reach CEO level you can leave out any junior roles from the very start of your career.

A longer CV gives you more space to outline your responsibilities and success stories, whereas a shorter CV may indicate a lack of experience.

Tip 2 – Education & Qualifications

How much detail is needed in this area? As a general rule of thumb, earlier qualifications are not necessary once you have a degree under your belt.

While this is true after several years of workplace experience, for those starting out in their careers it is still worth including GCSE or A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications) to help to demonstrate your achievements.

Tip 3 – Achievements, not responsibilities

Many of the CVs that we see from candidates have their daily tasks outlined in list form.

Prospective employers want to read about your work achievements, not just a job description for your current role.

Try to include relevant, quantifiable achievements or insightful figures demonstrating your strengths. Such as performance against KPI’s and budgets.

Tip 4 – Hobbies

Showing your interests is helpful and makes you a real person, but professional experience should always take pride of place.

Hobbies are worth including if they demonstrate an achievement, such as climbing Ben Nevis. Adding your weekly book club or you’re tending to your houseplants may spark a random conversation, but I wouldn’t make it top of the list (unless you know it matches that of the hiring manager.

Tip 5 – Personal branding

Unique, personal CVs are great for showing creativity when applying for roles which demand creativity such as marketing and PR roles, but I would suggest that you think twice before investing in an all-singing all-dancing CV.

Recruiters and employers handle high volumes of applications and use automated software to input CV details into their internal systems.

These systems often struggle to recognise non-standard CV formats, and may be confused by unusual tables, shadings, or patterns.

This can jumble up information and impact your application, so stick to serif fonts and keep imagery to a minimum.

Tip 6 – Employment gaps   

LinkedIn recently surveyed 23,000 people worldwide and found that 62% had taken a career break at some point.

Whether by choice, redundancy or personal reasons (such as starting a family), I’d always advise being open and honest on your CV with length and reason. Employers will often value a career break as it can show that you have had time to think about your future career path and haven’t just stayed in a job for necessity.

Tip 7 – Work experience

For junior roles, your work experience is just as, if not more important, than your qualifications. Grades tell employers how well you perform academically, but not what you’re like in a workplace.

So as well as including relevant qualifications, do highlight the skills you’ve gained from work experience.

One final note on the topic of LinkedIn profiles. As recruiters, we always look at a candidate’s profile on LinkedIn so I would strongly advise that this is up to date and also matches the experience on your CV.

On the topic of social media, bear in mind that an employer might research you on Instagram and Facebook so ensure your posts and photos are not controversial.  In addition, interviews via WhatsApp will most likely see the employer viewing your profile picture.  Make sure that this is as professional as you would like to come across in person.

David Tubb is Director of Recruitment at Spinnaker.

You can contact him via email [email protected] or call +44 (0)1702 480142

https://spinnaker-global.com/about/meet-the-team

An Overview: Nationality Split in the 2022 Spinnaker Salary Survey


Spinnaker’s ‘Maritime HR Association’ collects not only salary and bonus data as part of its annual salary survey, but also that of nationality.

This nationality data is included in a specific report which looks at the split of nationality by job family and location.

When looking at a nationality split, we need to remember that we can’t expect the distribution of nationalities to be even in all job families due to many factors including:

  • The historical consideration. In countries where the shipping industry has been long established, there are more high-quality maritime specialists due to the abundance of opportunities to study, gain experience and skills.
  • Job location. Many shipping companies have different departments in different locations which can influence the nationality split of certain job families.

In 2022, just under a quarter of incumbents in the salary survey were working in India – it is therefore not surprising that 31% of them were Indian nationals.

Danish, Norwegian and British nationals are more likely to be found in executive leadership and more senior roles.

11% of all Technical & Marine and HSEQ roles are located in India, consequently, Indian nationals are filling more than a quarter of these roles. Indian, Greek, Norwegian and Danish nationals prefer technical specialisms over marine specialisms; British, Singaporean, American and Malaysian incumbents are, on the contrary, more commonly performing marine roles.

Singapore, USA, Denmark and the UK offer just over half of all chartering and freight trading jobs. The British prefer chartering to freight trading, while Danes have a slightly more noticeable presence in freight trading than in chartering. Both nationalities are more commonly found in senior positions.

As for the Commercial Operations and Crewing job families, we can hope for increasing numbers of Filipino nationals in more senior positions in the future – in 2022, the largest percentage of Filipinos was reported under ‘00’ (trainee) job code which offers the opportunity for promotion.

Crewing became the only reportable job family in 2022 where we could trace a noticeable Eastern European presence, mainly Polish and Ukrainian, who are more commonly found in Professional roles.

To find out more details about the nationality split in the maritime industry please contact our benchmarking team at [email protected].

Written by Daryna Rozum, Reward Consultant, Spinnaker

Spinnaker Maritime People & Culture Conference 2023 – a roundup

conference

The 15th annual Spinnaker Maritime People & Culture Conference took place in London on the 11th and 12th May 2023 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

The event, chaired by Spinnaker Chairman Phil Parry, featured fascinating talks, presentations and panel discussions covering the key issues facing the maritime industry and how HR and leadership teams can address them.

Parry says, “We are delighted that this year’s event has had a record turnout. Delegates have travelled from as far afield as Hong Kong, Singapore and North America and we are honoured that so many members of the maritime community have joined us. The sessions have been both informative and topical and tap into the key trends and priorities for HR teams in 2023.”

The event welcomed world-renowned international rugby player turned facilitator and performance coach, Rory Underwood MBE DL as a speaker on the topic of High Performing Teams. He also hosted a panel discussion alongside Catherine Logie (Ocean Technologies Group), Tim Browne (Professional Speaker & Performance Coach), Daniel Taylor (Principal Consultant, t-three) and Michael Sandaluk, Chief HR Officer (Anglo-Eastern)

Other topics on the agenda were Artificial Intelligence in HR from Heidi Watson, Partner at Clyde & Co. She told us that “Many employers rely on artificial intelligence to help with recruitment, management, and redundancy processes as AI can deliver huge efficiencies. However, a reliance on AI also exposes employers to discrimination and other legal risk.”

Her session aimed to help employers understand the risks associated with using AI and help them outline the steps that they can take to address those risks and mitigate the possibility of legal, reputational, and financial exposure.

Heidi also delivered a session on women’s health in the workplace which looked at the impact on female talent leaving the workplace due to menopause and fertility issues.

American Bureau of Shipping’s VP of Human Resources and Global DE&I Officer, Njsane Courtney delivered a walk through of ABS’s journey to establish a global DE&I program and shared personal stories that emphasised the need to address not only the cultural impacts of unconscious bias but also examined how our own personal biases impact the decisions we as leaders make every day that have on our employees’ everyday lives at work.

The Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign in the UK, Joe Ryle, also attended and spoke at the event and shared the findings from the recent pilot. This was then followed by a case study from Swedish maritime training organisation Seably who participated in the pilot last year and achieved a successful outcome.

NYK Europe also shared a case study of their recent hybrid working initiative and Lloyd’s Register delivered a session on the importance of Employer Branding.

Capt. Yasser Hashem from Bahri Shipmanagement said the event “The conference was of exceptional quality. It was an absolute pleasure to attend and be part of such a well-planned and insightful event. The sessions were engaging, the speakers were interesting, and the networking opportunities were invaluable. I returned with a wealth of knowledge and new connections that will undoubtedly benefit us.“

For more information on being part of the next event in May 2024 please contact the team via email. [email protected]

Watch the 2023 video:

Hot Jobs – Top 10 maritime vacancies – May 2023

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Spinnaker have been helping shipowners, shipmanagers, oil majors and P&I clubs with their maritime recruitment needs for 25 years.

We receive new vacancies on a daily basis and all of our JOBS can be found on our website, but to make life easier we have curated a list of the 10 hottest jobs currently available.

Get in touch if you’re interested but do it quickly as they won’t be around for long!

Senior Purchasing Officer, Singapore

A shipmanagement company based in Singapore with a fleet of chemical and gas tankers is hiring a Senior Purchasing Officer.

You will be responsible for handling purchase orders from vessels, contacting suppliers for quotations and negotiating on prices. You’ll evaluate and select suppliers working closely with the Technical Management team.

A minimum of three years experience in the maritime industry is essential, ideally in a purchasing position.

View this job >

Vessel Operator, Singapore

We are currently partnered with an international shipowner/ operator specialising in the breakbulk market that is currently looking at expansion of their Singapore office by strengthening their commercial team with the addition of a Vessel Operator in Singapore

You would be responsible for the entire planning of the voyage including optimizing voyage efficiency and ensuring effective communication with all parties including vessels, local offices, procurement teams, ship managers and agents.

View this job >

Panamax Operator, London, United Kingdom

A leading shipbroking company is looking for a Panamax Dry Operator to join their team in London.

You will be responsible for handling all operational matters, dealing with all vessel documentation, liaising with masters & agents, working with the finance department to improve communication and completing day-to-day operational duties.

View this job >

Marine Producing Broker, London, United Kingdom

Our client, an international marine broker, is seeking a Producing Broker to join the team.

The successful candidate will be commercially minded, self-motivated and keen to travel to meet clients globally. You will have full autonomy to set your own agenda to develop marine P&I and H&M business in Europe. The ideal candidate will have solid working relationships with shipowners in the marine retail market in Europe and 5-15 years underwriting or broking experience. You can have the flexibility to work remotely or hybrid from their London office.

View this job >

Marine Superintendent, Southampton, United Kingdom

A market leading towage company is looking for a Marine Superintendent to join their team in the UK for their growing Southampton operation.

You will provide marine operational expertise to ensure all vessels and crew meet their safety, environmental and operational requirements. You will also be the main point of contact for the client and be able to problem solve as you will be the first point of contact for the company’s client.

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Registry Officer, London, United Kingdom

We have partnered with a leading ship registry to help them find a Registry Officer to join their team in London.

The role involves providing a professional and reliable service to clients who are registering their vessels and completing registration transactions with the Ship Registry.

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Business Analyst, Hamburg or Singapore

We are currently partnered with a growing dry bulk business to find a Business Analyst to join their team in Hamburg or Singapore.

The role requires the candidate to work closely with commercial and technology teams in ensuring that the solutions provided meet the business needs and requirements of various stakeholders of the Company.

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Head of Global Market Research, Dubai, UAE

Are you an experienced market research professional with deep expertise in the dry bulk shipping and commodities industries? Are you passionate about driving business growth through strategic insights and competitive intelligence?

We are currently seeking a dynamic and proactive Head of Global Market Research to develop and lead our market research initiatives. The successful candidate will have an exceptional track record in commodity analytics and the shipping industry to drive transformative change within the organization.

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Chartering Manager, Dubai, UAE

We are currently partnered with a commodities group based out of Dubai who are at an exciting phase of the international development of their shipping team and are looking to hire an experienced Chartering Manager focused on the tonnage side of the market.

This hire will form a crucial part of their commercial team working in tandem with Charterers internally that are more focused towards the cargo side of the market. You will be tasked with developing a strong network of owners and Brokers and have responsibility for finding the right ship at the best price to fulfil their business needs.

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Environmental, Social, Governance, United Kingdom

We are currently working with a leading offshore services provider to help them find an Environmental, Social and Governance Manager to join their team in Aberdeen or Lowestoft.

The role will be to identify, co-ordinate and develop the ESG corporate strategy and implement an ESG framework within the club. They would be looking for your to create and project manage appropriate work programmes with a focus on working collaboratively with staff, members and business partners to promote ESG principles.

View this job >

For more information on any of the jobs above, please call the office on +44 (0)1702 480142.

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