Spinnaker Stress Relief Recommendations

Managing stress is not an easy task. But here at Spinnaker we have many avid book readers and podcast listeners, all of whom turn to them to de-stress, relax or reflect. They cover topics from self-development to Formula 1, to true crime to help understanding others.

Phil Parry, Chairman

My recommendation is ‘Human Kind, A Hopeful History’ by 27-year-old Dutch historian Rutger Bregman. If you’ve ever – in fact who hasn’t – despaired about the human condition while watching the news, then this is the book for you. Human Kind is an extraordinary book about human nature and the human condition. This was an airport purchase for me, which is usually a mistake. On this occasion, it was a winner.  The book is part historical, part sociology, part psychology, and a big chunk of investigative analysis, research, and journalism.  It’s a really good read that will wash away some of the cynicism and pessimism we all far too often experience nowadays when thinking about ourselves as a species and about the future. Bregman’s central theme is that humans are friendly, peaceful, and healthy but we, and our motives and reasons (this being key to some of the obvious examples of behaviour during wartime) are generally misreported and misunderstood.

David Tubb, Director of Recruitment

There are quite a few recommendations from me! First up, podcasts. As an avid lover of F1 this is great! ‘Formula for Success – FFS!’ It’s just two experts having a good laugh and discussing new and old stories. For any F1 lover like me, this is a must-listen too. The other is ‘Art of Manliness’, now, this is not as misogynistic as it sounds. It is an eclectic podcast regarding a mix of self-development, general life skills and covers interesting topics in general.

And books. I currently have Clarksons’ Farm on the go. Now I know he is a love him or hate him kind of guy, but this book is just a great laugh. It is the TV show in written form and if you’re looking for a silly, but entertaining read to lift your spirits, this is definitely it! And from the self-development side of things, I have been reading a lot of Dale Carneige, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ and ‘How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job’. (Not that I don’t like my job…)! Although the books are quite on the ‘old’ side, they have principles that still stand and are needed to this day. They’re great at helping you create a new approach to life and discover talents about you never knew you had in your life and in your work.

Helen McCaughran, Marketing & Business Development Manager

Between work and looking after children it’s difficult to take time out to read or listen to a podcast, but when I take the dog for a walk, I normally tune in to Stephen Bartlett’s Diary of CEO or Desert Island Discs. The former has a variety of guests including celebrities such as Davina McCall who had a very troubled upbringing, and self-starters such as the female entrepreneur who started Bumble. The latter is great for listening to music from all eras, as well as finding out the back story of people in the public eye who you may never have heard about.

When I travel, I like to read and the latest book I took away with me was ‘Surrounded by idiots.’ Now this is not meant to be offensive to any of my friends, family or work colleagues, but it simply helps you understand that there are more people not like you than there are like you. It groups people into different personality types and helps you understand how to communicate with the different groups. My ‘type’ is introverted and ‘laid-back’ and clearly might clash with others who are more extroverted. I’d highly recommend it.

Bethanie-Taylor Grenfell, Marketing & HRC Administrator

I could go on and on for days about books and podcasts I read or listen to help relax and de-stress but I will stick to two. The first being ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney. This was one of the first books to make me cry… but for an overwhelmingly good reason! It is a gorgeous story about growing up from childhood to your twenties and identity, young love and friendship. But all with the underlying theme of the desire to feel understood by the people around you but also how lonely growing up can actually be. It is just beautiful!

The other is ‘The Psychology of your 20’s’ by Jemma Sbeg. This is just brilliant! I completely lost my identity when I left University but I realised, it’s not just me, there are so many people out there in their twenties that don’t have a clue what they are doing… which was me. One of my favourite episodes is ‘The psychology of the eldest daughter’ which was just fascinating to me as it was like listening to a biography sometimes. Feeling misunderstood, confused and out of place can be the source of a lot of my stress, but this podcast gives you a minute to realise it’s not just you, but there is a whole community out there that feels the same.

Daryna Rozum, Reward Consultant

I wasn’t sure if the podcasts I listen to can be considered de-stressing but after giving it some thought I realised – yes, they definitely work as such for me! I love a good true crime podcast and ‘Rotten Mango’ is one of my favourites. They’re quite long (some can be up to 2 hours), but each episode covers cases that aren’t given much international media coverage. What I like about this podcast, is how engaging and emotional they are. You actually learn a lot of cultural and societal contexts behind criminal cases as the presenters don’t stick to just one country.

Oftentimes I listen to it while working with data – when a task requires more of a manual job, it’s nice to occupy your brain with something (They have a couple of maritime cases as well which is a special treat). I think for me, stress comes at a point when you get overwhelmed by something and it grows to the size of a black hole. Then listening to something that tells you about something even scarier out there – it’s weirdly calms you down and you start appreciating what you have now more. And it gives you an insight into the human psyche too!

Liam Daly, Principal Recruitment Consultant

2 recommendations from me. ‘The Drive’ by Peter Attia. This talks about how to improve your quality of your life span, not improving the length of it, which I think is a very important message to live by. The next is ‘Rich Roll’ by Rich Roll. This talks about people from all rays of life discussing fitness, health, stress and mental health. All subjects that are a real core and focus in my life.

Monique Turner, Business Development Consultant

Date yourself they say! There are too many to list here but ‘Date Yourself Instead’ by Lyss Boss is quite insightful. Ask yourself, would you date you? Do you truly know you? Well, if you need to think about the answer to those questions, this might be the ideal podcasts for you. It aims to inspire you to become the best version of yourself while being very candid about personal experiences to help YOU!

The secret to happy and effective managers

I was interested to read in HR Magazine earlier this year that happy teams start with happy managers.

The article stated that having a fully engaged and happy manager would result in a team that were themselves 50% more engaged and happy. No surprise there, but the 50-million-dollar question is, how do we make sure that managers ARE happy and engaged in the first place?

Firstly, in a workplace post covid, with managers are managing people who are working from home or working flexibly. As a result, companies need to ensure that their technology is up-to-date and that the management, at least from a technology point of view, is no more difficult than it would be if the employees were in the office. It’s not always the case that a bad workman blames his tools, if the tools aren’t up to the job then the workman can’t do his job properly!

It’s not just the physical tools that are crucial. It’s making sure that the manager is also equipped mentally to deal with his or her direct reports. It’s commonly known that there are more people not like you, than there are like you and as a result, managers are dealing with multiple personality types on a daily basis and need to adapt their managerial style accordingly.

With this in mind we have been working with behavioural changes experts t-three since 2017, in delivering effective leadership programmes for managers in the maritime sector. These programmes incorporate the personality profiling tool Facet5. Facet5 is based around 5 key elements – Will, Energy, Affection, Control and Emotionality. A score on each of these facets builds our unique personality profile and allows us to understand not only how we behave as a manager, but also how we need to adapt our managerial style to manage others and get the best out of them.

t-three have put together extensive leadership programmes for global clients in both the maritime sector, including V. Group, and non-maritime sector, including Jaguar Land Rover, Transport for London and Sainsburys.

The next programme designed exclusively for the maritime sector will launch on the 25th April 2024 and you can find out more on our website.

Article written by Helen McCaughran, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Spinnaker.

Hot Jobs – Top 10 maritime vacancies – February 2024

For over 25 years, Spinnaker has been assisting shipowners, shipmanagers, oil majors, and P&I clubs in fulfilling their 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:

IT Officer – Athens, Greece

We are looking to find an experienced IT Officer to provide technical assistance and support for a Greek Shipowner (SME) based in the Northern Suburbs of Athens. You will be the primary point of contact for troubleshooting IT issues onboard vessels and onshore locations. Primary responsibilities include providing friendly, knowledgeable technical support to personnel and crew, installing hardware/software and perform upgrades both shipboard and onshore and creating detailed documentation and generate reports on support issues.

View Job – IT Officer, Athens

S&P Projects Coordinator – Athens, Greece

We are currently working with an international shipowner with several offices globally that is currently looking at the expansion of their in house S&P/ Projects department by adding a S&P/ Projects Administrator to their office in Athens. This will be a fantastic opportunity for someone that wants to join a truly dynamic department and would like to be part of a team that works towards high value transactions on a day to day basis. You would have direct exposure to the Managing Director of the organisation and as such this will need to be someone that is confident in their own abilities and able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.

View Job – S&P Projects Coordinator, Greece

Business Development Executive – East London, UK

Join the fascinating industry that is maritime as a Commercial Business Development Executive for an international company specialising in handling bulk cargoes. Working with existing customers, and developing new relationships, you will be the focal point for clients, working with Terminal Managers to provide costing, quotations and delivery of services. This is a role that will offer you extensive world wide travel where you will be negotiating rates and contract on client projects.

View Job – Business Development Executive, East London

Demurrage Claims Analyst – London, UK

We are currently partnered with a major international oil and products trading group based in London who are looking for a Demurrage Claims Analyst to be based in their HQ. This is a new hire that will be responsible for the accurate and timely review, issuance, negotiations, and settlement of demurrage claims associated with the transportation of crude oil and chartering activity. This role closely collaborates with trading and shipping operations, finance and accounting, as well as legal departments to ensure accurate information and guidance is being provided to the traders and charterers to reduce risk and exposure to the company and optimize trading profits.

View Job – Demurrage Claims Analyst, London

Commercial Operator (Tankers/Chemicals) – Singapore

We are currently working with a well-reputed, global client, and have placed an increasingly active approach to sustainability at the heart of their business model. Due to company expansion, they are looking to take on a tanker vessel operator to join their team in Singapore. The vessel operator will be expected to successfully and efficiently manage end-to-end operations of owner and time-chartered vessels in order to maximise profits and ensure all requirements of each charter party are fulfilled.

View Job – Commercial Operator (Tankers/Chemicals), Singapore

Tanker Market Analyst – Athens, Greece

We are currently working with a Shipowner in Greece who are looking for a highly skilled and detailed-oriented Tanker Market Analyst to join their dynamic team in Athens, Greece. Your insights and recommendations will contribute to the informed decision-making and strategy formulation for the organisation. Responsibilities include market research, data analysis, forecasting, competitor analysis, report generation, regulatory compliance and collaboration across teams.

View Job – Tanker Market Analyst, Athens

Dry Bulk Charterer – London, UK

We are currently with an international Shipowner/Operator who are looking for a Dry Bulk Charterer to join their expanding team in London. This company have a growing fleet of Dry Bulk vessels, currently running a fleet of 12, with 8 more on order including Ultramax and Kamsarmax. They are looking for someone with the relevant dry bulk experience to come and manage and build a cargo book. You will be expected to show a familiarity with the major charterers in the dry bulk market, as well as having the ability to bring in third party cargoes and develop a 360-degree book.

View Job – Dry Bulk Charterer, London

Port Captain – Houston, USA

The role itself will be reporting into the Commercial & Operations Director. You will be responsible for ensuring safe and cost-efficient operations of shipping cargo while supervising all cargo-related and commercial matters. You will also be required to provide support to the Chartering team with pre-fixture clearances, optimizing stowage in collaboration with Masters/Ship Operators to maximize cargo intake based on local restrictions, as well as optimizing vessel tank cleaning and port turnaround. Additionally, the role involves occasional assistance to the Master during tank inspections and Wall Wash Tests, coordination of potential Ship to Ship and ship to barge operations, and management of local Agency, Surveyors, Suppliers, and Terminal relations.

View Job – Port Captain, Houston, USA

Financial Analyst – Athens, Greece

We are currently partnered with a large international ship owner/ operator with several offices globally. Our client is very much in growth mode and are currently seeking a Financial Analyst to join their team in London. This hire would report into the Head of Analytics based in London but the role will be situated in Athens. This would be a great opportunity to join a company with a lot of ambition and would be a very fast paced work environment. Responsibilities include preparing financial models to support investment decisions including vessel purchases and sales, evaluating vessel financing and refinancing proposals and preparing analysis for sale and leaseback proposals.

View Job – Financial Analyst, Greece

Purchasing Manager – Aberdeen, Scotland

We are working with a growing offshore company who would like to hire an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead the team from their office in Aberdeen, Scotland. In this role, you will develop purchasing and logistics strategies to support our global fleet of vessels and offshore operations. Responsibilities include developing and executing purchasing strategies to source equipment, parts, and materials from international suppliers, analysing global market price trends to get optimal pricing on parts and materials and preparing reports on purchasing metrics like spend under management, savings achieved, etc.

View Job – Purchasing Manager, Aberdeen

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

View these jobs, and more on our website.

Do they trust you as a Leader? – A Guide for Executives in 2024

In this latest Executive Bulletin, we put the spotlight on the critical issue of trust within the workplace, particularly between employees and their leaders. Shockingly, a recent HR Magazine report revealed that a quarter of employees do not trust their CEO. Additionally, almost one-third of employees lack the opportunity to share feedback with top-level executives, while over half feel their concerns fall on deaf ears.

As someone who engages with CEOs, CFOs, and COOs daily, these findings not only surprised me but prompted me to consider how the C-suite can better connect with and understand their workforce. While some CEOs boast an ‘open-door’ policy, it’s evident that more proactive measures are needed to truly engage employees and address their concerns.

One effective solution is to implement channels for feedback, such as suggestion boxes or employee engagement surveys. Conducted by HR departments, these surveys can provide valuable insights which can then be shared with senior management during board meetings. It’s crucial to emphasise that surveys such as these should not take place only annually, or merely as checkbox exercises, rather, they should be an ongoing, integral part of an organisations HR strategy.

I feel it’s important to recognise that perspectives differ across various career stages and collecting regular feedback will help organisations in understanding the evolving perceptions of the company’s culture. Key survey questions could revolve around employee value, understanding of the organisational mission, and identification of skill development needs.

As well as creating a forum for collecting feedback, this is pointless if the company fails to give employees feedback on their suggestions, whether positive or negative. Some companies I speak to opt for quarterly town hall sessions, where employees gain deeper insights into company goals and culture, and having a sense of purpose – this is more important now than ever before, so how are your employee’s adding value to the world? These sessions also provide an opportunity for employees to voice opinions on company operations, what changes can and should be made to how things are done and how things are run.

If led by the CEO, these town hall sessions should prioritise employee interaction, allowing ample time for questions and honest answers and not just an opportunity for the CEO to hold court. Ultimately, the key is for employees to feel heard, valued, and fulfilled, creating a workplace where trust is built and sustained.

There are several companies out there that offer survey platforms and services which can help provide support for organisations keen on fostering a feedback-driven culture – you’re not in this alone!

Article written by Teresa Peacock, Managing Director of Spinnaker’s Executive Search division.

Vote for Teresa Peacock – Top 100 Women in Shipping

On Monday 19th February, Allaboutshipping.co.uk will run its annual list of the Top 100 women working in the maritime industry.

Spinnaker’s Managing Director Teresa Peacock has made the list every year since its launch in 2019.

“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!”
~ Teresa Peacock, 2022

This year, there is a new voting system, where each person gets ONE vote for ONE woman for who YOUR Top Woman in Shipping is!

So, why should you vote for Teresa?

  • Teresa has worked with Spinnaker since 2008, solidifying her place as a key member and figure within the maritime industry.
  • Teresa is a Board Member of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) as well as a committee member of Maritime UK – Diversity & Inclusion in Maritime Taskforce.
  • Teresa is part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (UK Government), Women in Work and attends various parliamentary meetings, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the global maritime community in the diversity space.
  • Teresa is also involved with promoting careers within shipping, with the ‘Inspiring the Future’ project, which connects schools and colleges with employers and people from the world of work.
  • Teresa contributes meaningfully to the discussions and initiatives undertaken by the IMO.
  • Teresa is an active networker, recently attending a WISTA UK fundraising event with the view of raising money to sponsor a female cadet.

All you need to do is email ‘Teresa Peacock and Spinnaker’ along with your reason for voting in a maximum of 50 words.

Vote Now!

The Marine Society’s Coming Ashore Programme

Launched in 2020, the Coming Ashore programme is now in its 4th year, with over 500 seafarers expressing an interest and registering with the programme to transition to maritime roles ashore. It is the only comprehensive and structured mentoring initiative of its kind, helping seafarers plan their move ashore effectively.

Recognising the value of seafarers’ skills, the programme onboards maritime professionals as mentors, many of whom are former seafarers, offering their expertise in maritime law, insurance, broking, surveying, regulation and much more, in addition to the practicalities of working ashore which is often overlooked This ensures a high success rate for those completing the programme.

Project Ulysses identified the sea-to-shore transition issue in the UK, leading to the creation of the programme in collaboration with Maritime London, Nautilus International, Trinity House, Merchant Navy Training Board and Marine Society. Open to seafarers of all nationalities and ranks, the programme is particularly beneficial for UK-based individuals.

Whilst traditional advice encourages officers to gain experience at sea, employers are increasingly considering candidates without command experience. On the programme we offer the Sea to Shore Industry Placements Scheme (SSIPS), allowing seafarers to gain valuable experience with participating employers.

Additionally, the Coming Ashore Programme provides free or subsidised resources, including personality profiling, psychometric testing, CV writing, interview preparation, and free access to soft skills study courses (Learn@Sea & Learn@Shore). It addresses challenges such as adapting from a ‘command and control’ management style at sea to a team-working ethos ashore.

Successful mentees have found roles with companies such as Carnival UK, Ocean Technologies Group, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, P&I Clubs, and the Port of London Authority. Our revamped Coming Ashore Podcast now features interviews, tips and insights from stakeholders across the maritime industry.

Seafarers interested in the programme can visit the Marine Society website to register. The duration of the programme, typically 6-9 months, is tailored to the individual’s needs.

Generously funded by the Maritime Educational Foundation and ITF Seafarers Trust to get it up and running, the Marine Society now welcomes sponsorship from maritime employers and stakeholders to support the programme as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.

For further information, contact Meg Pawsey at [email protected] or visit their website.

Tips to alleviate interview stress

There can be very few people who claim to not find interviews stressful. Whether it’s an internal move or with a new organisation, the anticipation of, and the actual interview itself can be some of the most stressful situations an individual will experience.

As a recruitment business, Spinnaker has put thousands of candidates forward for interview and we’d like to think that we can offer some good advice when it comes to alleviating those nerves. The old adage ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ is apt when it comes to interviews. If you don’t do your homework, you’ll not only feel more nervous but are more likely to be asked a question that you do not know the answer to – prompting even more stress!

Director of Recruitment Matt Cornelius tells us “Often in tightly contested hires our clients will be torn between 2 candidates who both possess the same credentials on paper. I’ve seen many examples where someone with slightly less experience has landed the position over a better qualified candidate due to being more impressive in the interview.”

Feeling relaxed on the day of the interview will help you answer the questions in a more measured way. Don’t forget, the interviewer may also be nervous and will want you to do well. Interviewers are human at the end of the day and do not want to see people fail.

David Tubb, Director of Recruitment suggests there are several things you can do prior to the interview to help get the interviewer to get the best out of you. “If you can, see if a friend or family member can role play the interview with you. This will give you the opportunity to practice questions and answers. Have a think about certain real-life examples to use. It’s fine to write things down and take them in to the interview, including questions you want to ask. The interviewer will see that you well prepared.”

Some other things to consider are not underestimating the importance of a good night’s sleep before the interview. You might also want to limit your caffeine intake before the interview itself. Plan your route so you are not late, and some people might like to try positive self-talk.

Once in the interview room when the nerves reappear don’t be afraid to take your time to answer the question or repeat the question back to the interviewer or ask for clarification on what they mean.

If you find yourself stumbling over words, then don’t be afraid to say that you are nervous. The interviewer themselves may also be a little nervous – showing humility is not a bad thing. Most people will not fault you for your nerves and will appreciate your honesty.

If you stick to the question asked, are honest, and do your research you’re sure to do well. Good luck with that interview and get in touch if you are looking for your next role in the maritime industry.

Leave Benefits in the Maritime Industry

Over the past few years that has been a seismic shift in what employees look for in employers. Whether this be new or existing employees, instead of the focus being solely on the salary and bonuses, policies on leave benefits, environmental policies, flexible working, and diversity have become more important for candidates when choosing a new employer or whether to stay. This coupled with the skills shortage in the maritime industry has led companies to re-evaluate their policies and packages.

Although salary and bonuses must be competitive, paying the highest will no longer secure or retain that ‘needle in the haystack’ employee.

The Maritime HR Association membership is made up of over 100 maritime companies across the industry so when change happens, HR professionals in these organisations can connect and get an accurate picture of what is happening in the market to ensure their policies are still competitive.

In January we released a report to participating members on leave benefits. This covered, annual leave, maternity and paternity leave, time off to care for dependants, compassionate leave, and time off in lieu.

The Association had initially run this questionnaire and published a report in 2014 which allows us to track trends in these policies.

One stark change was in maternity, paternity, and parental leave and pay. An increased number of members are offering above the statutory minimum when compared to 2014 and the statutory minimum for maternity leave has also improved, particularly in Denmark and Hong Kong.

Having up-to-date information on what is happening in the market is a crucial tool for any HR professional to benchmark against.

The Maritime HR Association will shortly be producing another report focused on pensions, death in service, medical benefits etc.

To be part of the Maritime HR Association and to access benchmarking information across the industry please contact: [email protected] for further information on how to join.

Article written by Lucy McQuillan, HRC Manager, Spinnaker.

Members of Spinnaker’s Maritime HR Association are entitled to receive detailed analysis, such as this, as part of their membership package.

Find out more about joining the association on the website.

Technical employees enjoy higher base salaries than their marine counterparts at most levels

Technical vs. Marine – who earns more?
Spinnaker’s Maritime HR Association released its market analysis research earlier this month for the technical & marine job family. The report looks at the comparison of salaries by location and seniority of roles such as technical superintendent and HSEQ officers.

The Maritime HR Association reports are made up of data from over 100 shipping companies and over 55,000 individual salaries.

Compensation
Our data shows that around 8% of technical and marine roles are based in Hong Kong which is the fourth largest percentage worldwide with the highest median base salaries paid to technical employees. Only at Junior / Trainee (SM00) level is Hong Kong overtaken by Norway. In 2023, Norway-based technical juniors received the highest median base salaries.

By contrast, marine Professionals (SM01(A)) and Senior Professionals (SM02(A)) enjoy the highest median base salaries in the USA.

Although technical base salaries outperform marine, the opposite is true for bonuses at Professional (SM01), Senior Professional (SM02), and Manager (SM03) level where marine bonuses are higher.

Technical Managers (SM03(B)) working in the container industry received the highest bonuses when compared to other vessel types.

At all reportable levels, Oil Major / Commodity and Mining groups pay the highest base salaries and total compensation packages.

Technical vs. Marine – the face of the industry
According to this year’s demographical and gender analysis, the typical 2023 technical and marine employee is more likely to be Indian male.

Indian nationals make up 31% of incumbents overall which is not surprising given 17% of all technical and marine roles are located in India.

Almost identical to last year, 86% of incumbents working in the technical and marine job family are male, compared to 14% female. This is definitely one of the most male-dominated job families we have reported this year.

On the bright side, however, we can account for just over the half (51%) of junior employees being females which gives the chance in the future for more women to progress into senior technical and marine roles.

A positive shift has already been made this year with 2% more women in Head of / Director (SM04) positions compared to 2022 – although the overall female presence in this role is still 5% against 95% male.

Article written by Daryna Rozum, Reward Consultant, Spinnaker.

Members of Spinnaker’s Maritime HR Association are entitled to receive detailed analysis, such as this, as part of their membership package.

Find out more about joining the association on the website.