Manila: One of the must-go-to sites for maritime is now into its sixth year. Founded by Barista Uno in Manila, Marine Café Blog is something refreshingly different in today’s cluttered shipping media landscape.
Coffee, in Uno’s opinion, should be served hot and have a full-bodied flavour and distinctive aroma. Marine Café Blog strives toward the same qualities in its editorial style and content.
While he thinks the site has established a brand identity he wants to achieve what he calls “a better yin-yang balance” content-wise.
“We see too much of the yang in maritime websites – marine technology, maritime regulations, shipping commerce, etc,” he says. “This is the masculine side of shipping. We need to pay more attention to the feminine aspect, the yin side of it – things like maritime art, photography, literature and culture. We also need to highlight more the role of women and gender discrimination in the industry.”
As one of the preeminent writers on seafarers Uno tells readers of the most pressing issues facing both Philippine and global crewing.
Two very important issues need to be addressed immediately in the Philippines, Uno says. First is the lack, until now, of clear-cut guidelines for assessing the competency of seafarers.
“Without these guidelines, it’s idiotic to even talk of the Philippines complying with STCW,” Uno says.
Second is the problem of seafarers’ money claims – with some seamen seeking disability benefits, only to sail again once they are declared permanently disabled and awarded huge sums. This has prompted some foreign shipowners to switch to other nationalities for their crewing requirements.
As for the most pressing issues facing world crewing, Uno says in the short term it is the downsizing of crews and mounting shipboard paperwork due to the increasing number of new maritime regulations. The most important in the long term, he reckons, is the commodification of seafarers.
For more shipping insight, plus the cultural side of the industry, check out Marine Café Blog by clicking here.
