How to Prepare Yourself Before Entering a Maritime Training Center in the Philippines

Being in the maritime industry is no walk in the park. It takes serious dedication and skill to survive the challenges that come with it.

With these in mind, it’s but fitting to get yourself prepared before setting out on this venture. Here are some of the most basic ways:

Mentally

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· Leave comfort behind

Before anything else, instill in your mind that you’re like in a boot camp. This way, your mind and body will be conditioned into training mode. This means no mobile phones and other gadgets! This method will avoid distractions and will pave the way to a more disciplined version of yourself.

· Learn to follow rules

And by this, we mean strict following of the rules. Even if you find some practices ludicrous, remember that it’s all for your success—no matter how silly you may feel, look, or sound.

· Do not complain

There will surely be days where everything is too much to handle but the key is to endure everything that will be thrown at you. Looks easier said than done, right? Again, every hardship will make you a better maritime professional in the future. To keep away from self-destruction, surround yourself with people who work hard. Not only will you have your support system, but you will also be motivated to strive hard too.

Physically

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· Jog regularly

Regular running or jogging offers a number of health benefits. It can help build strong bones, strengthen muscles, improve cardiovascular activity, and help maintain a healthy weight. Preparing yourself physically is one of the most important factors that you should consider before entering a maritime training center in the country. Start a routine and stick with it. You’ll be surprised with how strong you will be by the end.

· Learn the standard exercises

Mixing jogging with standard exercises is the ultimate way to keep you fit! There’s a plethora of exercises designed for people in the industry. As a trainee, you will go through different physical exams that will test your strength, agility, patience, and core among many others. Look for the best workout for your body and keep a log to closely monitor your progress.

· Maintain a healthy diet

The term diet nowadays has been linked to cutting out a huge portion of calories. But for active people like you, this won’t do. Since you will be spending a lot of your time on rigorous activities, you will need a well-balanced diet that consists healthy amounts of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Yogurt, fish, beans, tofu, cereals, veggies, fruits, and lots and lots of water should be a staple in your regimen.

Emotionally

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· Lose your ego

The trainer-trainee dynamic will definitely be present in several trainings to come. Again, you’ll have to follow what your trainer instructs while being limited to certain things. Don’t worry, you’re only doing this for the sake of learning, discipline, and excellence and not for anything else. Once you finish the training, you’ll be set to have your head held up high.

· Ready yourself for harsh commentaries

This is where losing your ego comes into place. There will be situations where you will be reprimanded and be physically, mentally, and emotionally tested. These might make you question why you’re here in the first place. The maritime industry is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of endless beatings before you emerge victorious. The question is, are you passionate enough to handle them?

With all of these factors taken into consideration, evaluate yourself. Are you sure that you have what it takes to enter a maritime training center here in the Philippines? If you are, then it’s time to get moving!

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5 Careers that You Can Pursue in Shipbuilding

After spending years in a maritime school here in the Philippines, you’re now faced with a dilemma: “what kind of career will I get into?” Worry not, the maritime industry is a vast field that comes with a wide array of opportunities.

If you still don’t have any idea as to what job to go after, let me give you a little something about Shipbuilding. Did you know that shipbuilding in the Philippines will likely exceed market shares of the traditional shipbuilding nations because the country specializes in its production? On top of this, the industry also has a big opportunity in the export market. Shipbuilding is versatile. You can even choose among these 5 lines of work if you’re still undecided:

Rigging

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If you aspire to be a rigger, you should prepare yourself for the hazards and the physical exhaustion. It involves setting up heavy machinery and making sure that they are intact and secure. They are also responsible for heaving and shifting equipment around or aboard the ship.

Most objects that you will be dealing with are chains, clamps, ropes, slings, and pulleys among others. Hand signals will also be a part of your training because these will serve as your means of communication.

Rigging is no easy task. If you’re planning on traveling down this road, make sure that you can handle rigorous activities and you’ll also need to follow a specific set of rules.

Naval Architecture

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A naval architect is someone who designs, builds, and maintains different types of marine vessels and structures. You will collaborate with engineers and other architects as well in making the ship a safe and habitable vessel.

As a naval architect, you are accountable for the designs that will make the ship a fully-functioning one. From its weight, size, and speed to specific parts like hulls, compartments, boiler room equipment, doors and hatchers, your task is to make sure that every screw and pipe are right into place. It all starts with your vision, and it’s your duty to make the best out of it.


Welding

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Three words that you should always keep in mind as a welder: physical endurance, safety, and skill. Once you are fully aware of what it entails, then you can excel in this unit. Repair is probably one of the hardest jobs in shipbuilding. Aside from the risks, it’s also labor intensive. You will be spending a lot of time repairing or enhancing and maintaining certain parts of the ship. You will mostly be involved with heat when fusing metal pieces. It’s your role to make the ship stronger and better.

Part of your obligation is to ensure not only your safety but also the safety of others. After using those soldering materials, put them in their respective places and tidy up your workplace.


Quality Control Surveying

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Quality control is a process within an organization designed to ensure a set level of quality. But as an inspector, it takes a lot of knowledge to properly monitor each process within the ship. It is your task to monitor operations and make sure that they are at par with the standards. When some areas fall short of these standards, it is also your duty to report them and come up with solutions. It’s vital that you have a keen eye and that you would go the extra mile to check each and every aspect. Failure to do so can cause accidents or worse—deaths.

Maritime schools in the Philippines implement strict rules and intense trainings. If you aced these, then the job may be a perfect fit for you.


Plumbing

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If you think that plumbing is an easy job, think again. You need to have solid negotiation, communication, team building and technical skills if you want to stand out as a shipbuilding plumber. You’ll have to coordinate with the architects/engineers/quality control inspectors when studying the layout of the plumbing systems, water supply networks, and waste water drainage systems. It’s also required that you have extensive knowledge when it comes to valves and brazing and welding tools.

The Philippines is one of the top countries that is inclined to the maritime industry. What makes it an esteemed field is the presence of the best schools that provide proper training its students. Odds are, if you work hard enough, you might end up as a successful shipbuilder in a place that’s renowned as the fourth largest shipbuilding nation in the world.

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