At_Sea_3_2022_UK

Newly built ship comes with NEW PROCEDURES, FAMILIAR COLLEAGUES AND GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS

The crew of NORDSØEN, the brand new and state-of-the-art fisheries inspection vessel, have said goodbye to their previous workplace of 35 years and hello to completely new routines and workflows, but also to a work life with much better working conditions and even more job satisfaction.

By Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, journalist · Photo Hans Ravn

Two feet in black cotton socks protrude from under Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt’s blue work trousers. He welcomes me in the doorway to the mess room on NORDSØEN, the newly built ship where he is an AB: ”We take good care of our new ship. We cannot yet bear it to get too dirty,” he says, spreading his hands slightly apologetically as he points out that his guest from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE is welcome to keep her shoes on.

When the nine-man crew is in the mess room or working in one of the ship’s offices, they wear socks. The air smells of new carpets and fresh paint, the bulkheads are still white with no marks and light flows in through the ship’s windows.

”It’s completely new to us that we get so much light in. On VESTKYSTEN, our old ship, most of the work was carried out

below. It’s really great to be able to sit here in the mess room and look out while we eat. It does us some good,” says Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt with a gentle smile.

The core tasks of NORDSØEN are to control fishing in the North Sea and the Skagerrak, to act as a rescue vessel and to assist the Danish Environmental Protection Agency on environmental missions where, for example, water samples are to be taken. NORDSØEN replaces the vessel VESTKYSTEN, which was in service for 35 years.

"IT’S LIKE GETTING A NEW CAR"

The newly built and state-of-the-art vessel is designed with high demands on seaworthiness and manoeuvrability, as well as high environmental requirements. The work environment has been given high priority, for example in relation to noise and vibrations.

Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt has previously worked as a controller for the Danish Fisheries Agency in Hvide Sande, and has been assigned to VESTKYSTEN since 2020 as a replacement crew. He is now a permanent substitute on NORDSØEN, and together with his colleagues he has settled into a completely new workplace:

”It’s like getting a new car. It’s nice and a big deal to get a new ship. It gives you renewed energy to be entrusted with a new ship,” says Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt and adds: ”In a way, it’s also somewhat like having a baby: Why does it do this when we do that? Right now we are in an adaptation period, where a lot of things need to be adapted and tested. We have to develop new routines and find a daily routine together.”

The ship cabins include, among other things, air conditioning, built-in speakers, television, computer and plenty of locker space. Crew members have their own private locker.

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The new fisheries inspection ship NORDSØEN.

When SEA HEALTH & WELFARE visits NORDSØEN, the ship is at berth in Hvide Sande, where the local shipyard that built the ship is making various adjustments. Meanwhile, the crew is on board, establishing routines and getting to know the new ship. ”It did take me a few days to find my way around,” says Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt.

NEW SURROUNDINGS REQUIRES ADJUSTMENT

Although the new vessel is larger than the VESTKYSTEN, the size of the crew remains unchanged. This is particularly noticeable in one area:

As a new feature, a handover session has been introduced when it is crew change day. A total of three teams, aboard for 10-12 days at a time, have to get to grips with the new ship and the many new routines. This is explained by Rune Arnbjørn, who is also an AB and a trained fireman.

”We have a one-hour overlap on the crew change day, where we get to hand it over. We talk about the things we need to do. We do a lot to synchronise the three crews. It’s difficult, but we do what we can. Of course, we have ship meetings and safety meetings, and we always read the summaries of the two previous meetings to ensure continuity and consistency.”

On the bridge, the ship’s chief officer, Peter Heldager, is looking at adjustments with a few crew members, while workers from Hvide Sande Shipyard are adjusting the electric curtains.

”We have to think completely different in terms of cleaning and maintenance. On the VESTKYSTEN we had a cleaning routine where we thoroughly cleaned the ship before handing it over to the next crew. That is not possible at all here because there are so many square metres. Cleaning will now be part of the daily routine on top of all the other tasks, and that’s something we’ll have to get used to,” says Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt.

”It’s really exciting to get to know a new ship, but it’s also a lot of work. Everything has to be done from scratch: procedures, risk assessments, new systems, manuals and workflows. I think it will take us 1-2 years to get through all the seasonal challenges. We’ve got a lot of new technology that we’re in the process of getting to know,” says Peter Heldager, landing softly in one of the two large, comfortable chairs from which the ship is navigated and many hours are spent on the lookout.

”Our new vessel has some different movements than the VESTKYSTEN, and we all have to get used to that. It has been challenging for the navigation crew to manoeuvre in a new way compared to the old vessel. Instead of traditional manoeuvring E

It’s a big deal to get a new ship. It also gives you renewed energy to be entrusted with a new ship.

” ”

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Suits are rinsed on deck and drying and hanging of suits take place in a large room with ample space.

gear with propeller and rudder, the NORDSØEN is equipped with pods that can turn 360 degrees. Here we steer counterintuitively, and here at the beginning it is challenging to have to do everything the other way around,” explains Peter Heldager.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE INTERIOR DESIGN

”Take a look at this,” says Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt, grabbing a large, heavy curtain that can be drawn so that the light from the chart table doesn’t disturb the person whose job it is to look out from the bridge in the dark at night.

”It’s a small but neat and really good detail,” he says. Initially some of them wondered why some of the windows on the bridge

Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt on his way down the stairs to the aft deck.

2nd engineer Stefan Højriis Schmidt (centre) is energised by learning new things. ”I like to be challenged, and that not everything is just about operations. It’s fun and exciting to be involved in putting something completely new into practice."

couldn’t be opened. But there’s a reason for that, because a modern air conditioning system adjusts the temperature.

”We were sweating excessively on the VESTKYSTEN in the summer, and here on our new vessel, we had to get used to the fact that we cannot open the portholes in the nice new cabins."

"But that’s because we’ve got a wonderful air conditioning system that works. Not like air conditioning in a hotel, where you get a draught, no, a state-of-the-art system that ensures good air quality,” says Rune Arnbjørn, who originally trained as a blacksmith.

He is particularly pleased with the ship’s new workshop, where

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everything that a workshop enthusiast could wish for is gathered in one place.

”On VESTKYSTEN we had four small workshops placed around the ship. This meant a lot of places to run between, and it was not beneficial for the work process. The new workshop is much nicer to work in, and it’s tremendously quieter and we’ve got much better point extraction. The workshop is well laid out, with good lighting and good workflows.”

The ship’s various professional groups have been involved in the work of designing the vessel.

”We’ve really been involved in the process, and have been asked

NEW AND MODERN BOARDING BOAT

The most important tool for carrying out fisheries inspections is the crew boarding boat. It is made of aluminium and has more engine power than the old one. The boarding boat is launched at the stern.

"We can go faster in the new boarding boat, when we have to perform inspections and at rescue missions. The many horse power makes the vessel much safer, because it can quickly pull us out of dangerous situations," says AB Rune Arnbjørn.

PART OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES

The crew is trained in maritime rescue operations and is part of the Danish emergency services. The ship has a rescue zone on the starboard side close to the waterline from which people in distress can be picked up from the sea. The ship also has infra red and ordinary searchlights as well as tension towing winches with a capacity of up to 40 tonnes to tow vessels in distress.

what we think is most appropriate. For example, one of my colleagues could see that it would be much smarter to turn the lathe in a different way, and it was turned. As a result, we have a very nice and harmonious workplace,” says Rune and elaborates:

”We are a state workplace, and that has probably contributed to the fact that we have really been involved in the process. There have been many committees and everyone has had a voice. That’s important because the ship is like a small town that has to function with its own waterworks, waste disposal, engine, workshops, galley, and so on. We all take ownership to ensure everything new works.”

SMILING IN THE BUNK

As many as two portholes let daylight into Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt’s crew cabin. There’s room for a sofa, bed, TV, desk and plenty of cupboard space, and the connecting bathroom has a shower and toilet.

”It’s amazing that we can now look out over the water from our cabins. We’ve also got our very own private locker and a drawer under the bed where we can leave our clothes and things. It sounds like a minor detail, but it really means a lot and it makes us feel more at home,” Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt explains.

Rune Arnbjørn also appreciates the new cabins and the good facilities.

”I smile in my bunk at night and enjoy the good working conditions we’ve got. There was resonance in everything at VESTKYSTEN, we could hardly talk to each other. It still feels very strange that we E

DRONES GOING TO SEA

The ship is prepared for drone operations. Deck space has been prepared for so-called drone pads, meaning that when the Danish Fisheries Agency eventually decides to also use drones to, for example, quickly document illegal fishing from the air, NORDSØEN will be able to act as a platform at sea.

Through committees, the crew has been involved in the design of the vessel. Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt shows here an efficient curtain placed between the chart table and the bridge. Photo: Troels Leth

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can have a conversation. When I lie in my bunk at night and hear the ticking of the clock and the hangers rattling in the locker, it makes me wonder if I’m sitting at home in my grandmother’s living room,” he says with a laugh and continues:

”There is no doubt that it has a great significance that we now have our work life on a ship where there is no noise and vibration to the same extent as on the VESTKYSTEN. The improved work conditions we have here will definitely have a long-term positive effect on our well-being.”

For Stefan Gøttsche Schmidt, Peter Heldager and Rune Arnbjørn, being entrusted with a brand new ship and thus a new workplace is not an everyday occurrence.

THE THREE CORE TASKS OF NORDSØEN:

• The state's largest fisheries inspection ship. Primarily used in the North Sea and Skagerrak, but also makes an annual trip to the North Atlantic

• Part of the national maritime rescue service coordinated by the Ministry of Defence

• Several times a year it is the base for the water and seabed sampling missions of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Fisheries inspections is carried out by navigators and ABs. The boarding crew typically consists of the officer on the watch and the AB on the watch. The day man (the AB) is the boatman. During fisheries inspection operations, the captain takes over the watch on the bridge.

”It’s the first time in my career as a seafarer that I get to go aboard a new ship, and I don’t expect to experience it again. It was very sad to say goodbye to the VESTKYSTEN, that vessel has served us really well. Now we have a new ship, which will be in service for the next 35-40 years,” says Rune Arnbjørn and concludes:

”We are very passionate and take our work very seriously - we have important tasks out here at sea that we perform for the taxpayers’ money. When we sulk a bit about how hard it is that everything is new, our superiors manage to keep our spirits up and motivate us. We’re a strong community, and because our well-being is so good and our culture is so inclusive, I find that it’s surprising how quickly we settle into everything new.”

ABOUT NORDSØEN:

The normal period of voyage is 10-12 days. The crew will carry out around 250 boardings of fishing vessels a year as part of the work of checking compliance with the fishing regulations.

The ship was built at Hvide Sande Shipyard Steel & Service and was completed on 22 August 2022. It is 64 metres long, 11 metres wide and has a top speed of up to 18 knots.

Hvide Sande Shipyard Steel & Service won the contract to build NORDSØEN following an EU tender in June 2020 in competition with five other shipyards. The price for the construction of NORDSØEN is approximately DKK 175 million, which is mainly financed by funds from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

Chief officer Peter Heldager (right) with fellow chief officer Mads Grundvad Nielsen on the bridge from where the ship is navigated using the navigation package and automation.

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"The year is coming to an end, and now is the time for the final push. Give your training an extra boost so that you and your colleagues can really work up a sweat and compete for the gre at prizes," says health promotion consultant Anna T. Rasmussen from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE.

The FIT4SEA competition ends at 00.00 on New Year's Eve. So now is the time to give it an extra push if you want to win the 2022 competition and beat all the other participants.

FIT4SEA is SEA HEALTH & WELFARE's annual sports competition where seafarers and ships in the Danish merchant fleet compete for the most kilometers and hours covered in a year in the disciplines of running, walking, cycling, cross-training, rowing, and weight training.

You can participate in as many of the above disciplines as you like. Both your training results on the ship and at home count

towards the competition. Remember, there are big prizes at stake for first through fifth place in each discipline, as well as first through third place on the ships.

In addition, you will receive a nice FIT4SEA t-shirt when you complete 100 km or 4 hours in one of the disciplines. If you complete three disciplines, you will receive an additional prize. For every 25 km you complete, you will also earn tickets for the prize pool at the end of the year, where many cool prizes will be drawn.

Read more at shw.dk/fit4sea

BENT HAS BEEN GIVEN A QUIET GALLEY WITH A VIEW AND MORE SPACE

The galley of the newly built fisheries inspection ship NORDSØEN has been designed with an emphasis on good workflows, efficient equipment and the well-being of the ship's cooks.

By Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, journalist · Photos Hans Ravn

When Bent Borup Winkel, the ship's cook, stands in the galley of NORDSØEN, the newly built fisheries inspection ship, he has a view as far as the eye can see and he can follow his colleagues' movements on the ship. This was not possible on VESTKYSTEN, the old inspection ship, where the galley was located amidships. There, he could only just see the ocean surface through the high-positioned portholes.

"I get plenty of daylight in the new galley and can see all the way around – both from the galley and the pantry. From the pantry I also have direct access to the aft deck. I can also easily go out and get some fresh air. That's a huge bonus. I am the only one in the galley, so it is really nice to be able to follow what is going on aboard. I don't feel so confined and cut off anymore," says Bent Borup Winkel.

He has been the ship's cook on VESTKYSTEN for two and a half years and, together with the rest of the crew, boarded the newly built NORDSØEN in August 2022. The crew consists of three crew teams, who are typically at sea for 10-12 days at a time.

Bent Borup Winkel has been on a trial voyage and has just returned from his first trip in normal service when SEA HEALTH & WELFARE visits the ship. It is the cook's job to serve all meals aboard and he is still getting to know the new galley.

"The ship is still so new, so some things need to be adjusted and adapted. It cannot be any different. We need to be exposed to different situations before we can see how things work in practice," says the ship's cook.

The galley is much larger than the one on VESTKYSTEN, and this also means that there is much more cleaning to do. "I just have to get used to it and make it part of my daily routine," says Bent Borup Winkel.

Breakfast and meals are served on a large side table in the mess room when the crew is having "build-your-own meal" such as burgers and hot dogs. Lunch and dinner are always served directly on the long dining table, from where the crew can enjoy the view.

Want more focus on a healthy diet at sea?

Get help from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE

A healthy diet promote well-being and good health – both physically and mentally – and are important com ponents of a good working life at sea.

Contact health promotion consultant

Anna Tofte Rasmussen for help and inspiration to:

• Develop a dietary policy that takes into account, for example, different cultures and religions

• Create hygiene awareness and galley layout

• Focus on a healthy and nutritious diet

• Obtain food recipes and new dishes

Visit shw.dk/kost-og-ernaering to learn more.

During his first trial voyage, the weather was very rough, and it turned out that, among other things, the new dishwasher needed some adjustment.

"The trays with tableware hit the sides because the ship was rolling. The dishwasher lid was also knocked all the way open, allowing the trays to slide out and fall to the floor. Overall, the ship moves in a completely different way than the old VESTKYSTEN." A few tweaks to the dishwasher and some brackets to stop the trays have solved the problem.

Modern aids and better work conditions A waste room just around the corner, so that waste no longer has to be dragged from the bottom of the ship and up onto the deck in all weathers, is one of the

new features on the ship that Bent Borup Winkel highlights. The pantry, located right next to the galley, houses three large refrigerators, three freezers, three cupboards for dry provisions and a cupboard for bowls and dishes.

"It's noticeable that I now have everything close at hand. I also no longer have to run to the forehold to find the peeled tomatoes. The same goes for our detergents, which we now keep in a cupboard close to where we use them."

In the pantry near the exit door to the aft deck a table is placed with a sink next to it – a so-called scullery. It's the cook's preferred workstation for preparing vegetables and cutting meat.

"Another new feature that will eventually facilitate workflow is having a provision crane aboard. This crane is brilliant because it means we can have goods delivered on pallets and then lift them directly onto the aft deck. From there, it's very easy to carry it into the pantry," he says, continuing:

"Things are more modern in the new galley. For example, we also have an oven that automatically dispenses two types of soap during cleaning. It's a real advantage that I don't have to fiddle with strong oven cleaners."

The natural inflow of light and the efficient halogen spots in the ceiling also help to create a better working environment, but seen through the eyes of the ship's cook, the biggest and best change on the new ship is that it is so quiet and calm. Literally.

"There's no noise or shuddering, so I don't feel the vibrations up through my legs like I did on the old ship. This ship is so quiet that it's hard to tell if we're in port or sailing – unless, of course, the sea is rough. My legs feel less tired in the evening and I'm much less tired in my head. There was really a lot of noise in the old vessel."

Three tips from the ship's cook

When ship's cook Bent Borup Winkel plans the menu and prepares the meals, it is important for him that the food is healthy and tasty.

1. TOP UP WITH VEGETABLES

Use more vegetables than meat in stews, bolognese and the like. It keeps meat consumption down, it's healthy, and it's far more interesting and tastier to serve, for example, meat filling for tortillas with lots of vegetables than it is to serve boiled carrots on the side.

2. BE CREATIVE AND AVOID FOOD WASTE

Vary the way you make classic dishes by using what needs to be used. For example, blend lots of vegetables into the tomato soup, top up the classic chicken soup with kale and vegetables or invent an entirely new dish with what needs to be used.

3. SERVE SLICED FRUIT

Fruit that is sliced e.g. apples, pears, and melon is much more tempting than a bowl of whole pieces of fruit. Serve sliced fruit for all breaks and diced fruit for breakfast to sprinkle on yoghurt or skyr.

Source: Bent Borup Winkel

The stove can be raised and lowered to suit the height of the cook and the height of the pots in use.

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A quantum leap towards a better work environment

The crew of NORDSØEN has settled into a brand new workplace, where reduced noise and vibrations contribute to a healthier work environment.

By

Sleeping aboard has improved and work life at sea has become considerably quieter after the Danish Fisheries Agency took a brand new inspection ship into service. So says Poul Grupe, head of maintenance on the newly built NORDSØEN. A modern and customised ship built to the highest standards to carry out voyages primarily in the North Sea and Skagerrak.

"The ship is built with good materials and to the highest standards. A lot has been done to reduce noise - especially from the engine," Poul Grupe explains:

"It's a hybrid ship that has a battery pack that allows us to run on pure battery power when the batteries have been charged by the diesel generators or using shore

power when possible. It reduces the noise enormously. People can get a good night's sleep and we don't have hellish noise in the

accommodation part of the ship or in the engine."

Poul Grupe and his colleagues experience the reduced noise and vibration as a huge improvement in everyday life. In the engine room in particular, everything has been done to limit noise and the ship is insulated so that the sound does not travel around the ship. The ship's high comfort level is due in part to double rubber-suspended engines and extra insulation in the decks and bulkheads.

"Almost everything in the machine is suspended on rubber blocks. This means, among other things, that there is rubber both under the engine and under the frame on which the engine stands in the engine room," says Poul Grupe.

On the ship there is a battery pack in a special battery room. The battery pack is charged by the surplus power production that occurs when the ship is sailing. The photo shows Stefan Schmidt, 2nd engineer.

Head of maintenance Poul Grupe in the engine room, showing the double elastic suspension of the engines.

Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, journalist · Photos Hans Ravn

A lot of new work routines have to be established when you settle into a brand new workplace. Throughout the development project we established work groups in which all crew professions were represented.

” ”

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The ship must be able to go on sea voyages for 20 days at a time, which means that it will never be possible to sail solely on silent battery power.

"We use diesel on board as battery power alone is not sufficient. At times we lie idle for many hours a day doing boarding operations and fisheries inspection. In those situations, we can run purely on battery power instead of using the diesel engine."

Poul Grupe has been employed by the Danish Fisheries Agency for 30 years and has been deeply involved in the project of constructing a new inspection ship.

The new vessel will be in service for the next 35 years, and therefore everything technically possible has been done to create a modern ship with good facilities.

"It has been built to the highest standards. This ship represents a quantum leap compared to where we came from.

Especially in terms of noise. We spend so much of our work lives here. It's not an 8-4 job where we can go home and lie in our own bed and have peace and quiet. During

NORDSØEN is a full 15 metres longer than VESTKYSTEN, the former inspection ship, and stabilisers have been installed to make it significantly easier to conduct operations and rescue expeditions in rough and bad weather.

There are three internal combustion engines onboard. The AC system, which can also function as a heat pump, ensures heating of the accommodation when the ship is in 100% electric mode.

one third of the year the ship is our home, and that's often in very rough weather. I'm about to have spent 10 years of my life on the Fisheries Agency's ships," Poul Grupe says and continues:

"You can compare our new vessel to one of these state-of-the-art cruise ships, which are incredibly quiet to be on and which are almost noiseless, enabling them to sail very close to whales, for example."

A good work environment benefits everyone

The NORDSØEN, a newly built fisheries inspection ship, is a textbook example of how the well-being and health of seafarers is taken into account in every detail, says SEA HEALTH & WELFARE.

"It is a win-win situation when new technologies and innovative ship design are considered together with the requirements of the environment in which the crew will work," says Torsten Mathias Augustsen, technical manager at SEA HEALTH & WELFARE. He stresses that it is positive if this approach spreads to other new vessels.

"The good work environment in ships starts long before the crew even boards.

In carrying out the design requirements for building a ship, it is possible to incorporate solutions that address many different aspects that contribute to creating a good work environment for the crew."

SEA HEALTH & WELFARE offers advice on all aspects of crew welfare. This includes legislation, design requirements as well as requirements for training, equipment and procedures, and advice on the challenges experienced when operating Danish merchant ships.

See more at shw.dk

Stefan Schmidt, 2nd engineer (left) and AB Rune Arnbjørn (right).

Torsten Mathias Augustsen, SEA HEALTH & WELFARE

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By Troels Leth, SEA HEALTH & WELFARE

At least 550 ships are active users of @SEA-@SHORE, with the chemical management module, associated safety data sheets, and workplace instructions among the most used features.

DID YOU KNOW?

Once you have ad ded a new chemical to an on-board storage location, you can easily print a new PPE notice for the storage location and the workplace instruc tions for each product. Place it in the storage area so the crew can easily see how to protect themselves before they start using the chemical.

A key task on the ship is to keep track of risk assessments and chemical products on board. This is easy with a license to @SEA-@SHORE, which increases accessibility for the crew and makes it easier to work with and update the information when new chemicals need to be used. It's all done digitally, and you have it all in one place.

"We are in close dialogue with the Danish Maritime Authority to ensure that our platform complies with current legal requirements. In this way, it is also a great advantage to use @SEA-@SHORE, because users can trust that the system meets the requirements of the Authority. This is why so many ships use our platform and we are proud of that," says Rolf Johan Trap, consultant and administrator of @SEA@SHORE.

Safety data sheets are part of the chemical database, and when combined with ship-specific usage information, the system can automatically create workplace instructions for each product.

WHAT'S COMING IN 2023?

Next year, SEA HEALTH & WELFARE will implement a new risk assessment module in @SEA-@SHORE, which, unlike the current one, will have, among other things, an increased focus on the STOP principles.

DID YOU KNOW?

When a shipping company creates a new product or updates an existing safety data sheet, the other users also benefit. The safety data sheet is automatically updated across the system. In this way, everyone helps to ensure that the latest safety data sheet for a product is available at all times.

Unlike today, when it is possible to include preventive action in connection with work, the new module will guide users through a process where they must relate to the four prevention principles.

• Substitution

• Technical measures

• Organizational measures

• Personal protective equipment.

Once the new risk assessment module is implemented, a chemical risk assessment will be launched later this year. The new chemical risk assessment will provide a tool to assess exposure to each chemical based on the location, ventilation, quantity, method of use, etc. This will be transferable to the risk assessment for the work task where the chemical is used. The workplace instructions will be adapted to make it more of an instruction.

The reason why we are implementing the new chemical risk assessment module is that new occupational health and safety regulations that apply ashore have been introduced. We can expect that the Danish Maritime Authority will implement similar legislation on Danish-flagged ships in the slightly longer term.

Quality assurance independent third party

The career at sea begins on a full-rigged ship

If you want to meet some of the seafarers of the future, visit a three-masted training ship. Statistics show that almost all students on the GEORG STAGE pursue a career at sea - either by going on sailing as an OS or by applying for maritime training. But who are these young people and what have they learned after 20 weeks on board?

By Troels Leth, SEA HEALTH & WELFARE · Photos Hannah Paludan

The weather is excellent and the sea is calm when SEA HEALTH & WELFARE visits Ungdomsøen (The Youth Island) - also known as the Middelgrundsforteton a day in late October. The island is an old sea fortress in the Oresund that was built 130 years ago to protect Copenhagen from outside attack. On this day, the Danish training ship, the GEORG STAGE, is berthed at the island because the 57 students aged 18-22 onboard have completed their 20-week expedition and will now have their exams.

One of the youngsters is Dejan Tomovski from Copenhagen. He is standing on the aft deck, rigging a boatswain's chair. He also has to prepare a so-called post. Which is not his favourite exam.

"It was one of the worst subjects I could draw. I have practised a lot on splicing ropes, I am good at that," says Dejan Tomovski.

On deck and on the quay, other students are also working on various practical seafaring exams. Captain Bjarke Wahlqvist and chief officer Idalene Lund Nielsen go from student to student, checking their work and asking about the methods. Dejan Tomovski waits anxiously for 15 minutes

for his turn. He's got the basics down, but is also clearly relieved when the captain announces that he has passed.

"IT HAS REALLY GOT ME HOOKED" Dejan Tomovski became a GEORG STAGE student almost by coincidence. He was attending a production school when as part of the course his class visited the GEORG STAGE.

"I didn't know anything about the training ship before. We were assigned to visit the ship and the students, and what they told me got me hooked. So that evening I applied to go on an expedition and I was fortunate to be offered a place," he says:

"I feel like I can really do a lot now and I've got a lot of good skills. It's great to be here and be able to do all these things."

The 20-week training expedition he has completed has given him the motivation to sail even more.

"I want to go sailing again. It's really got me hooked. I also have a great interest in working with wood, so maybe I'll apply to train as a boat builder. But most of all, I can't wait to get home to my mum and relax a bit," he says with a broad smile.

The training ship GEORG STAGE is moored at Ungdomsøen (The Youth Island) to give the 57 students some peace to focus on their exams. At the end of the day, there is time for practical tasks.

THEIR DREAM IS TO BECOME A DECK OFFICER

All the students who SEA HEALTH & WELFARE meets on the GEORG STAGE have plans similar to those of Dejan Tomovski. They either want to go sailing again or apply for a maritime education.

Michelle Nicoline Bodholdt from Varde had originally started at an agricultural college, but decided that she would rather go sailing. However, she went to high school before applying for a place on the GEORG STAGE.

"I prioritised upper secondary school first because it offers more opportunities

For three days, GEORG STAGE is located at Ungdomsøen (The Youth Island). Some exams are held in a building on the other side of the old sea fort.

after the expedition. I plan to apply for a maritime education at SIMAC in Svendborg, starting next summer. My dream is to become an officer on a large passenger ship. I like to be around a lot of people, so maybe on a large ferry or cruise ship," she says.

Ida Hein Truelsen from Copenhagen has the same plan. She also completed an upper secondary education before applying for a place on the GEORG STAGE. "Before the expedition, I never imagined I could become an deck officer. I'm so glad I took the plunge. Now it has whetted my appetite and I want to study to become an deck officer."

LETTING GO OF CONTROL IS NECESSARY

Michelle Nicoline Bodholdt believes she has changed during the GEORG STAGE expedition.

"In the beginning I wanted to control and plan everything. I could do that in high school, but you cannot do that on GEORG STAGE. Changes happen all the time, so I quickly learned that you don't have to stress about things. I've also become more adaptable. You need to be flexible here, because without any warning you can get a message that you have to react to, even if you may not want to. The night watches are hard and we're tired. But you cannot

On the GEORG STAGE, diversity is a strength

"The more diverse the group of students are, the more they develop. That's why we try to compose the most diverse group of students possible. Roughly that means equal numbers of each gender and preferably students from different geographical locations. We receive most applicants from Copenhagen, but we also look at the other parts of the country,

as well as Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden. Similarly, we also make an effort to have a match between academically strong students and students who were not among the best in school. We also prioritise openings for applicants who want to work with their hands, and who are not good at sitting at a computer. Experience tells us that the

bright high school student and the one who has disassembled and assembled a moped get a lot out of getting to know each other. We also hear from dyslexic students that being dyslexic on the GEORG STAGE is less of a challenge for them."

Asser Amdisen, director of the Georg Stage’s Memorial Foundation

Student Dejan Tomovski is taking his practical seamanship exam on the aft deck. Captain Bjarke Wahlqvist and Chief Officer Idalene Lund Nielsen are asking the questions. Foto: SHW

let your frustration or tiredness get to everyone else who are also tired," she says.

Ida Hein Truelsen has made many new friends onboard, including some she might not have thought she had anything in common with. At the same time, the training ship has been a good learning place for her.

"I've pushed my limits and solved tasks that are very different from anything else I've tried, and that are only possible on a ship like this. I am very happy about that. We have experienced the whole world

from the water side and at the same time learned a lot that you need when working on the ship."

Michelle Nicoline Bodholdt adds:

"We have learned all kinds of practical things onboard the ship. And probably things we'll never need again. But as a student, you're equipped to apply for all sorts of maritime courses afterwards. I think that's very valuable. And pretty quickly I learned to say no when I'm having a bad day and I don't want to join in on all the fun. On a ship, it's important to be honest about how you feel."

Students get support and guidance for job search after the expedition

"After the students have graduated, we organise a 'job café' in the lounge, where students can get help and guidance for job searching. We do this because on every expedition there are some students who, for example, have never tried to apply for a job. At the same time, we know that some shipping companies have quite sophisticated processes for applying for a job. If you hit that brick wall, it may be easier to choose another job ashore."

"It's awesome when I hear about some of the squirts I've sent on to a ship. Then I get a report that there's some drive in them. Having some young energy onboard livens up a ship and energises the mess room. We will call a shipping company if we have students who fit the profiles that the shipping company is typically looking for. For example, we can help our Greenlandic students connect with ROYAL ARCTIC LINE if it suits their profile."

Morten Hess-Nielsen, 2nd engineer on the GEORG STAGE.

Ida Hein Truelsen (left) and Michelle Nicoline Bodholdt both want to be deck officers and expect to start training next summer. Foto: SHW

NO LONGER ONE OF THE QUIET GIRLS

Sofie Wildt Settgast from Rømø has learned new sides of herself onboard. That's unavoidable, she says. Before the expedition, she would probably describe herself as one of the quiet students. Now it is a considerably more confident Sofie who signs off.

"I've definitely learned to be more open and outgoing. We are very different, so we learn to be with many different types of people. On the expedition I proved to myself that I can do more than I thought I could. At first, for example, I wasn't very confident when going out on the yards. Now I don't think about it at all. In general, I have become more confident and find a different peace within myself."

It is fairly clear that Sofie Wildt Settgast wants to continue sailing, and it is, among other things, the stories and experiences of the deck officers that have inspired her.

"I'd like to go sailing as an OS, but I haven't decided on what kind of ship I'd like to apply for. We've heard so many stories from the officers about where they've sailed and what they've experienced. It's very inspiring," says Sofie Wildt Settgast.

It's no coincidence that she has embarked on the maritime field:

"My family has a sailing boat, so I've been going on voyages all my life. I enjoy being on the water and have for a long time been interested in getting a maritime education. The idea to apply for a place on the GEORG STAGE came from a friend of my brother who had sailed on a training ship," says Sofie Wildt Settgast.

HAS BECOME PART OF THE TEAM

Emil Meyer from Kalundborg is also aiming for a maritime education. Before the expedition, he had no idea which education would be right for him.

"On the expedition, I proved to myself that I can do more than I thought I could. At first, for example, I wasn't very confident when going out on the yards," says Sofie Wildt Settgast.

"Now I'm pretty sure I'm going to apply to SIMAC next year to become a master. At the GEORG STAGE, we talk with each other and are influenced by the other students' ideas and thoughts about the possibilities of maritime education," says Emil Meyer.

It's not just the dream of a maritime education that has taken shape onboard the GEORG STAGE. Emil Meyer has also learned a lot about his own limits and those of others.

"Absolutely. On a personal level, I've grown a lot and become much more pedagogical. I have gained an understanding of the fact that we have different needs and that we have to respect each other. Before, I could become impatient and perhaps a little upset if things weren't as I thought they should be. Now I know I'm part of a team and that we go furthest by helping each other and listening. That's a huge gift I've been given," says Emil Meyer. E

Emil Meyer has learned a lot about his own limits and those of others.

After the formal group photo is taken, there's time to take some fun photos with friends on board.

You

learn to set the tone

need to

"With up to 63 students plus the ten officers onboard, crises will emerge. Crises may be about people coming from different backgrounds and having different languages. When you board a ship, you don't know the tone. You have to learn how to speak up for yourself, but also how to manage yourself."

"It may happen that you feel offended for yourself or on behalf of others about something. Then we have a talk about how to be with different people. The crucial thing is that we resolve it. We are a pedagogical ship with a focus on dialogue. We have an important role to play in making sure that students don't mess up when they come onboard the next ship. On the contrary, we want them to be able to manage and navigate in a new environment. An important part of this is, of course, that you can also say no."

Morten Hess-Nielsen, 2nd engineer on the GEORG STAGE.

THE EXPEDITION WAS HARDER THAN EXPECTED

After today's exams are over, a group photo is taken. Students put on their uniforms and otherwise pass the time relaxing under the afternoon sun. Before the cruise, some students thought of what the social environment would be like on the ship. It was actually Anne-Sofie Brunhøj Sørensen's biggest concern.

"I thought it would be hard socially, but that came naturally. On the other hand, the academic content was really intense and harder than I expected. Nevertheless, I've done better than I thought I would," says Anne-Sofie Brunhøj Sørensen, who is from Horsens.

She thinks the officers onboard were good at filling the days, and the students were plunged into it from day one.

"I didn't have time to think about how hard it was, because constantly there was something new to learn. And because we were working together to solve things, we got to know each other in a different way than I was used to before. I could easily link the teaching to the work onboard - it

was easy to connect theory with practice. For example, being able to recognise the different ships we saw at sea," says Anne-Sofie Brunhøj Sørensen.

She will start looking for a job as an OS and eventually wants to study to become a marine engineer.

"I've already sent off two applications. Our captain is good at letting us know when there's an open position somewhere. I want to be on my way soon, so I'm planning to take what I can get," says Anne-Sofie Brunhøj Sørensen.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND UNIFORM CLOTHING MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Jannis Wolf Höflich is also one of the students who would like to go off sailing again as soon as possible. But in the short term, he hopes to stay on the GEORG STAGE when it goes to the shipyard for a few weeks.

"As an engine cadet, I've learned a lot of new things. But it will be a unique experience for me to stay on the ship and follow the repairs and maintenance that need to be done."

After that, he will head out to sea again. Maybe on a wooden ship or on a boat that catches red king crabs off the Norwegian coast.

"It will be a good opportunity to earn some good money by hard work for a month or so. It will allow me to work with something else that might not be as well paid. In the long term, I'd like to study to be an AB, and when I need to settle down, I'd like to train to be a master," says Jannis Wolf Höflich, who originally trained as a carpenter.

"The constant time pressure as a carpenter didn't suit me very well. So when a friend told me about the GEORG STAGE, I thought it sounded like a great idea. I saw it as an opportunity to work on something new, learn a lot and have new experiences. I also like that we wear the same clothes. Here, no one judges each other by their clothes," says Jannis Wolf Höflich.

What Jannis Wolf Höflich found to be the hardest part during the expedition was being woken up before a watch and immediately having to get to work.

"You must get out of your bunk, pack it up, get dressed and then get up on deck. With no time to get yourself ready and to have a quiet breakfast. I've gotten used to it, but I do hate it," says Jannis Wolf Höflich, who was initially a bit unsure about all the students sleeping in the same room.

"But it soon became normal, because we felt that we were in a safe environment. And bathing together was no problem, because we didn't see anything we hadn't seen before. The outside is the same, the inside is different, and it's a good way to get to know people. At the GEORG STAGE, you don't judge others by their outward appearance."

Young people are ahead on equality

"We've had students who were born one gender but feel like a different gender, and they talk about it onboard. It's generally quite seamless because everyone is focused on working together and getting things done. So they feel like they have a safe haven on the GEORG STAGE, because you're largely judged on what you do, not on what you are. The differences I notice between the students are therefore not related to their gender, because they are already conscious of equality - and in many ways young people are ahead of the elder generation."

Morten Hess-Nielsen, 2nd engineer on the GEORG STAGE.

training content

"We want to teach students everything we can and prepare them for a job on the ships and in maritime education. That's why we have an ongoing dialogue with the industry to hear what is important for them that we impart to the students. In this way, for example, we found out that ESVAGT really wants our students to get a radio certificate. We then included that in the curriculum. Conversely, we will take something out if it is out of date. That's how we work all the time to adapt the training. We have to meet a minimum standard, but we do so much more. It is important to me that it is a modern education on an old ship. We are turning young people into competent seafarers who can solve the problems they face."

Asser Amdisen, director of the Georg Stage’s Memorial Foundation

Shipping companies can influence the

Anne-Sofie Brunhøj Sørensen has already sent two applications for a job as an OS. In the longer term, she dreams of studying to be a naval engineer.

Jannis Wolf Höflich (right) is not sure what the future holds, but he definitely wants to work at sea, first as an OS and eventually as an officer.

STUDENTS USE THE GEORG STAGE AS A STEPPING STONE TO maritime education and jobs

It is a good investment for society that a training ship like the GEORG STAGE receives state support. Figures from Statistics Denmark show that the majority of the training ship's students move on to further education or jobs. That is why the money for the training ship is well spent, says Asser Amdisen, director of the foundation behind the GEORG STAGE.

By Troels Leth, SEA HEALTH & WELFARE

The vast majority of students who complete an expedition with GEORG STAGE are in work or undergoing an educational programme a year and a half after graduation. This is the case for more than 99% of the students, according to figures from Statistics Denmark. Only half a percent receive public benefits.

"This is a remarkable statistic and I cannot explain how we achieve such a good result.

The Georg Stage’s Memorial Foundation (The Stiftelsen Georg Stages Minde) receives a fixed grant from the state of almost DKK 10 million for one expedi tion per year. In the latest Finance Act, the Folketing has given an additional grant, which makes it possible to carry out two expeditions in 2022 and 2023 for 126 students per year. In 2019 and 2021 there were also two expeditions, but in 2020 the GEORG STAGE was also affected by COVID-19 and could there fore only carry out one expedition.

It shows that every year we send a lot of young people out into the labour market and into education," says Asser Amdisen, director of the Georg Stage’s Memorial Foundation.

State support is a prerequisite for the GEORG STAGE to carry out two expeditions each year, with a total of 126 students aboard. Each student must pay DKK 18,000 for a course on the GEORG STAGE. However, this amount does not cover the costs of running the ship, the salaries of the staff and the training onboard.

The statistics are therefore a key argument when the foundation applies for funding for the training from the Danish parliament.

"If we want to build energy islands and wind turbines at sea and be able to service them in the future with trained manpower, we need to invest in attracting young people to maritime education, of which the training ships are an important part," says Asser Amdisen..

AN EDUCATION THAT OPENS UP MANY OPPORTUNITIES

The foundation also conducts its own annual graduation survey, sending a form to students asking them to share what they have been doing since their expedition with the GEORG STAGE. The Foundation's 2021 survey and previous surveys show that about 70 percent are or have been completing their seagoing service. In addition, there are students who are currently pursuing a maritime education, including those who are studying for a HF (Higher Preparatory Examination Course) with a view to applying for a maritime education.

"There are not enough responses from students for the survey to be valid, but it is a good indicator. Basically, it's about giving young people an education and a pathway to a career with many opportunities. The state support is actually a good investment," says Asser Amdisen.

FACTS ABOUT THE PROGRAMME:

The maritime training on the Georg Stage lasts 20 weeks. There is room for 63 students and 10 experienced mariners who live onboard the ship throughout the course.

Once they have completed their training and passed their exams, students can apply for a job onboard a ship and sign on as an OS. If at some point students would like to continue their studies, they also have the option to do so.

If you want to be a student on the Georg Stage, you must meet the following requirements:

• At least have passed the 9th grade

• Be between 18 and 22 years old

• Have a valid health certificate.

Application deadline for the 2023-1 expedition has expired.

Application deadline for the 2023-2 expedition is 15 March 2023.

Read more at www.georgstage.dk

OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

You can also become an OS or get similar training here:

• Svendborg Maritime School

• MARTEC in Frederikshavn

• Training ship Denmark

• HF Shipping in Frederikshavn, Svendborg and Marstal.

“Every year we send a lot of young people out into the labour market and into education," says Asser

Amdisen, director of the Georg Stage’s Memorial Foundation.

Photo: The Georg Stage’s Memorial Foundation

WHICH PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT SHOULD I USE?

HI SHW

We have a new paint supplier and would like to know what type of mask and gloves we should use. We will be painting on open deck with a roller and brush. I have attached the SDS for the product, and I hope you can help us on our way.

Søren P.

Figure 1

DEAR SØREN

For paint, the rules on code numbers also apply, and these indicate which personal protective equipment is to be used for different types of work tasks. See the code number scheme. This should be in line with what is stated in the safety data sheet, workplace instructions, and protective equipment notice. It can be found under Art. 8 in the SDS. See Figure 1.

An easier way to find the information is to log on to @sea. Find the product in the Chemicals module and look in the "Workplace Instruction", where you can find the same information about personal protection when using the product. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

You have the option of adding personal protection measures that you wish to use on board to your workplace instructions. These changes will be automatically inserted into your personal protection equipment notice.

On the overview screen of chemicals held in the same storage location, you can print out the personal protection equipment notice that provides a quick and clear overview of the personal

Figure 3

To answer your question, in this case, you need to use an air-fed half-mask and chemical-resistant gloves (EN374). The manufacturer recommends the following types of gloves: Silver Shield / Barrier / 4H gloves, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Viton®, nitrile rubber.

In cases of short-term exposure, the following gloves can be used: Neoprene rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber (latex), polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

I hope that this answer will help you to quickly find the necessary personal protection equipment in the future.

Kind regards, Ester Ørum, Consultant for the work environment.

protection equipment to be used when painting with the product in question. See Figure 3.

REMINDER

We

The shipping company is responsible for submitting new SDS charts to the chemical database.

BRIEF NEWS

FROM SHW:

New version of the sector specific guidance “Point extraction” to be published in spring 2023

The new and updated version of the sector specific guidance ”Point extraction” replaces the previous sector specific guidance from 2001.

Point extraction is a necessary and important tool for the removal of noxious and hazardous vapors, gases, dust, and fumes that can cause occupational diseases, including cancer.

In the sector specific guidance, you can, among other things, get guidance on how to incorporate the STOP principle on board when designing and using the point extraction. You can also read how to calculate the amount of air needed to remove the

harmful substances, as well as how air flows and grip speeds are measured.

This sector specific guidance combines technical texts with practical examples of the design, use and maintenance of point extraction on the ship, for the benefit of shipowners, shipyards, shipboard management, and daily users.

DID YOU KNOW:

• Portable extraction equipment must be used, for example, in welding operations carried out on open decks.

• It is not only the person performing a task who needs to be protected from exposure, but also people in or around the workplace.

• Is it a legal requirement to have a working alarm on the point extraction system if it is to be used for the removal of carcinogens.

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR LATEST GUIDES?

PERSONAL CRISIS AT SEA - HOW TO MOVE ON

The guide contains dialogue tools that can help you identify a colleague’s mental health challenges and advice on how to become an active listener.

The purpose of this guide is to provide easyto-use advice on how to help a colleague who is in crises. It addresses the shipboard management, but it can also be used by the individual seafarer.

MENTAL WELL-BEING ON THE AGENDA – TOOLS FOR THE SHIP MANAGEMENT

This publication is aimed at the ship´s management who want to concrete tools to uncover the crew's mental well-being, and in an equal way to initiate a constructive conversation about a crew member's mental well-being.

MENTAL WELL-BEING ON THE AGENDA

SHARE YOUR TOUCHING, BEAUTIFUL, FUNNY, AND LIVELY PHOTOS WITH US

Every year, we receive many beautiful, funny, quirky, and amazing photos of life at sea from seafarers who want to enter the annual photo competition. These can be photos of beautiful sunsets, wild weather, whales and penguins, or atmospheric shots of seafarers on board ship.

You can also enter the competition and maybe win a gift voucher. The five best photos will win prizes and automatically enter the Nordic Seafarers' Photo Competition, organized in cooperation with Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

We hope you'll share your photos with us and enter the competition!

The rules for participation can be found on shw.dk under the tab Welfare

The five winners of the 2021

Competition for Seafarers Photos: Laura Karas, Per Janus Böhme, Aldrin Ulep, John Holm og Malik Pars Markussen.

Photo

Nominate the 2022 WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR

– YOU CAN STILL MAKE IT

Is the crew on your ship making a big effort to create well-being for the whole crew, e.g., by organizing shared social activities?

Then nominate your ship for Welfare Ship of the Year 2022. We'll award the ship with an optional prize worth USD 1,000.

To nominate your ship, send an email to: welfareship@shw.dk by 31 December 2022. In the email, tell us why your ship should be awarded Welfare Ship of the Year – you are welcome to attach photos or a video from your ship. You do not have to nominate the ship you are currently signed on. It can also be a ship you have been signed on to earlier this year.

Read more about the competition and the 2022 Welfare Ship of the Year award at www.shw.dk/aarets-velfaerdsskib

Last year's winners had a clear focus on community and social activities for everyone on board.

Photos: GIJON KNUTZEN and MONACO MAERSK.

The Seafarers’ Library

– electronic books in the Libby app

Library in Libby might have just the books

need to find the answers. Here are a few examples.

of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises” by Mark

“Handbook

Carwardine

With more than 1,000 meticulous and specially commissioned illustrations – complete with flukes, blows, and dive sequences – it includes detailed annotations pointing out significant field marks, as well as extensive distribution and migration maps. Many of the world's most respected whale biologists have collaborated on the text, helping to provide the ultimate guide to the identification, distribution, behaviour, life history, and conservation of every species and subspecies of whale, dolphin, and porpoise.

“Europe’s Sea Mammals”

by Robert Still, Hugh Harrop, Luís Dias, et al.

This photographic identification guide to Europe's sea mammals covers the 39 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises and 9 species of seals found in the region, which spans the eastern Atlantic from Iceland to the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cap Verde, and the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic seas.

Written and illustrated by a team of professional tour guides with extensive experience presenting the region's sea mammals, the guide features more than 180 color photographs, maps,

and graphics, highlights key identification features, and includes information on the range, ecology, behavior, and conservation status of each species. Produced by the marine conservation charity ORCA, the book presents mapping data from a decade of surveys, which shows both current distribution and changes over time.

“Oceanic Birds of the World: A Photo Guide” by Steve N.G. Howell and Kirk Zufelt

Oceanic birds are among the most remarkable but least known of all birds, living at sea, far from the sight of most people. The guide features clear text filled with original insights and new information, and more than 2,200 color images. The introduction discusses the many recent developments in seabird taxonomy, which are incorporated into the species accounts, and these accounts are arranged into groups that aid field identification. Each group and species complex has an introductory overview of its identification challenges, illustrated with clear comparative photos. The text describes flight manner, plumage variation related to age and molt, seasonal occurrence patterns, migration routes, and many other characteristics.

What do you see when you are at sea?

Curious about a sea mammal or a bird? Wondering about the weather? Or maybe you want to know which star constellation you are looking at? The Seafarers’

you

by Alan Watts

The Weather Handbook is the essential guide on how the weather is formed. The book provides readers with the ability to look at the sky and interpret its signs, and combine this knowledge with information provided by professional forecasters to assess for themselves what the coming weather is likely to be.

The fourth edition has been updated and expanded with new photos and explanatory text, addressing new sources of weather information. There are countless websites and apps providing forecast data, and The Weather Handbook guides users on how to use and interpret this information for themselves, taking a general forecast for a wide area and providing a local forecast for a specific location.

Full-color maps show the constellations, with star types (spectral and physical) indicated by the colors used on the map. Extended objects such as galaxies and nebulae are shown with their approximate apparent size in the sky.

“Atlas of the Stars” (magazine)

Astronomy magazine's Atlas of the Stars is a must-have for anyone who wants to learn the constellations, find the brightest stars, and view the best deep-sky objects. This easy-to-use guide shows everything you can see in the night sky with the naked eye or with a small telescope. The atlas contains 87,000 stars down to magnitude 8.5 and has more than 1,200 deep-sky objects.

“Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning” by Richard H. Allen

“Reeds

Weather Handbook: For sail and power” by Frank Singleton

Weather determines when we sail, where we sail to, and whether we arrive safely. This guide equips the reader with all the necessary tools to predict and deal with local and distant weather conditions, whether on a day trip or a longer cruise, along the coast or further offshore. Each topic is broken down into digestible chapters, explaining the origins and effects of the full spectrum of weather conditions, including using and evaluating weather forecasts, depressions, fronts, isobars, and other coastal effects; waves and swell; weather lore; and sky watching.

Meteorology is still advancing, and the sources of forecasts are changing. This edition particularly focuses on the increasing use of GRIB files, computer weather modelling and sources of forecasts, especially with the proliferation of computer forecasts becoming available free of charge.

“The Constellation Observing Atlas” by Grant Privett, Kevin Jones

Designed for anyone who wishes to learn the constellations or observe the best and brightest deep sky objects and double stars, this book contains an alphabetical list of constellations complete with star maps, historical background, and highlights of deep sky objects. Each entry contains position and physical information on enough stars to support astronomers in star-hopping, swinging the telescope from star to star to star to arrive at a faint target. It provides a carefully selected list of accessible and rewarding deep-sky objects.

This is an unusual book for anyone who appreciates the beauty and wonder of the stars. Solidly based upon years of thorough research into astronomical writings and observations of the ancient Chinese, Arabic, Euphrates, Hellenic, and Roman civilizations, it is an informative, non-technical excursion into the vast heritage of folklore and history associated with the heavenly bodies. The author comes up with a fascinating history of the names various cultures have given the constellations, the literary and folkloristic uses that have been made of the stars through the centuries, and the often-incredible associations that ancient peoples established with the stars. He covers, for example, the origins of the lunar and solar zodiacs; the use of stars and constel lations in the Bible and other sacred writings, poetry, etc.; the idea of the Milky Way; how star pictures were originally set up and why; astrology and the use of stars to tell people's fortunes; and many other star curiosities.

HOW TO BECOME A USER

“The Weather Handbook: The Essential Guide to How Weather is Formed and Develops”

WOMEN’S HEALTH UNPLUGGED

The mission of the podcast is to educate and empower women across all generations on how to advocate for themselves through better health education.

Dr. Jordan Robertson, the show’s host wants to help women move from being confused and overwhelmed by their health to understanding, confidence and wellness.

https://womenshealthunplugged.com/ OVERHEARD

AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

In this podcast, you are invited into conversations with explorers, photographers, and scientists at National Geographic’s headquarters.

You can listen to episodes like “Searching for a Butterfly in a Conflict Zone”, “Harnessing the Power of Yellowstone’s Supervolcano”, “Farming for the Planet”, and “The Secret Life of Planets”.

When you go to a specific episode, you find a description of the episode and often also links to further reading or listening.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/overheard

MEN’S HEALTH MINUTE

This short podcast (4 to 8 minutes) gives you the latest in fitness, nutrition, health, sex, style, grooming, tech, and weight loss, and it also sometimes have news on celebrities.

Don’t expect lengthy explanations on the topics; the podcast is more of a primer on subjects that you might be interested in learning more about.

https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/a22664509/ mens-health-minute-podcast-alexa-google/

BOXING PODCAST ON IFL TV

A daily news podcast about boxing. You can find the podcast in your usual podcast app, but you can also see the episodes on Youtube.com.

A part of the podcast episodes is called “Raw: The Fight Within”, which are in-depth interviews with high-profile figures from the world of boxing and delve deep into their individual stories. The aim of “Raw: The fight within” is to enable listeners to get to know the person, rather than just the fighter.

Do you need new books for the ship’s library?

Remember that you can ask the welfare consultants and pastors in the Danish Seamen’s Churches for new books when you visit the following ports:

EUROPE

Algeciras, Spain

International Seaman’s Center Avenida Virgen del Carmen 15, 3 11201 Algeciras Tlf: +34 696 822 751 E-mail: seamensclubalgeciras @gmail.com

Brielle (Rotterdam), The Netherlands

SEA HEALTH & WELFARE Vischstraat 19 3231 AV Brielle Tlf: (+031) (0)10 27 05 975 Mobil: (+031) (0)62 04 06 860 E-mail: rotterdam@hfv.dk

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The Seamen’s Church Coolhaven 1-7 3011 CG Rotterdam Tlf: (+31) (0) 107 142 626 Mobil: (+031) (0) 637 10 22 00 (The Pastor) E-mail: info@kirken.nl

Esbjerg, Denmark

Esbjerg Harbour Service Dokvej 3D 6700 Esbjerg Tlf: (+45) 7513 2859 Mobil: (+45) 2924 4986 E-mail: ehswelf@mail.tdcadsl.dk

Göteborg, Sweden

The Danish Seamen’s Church Thorkild Wulffsgatan 8 S-413 19 Gøteborg Mobil: +46 (0) 72 037 2811 E-mail: luk@km.dk

Hamburg, Germany

Benediktekirken

Den Danske Sømandskirke Ditmar-Koel-Str. 2 D-20459 Hamburg Tlf.: +49 (0) 40 371300 / +49 (0) 176 666 866 51 E-mail: hamborg@dankirke.de

Aalborg, Denmark

Seaman-Aalborg c/o Hotel Aalborg Østerbro 27 9000 Aalborg Tlf: (+45) 9812 1900 (Seamen's Club, Hotel Aalborg) Tlf: (+45) 2573 9740 (Carsten Schmidt, Welfare Officer) E-mail: carsten@seaman-aalborg.dk

Aarhus, Denmark

International Seamen’s Club Polensgade 3 8000 Aarhus C. Tlf: (+45) 8612 1599 Mobil: (+45) 5180 5667 E-mail: seamensclub.aarhus@mail.dk

ASIA

Hong Kong

Danish Seamen’s Church Mariners’ Club

2 Container Port Road Kwai Chung, Hong Kong

Tlf: (+852) 9490 8562 Tlf: (+852) 9199 1025 E-mail: danishroom@ soemandskirken.org

Singapore

Danish Seamen's Church 10 Pender Road

Singapore 099171

Tlf: (+65) 886 948 28 E-mail: office@churchsg.dk

Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia

International Seamen’s Centre Tlf: (+60) 01 9370 0645 E-mail: pelepas@churchsg.dk

AFRICA

Port Said, Egypt

SEA HEALTH & WELFARE El-Nahda Street-El-Freeport Building 5 floor-Office 501 Port Said 42511, Egypt Tel +2 066 3206706 Mobil +2 01002027848 Email: portsaid@shw.dk

You can of course also get new books directly from The Seafarers’ Library in Copenhagen if you contact the librarian at sbib@sbib.dk

The welfare consultant in Brielle/Rotterdam, Belinda Hoff from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE has brought new books for the crew at MAERSK ESSEN. Photo: Private