At SEA nr. 1 - 2022. UK Version

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SEA SEA HEALTH & WELFARE for seafarers

One big family on the WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 04 This is why the new FIT4SEA makes a difference 07 Looking for a holiday home near the coast? 21

Issue 01 | 2022

WANT TO GET STARTED WITH TRAINING?

Members price 5.404 DKK (ex. VAT + delivery)

But don’t have a proper gym or the right gear on board? SEA HEALTH & WELFARE has joined forces with Fitness Engros and made a Start-Up Package - tailormade for you seafarers.

The Start-Up Package contains the equipment that will take your training to the next level - without a proper gym or an expert on the line. The equipment can be used anywhere, it’s easy to move around, and can be used for both cardio and strength training.

THE START-UP PACKAGE

Hexagon Dumbbells (2 pcs.)

Kettlebells with rubber foot

Training Tubes in Latex

Wooden gymnastics rings (set)

AB Wheel

Crossmaxx® Jump Rope

4 sets of dumbbells (10 kg -12,5 kg - 17,5 kg – 20 kg)

Wooden rings to perform gymnastic exercises

4 different kettlebells (12 kg – 16 kg – 20 kg – 24 kg)

Ab Wheel from Lifemaxx of professional quality

Training tubes (level 3, 4 and 5)

with adjustable lenght

We are here to help you! Send an e-mail to fit4sea@shw.dk to order the entire package or pick the ones you prefer to suit your needs.

CONTENT

THEME: WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2021

ARTICLES AND INSPIRATION

”WE ARE LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY”

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THE WELFARE OFFICER SHOWS THE WAY

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MONACO MAERSK FOCUSES ON TOGETHERNESS 10 HOW SHW CAN HELP YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR SENSE OF UNITY

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THE NEW FIT4SEA WEBSTE WWW.FIT4SEA.SHW.DK

THIS YEAR YOU WILL BE ABLE TO REGISTER YOUR RESULTS AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET, OR PC IN THE FIT4SEA COMPETITION! ON THE NEW FIT4SEA WEBSITE, YOU WILL HAVE YOUR FIT4SEA PROFILE, WHERE YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS FROM YOUR PREFERRED DIGITAL DEVICE. YOU CAN LOG YOUR ACTIVITIES EVEN WHEN OFFLINE. YOUR RESULTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE UPDATED AND SHOWN ON YOUR PROFILE AND STATISTICS PAGE WHEN YOU REACH INTERNET ACCESS AGAIN. STAY TUNED FOR NEW FEATURES AND THE LATEST UPDATES. MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW: WWW. SHW.DK FACEBOOK: "SEA HEALTH & WELFARE" INSTAGRAM: @SHWSOCIAL

Publisher

Højnæsvej 56 2610 Rødovre, Denmark Editor in chief René Andersen Executive editors Jacob Christensen Torsten Mathias Augustsen Contact Troels Leth tle@shw.dk / +45 3140 5713

How three seafarers use the new FIT4SEA website

New rules regarding the use of personal protective equipment 14 Use the right cream to protect your hands

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See the five best snap-shots from the photo competition

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Laura won the prize for PHOTO OF THE YEAR

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Ask the consultant: Tips for setting up chemical products

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Gain access to 1,000 magazines on your smartphone/tablet

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Review: New books about seafaring 23 Check out these new podcasts

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It is this easy to download and use the new FIT4SEA website

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Authors Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, Irene Olsen, Ester Ørum, Pernille Voigt Nordstrand, Anna Bergmark and Anne Ries Design and Graphic Production Kailow A/S, CSR & Environmental & OHS certified Print run 3.000 Published three times a year Subscribe/unsubscribe: atsea@shw.dk Front cover: Jan Lystlund Sørensen

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– We l l - b e i n g –

WE ARE LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY On GIJON KNUTSEN, they use activities such as bingo, tanker golf and joint daily exercise as vital means to create a sense of unity and respect as well as break down cultural barriers on board. GIJON KNUTSEN has been crowned WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2021.

By Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, journalist

One, two, three, four… in a steady voice the count goes up to 20. Crew members are lying side by side on the floor doing an exercise known as “plank rotations”. The sound of laughter and heavy breathing fills the bridge.

Every day during the crew’s “10 break” there is a joint workout. Here, you engage in the daily exercise in whatever clothes you happen to be wearing at the time, using your own body weight as an exercise tool and afterwards you take a breather over a cup of coffee. Everyone participates of their own free will.

Joint activities are a regular part of everyday life on the tanker GIJON KNUTSEN, a ship which loads oil from oil fields in the North Sea and transports it to ports where it is pumped ashore.

The ship and its crew have been crowned WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2021, which has been awarded for the second time

by SEA HEALTH & WELFARE in order to bring attention to the general well-being at sea. GIJON KNUTSEN take the prize because they have succeeded in including everyone in the community, because they have achieved a very special sense of

unity, because they have great respect for each other across different cultural backgrounds and because they actively use e.g., FIT4SEA to ensure both mental and physical well-being.

I like being a part ”of the social activities because it strengthens our communication and collaborative abilities.

”

As Jason Paul De Castro, First Mate, from the Philippines, describes it: ”We are like one big family”. He highlights the daily joint workout as the best example of the special atmosphere on the Welfare Ship of the Year: ”We are all together at the same time, and you can really feel the harmony that exists

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between us and how we work together as one big family.”

The community on board consists of 22 crew members from the Philippines, Romania and Denmark from the age of 26 to 60.

A community that has been strengthened and further developed over the past almost two years. This is what 56-year-old Chief Engineer Michael Thinnesen says: “We have succeeded in creating a shared feeling of togetherness in spite of different nationalities and we have broken down some of these cultural barriers that may occur in a group of people that have been brought together. From our European perspective, our Filipino colleagues can be very polite and we can perceive them as almost submissive”.

THE ROAD TO OPENNESS IS THROUGH JOINT ACTIVITIES A determined effort to include the entire crew in both the development and execution of joint activities and events on board has created a very special sense of unity and a new openness towards each other on the ship.

– We l l - b e i n g –

Social activities are the absolute super weapon for breaking down barriers and creating a sense of security and well-being on board, says Chief Engineer Michael Thinnesen. On GIJON KNUTSEN, the most popular activities are table football, couronne (“bob”) and tanker golf.

”I think that we have reached the point where everyone feels free to speak up and express their opinion. Everyone wants to participate, and we can see how the social activities such as darts, bingo, tanker golf and joint exercise have created a very special sense of unity, precisely because we are mixed across nationality and rank”, says Michael Thinnesen and elaborates: ”When I came on board almost two years ago, there were very few social initiatives. I have experience from other ships in setting up activities and I could see that here was work here that needed to be done. There was full support from the captain to swing into action and since then we have quite simply gone from 0 to 100 percent. We reached our goal because we succeeded in getting everyone involved”.

This is backed by Dante Covacha Tupaz, Second Engineer, from the Philippines:

“I like being a part of the social activities because it strengthens our communication and collaborative abilities. We have become more direct and personal with each other.

There is a family-like atmosphere on board, and the fact that we have been crowned Welfare Ship of the Year proves that we have a special desire to take good care of our mental and physical health. Many of us even keep up the exercise routine when we’re ashore”.

VOLUNTARY APPROACH - DANISH ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES ON BOARD When Michael Thinnesen began his effort to strengthen the social life and the sense of community on board, he was the initiator and facilitator of the activities. In his experience that is how it is bound to be in the beginning - however, slowly but steadily, the tasks associated with holding

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BE INSPIRED! THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES ON GIJON KNUTSEN: • F IT4SEA - daily joint workout in the “10 break” and monthly challenges • Bingo • Weighing club - with a prize for the one with the biggest fluctuation (lost the most or gained the most)!

• Board game tournaments in pairs • Pigeon betting with smaller cash prizes • Tanker golf in pairs (can also be played indoors in the engine room with hearing protection) • Darts tournaments • Basketball matches • Fishing competition in pairs • Air rifle shooting tournament E

– We l l - b e i n g – NOMINATE A SHIP FOR WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2022: Do you also work on a ship where the colleagues are great and there is plenty of comradeship, fun and social activities? Then you should nominate your ship for WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2022 and get the chance to win a joint prize for the ship.

To nominate a ship, you must send an e-mail to welfareship@shw.dk before December 31, 2022.

On the WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2021, all activities are in pairs, except for darts. It strengthens the collaborative abilities and you get to know each other across the employee group. Prizes, medals and a winning photo on the ship’s Wall of Fame all help motivate the crew members to participate in activities.

E activities have been delegated to various crew members. Today, the chief engineer is only responsible for the daily workout.

From the very beginning, he has been focused on getting the entire crew involved. ”I have not met any opposition. Everything is on a voluntary basis, and I usually compare it to the Danish tradition of association activities: Everyone has a say and everyone can express their own opinion. I place a lot of emphasis on that, and the Filipinos on board also fully understand what association activities are, because they experience it here on a daily basis”.

He draws on the experience from 30 years at sea, where he has always aimed to strengthen the sense of unity and thus the general well-being on board.

No social activities are mandatory. Here, everyone is involved, and the ship’s joint

Explain in the e-mail why your ship should be crowned ‘WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR 2022’ and attach photos.

See more at www.shw.dk

bulletin board is an important tool in this regard: “Typically, we set up a notice for an activity that you can then sign up for. That way we can quickly see if people are interested and how many want to join. It also allows us to make teams before the activity begins, so you don’t have to wait for someone who doesn’t show up anyway. All of our games and activities - except darts - are in pairs”.

And precisely the part about working together in pairs is important. Michael Thinnesen explains: ”It helps to break down barriers - both the cultural and the hierarchical ones. I have never experienced a better way of breaking down barriers and creating a sense of security and well-being on board than social activities. We laugh together, we see each other in new ways and we get a better understanding of each other”, he says and

HOW TO STIMULATE SOCIAL LIFE ON BOARD – 5 tips from Michael Thinnesen: 1. G et the captain’s and the shipowner’s backing. Use active crew members as ambassadors for new efforts on board.

2. Focus on participation and ask the crew what they would like to do.

3. U se prizes, medals and trophies as motivation - it works! Remember to celebrate your victories.

4. Back each other up during home periods with messages and greetings.

5. T alk about what has been successful and what has been difficult. It takes time to start activities, but it is worth the investment.

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continues: ”It has a tremendously positive effect on the collaborative work on board. Even the tedious tasks are completed more easily, and they are completed together. You want to make an extra effort to help your partner that you laughed and had a good time with the day before. It sounds very neat and all, but it’s the actual facts. You only need relatively small initiatives to strengthen the general job satisfaction and well-being on board. It’s a long-term investment, but it pays off”.

SECRET MOTIVATIONAL WEAPON A common motivational trait that recurs across culture and age is prizes.

“When you start setting up activities on board, you should not be put off by a lack of attendance in the beginning - it will come! I have always quite deliberately used prizes

GIJON KNUTSEN Crude Oil Tanker built in 2006.

Transports oil in the North Sea. The crew consists of 22 members from the Philippines, Romania and Denmark.

Part of the crew is on board for 8 weeks at a time, while others are on board for 6 months at a time.

187 meters long, 28 meters wide Gross Tonnage: 24242 Flag state: Denmark Shipping company: KNOT Management Denmark

BE INSPIRED! POPULAR PRIZES ON GIJON KNUTSEN • Challenge cup trophy for tournaments • Medals to hang around your neck - make them yourself or buy them cheap online • Bingo prizes: Quality tools, power bank for mobile phone, sodas, merchandise e.g., backpacks The prizes are sponsored by the ship’s club on the ship, the shipping company or SHW

VOX POP Why are you using the new mobile-friendly FIT4SEA? In January 2022, a brand new and mobile-friendly version of FIT4SEA was released online. Many seafarers are already in full swing with the process of registering and tracking their exercise via the new website. Meet three of them here.

Katja Winterskov, Deck Cadet, MAERSK SEAGO ISTANBUL Why have you chosen to use the new FIT4SEA website? ”It’s easy to use on the phone, and I can always keep track of whether I have remembered to exercise. The best feature is that it works offline too, and also, it takes no time to enter your data into it”.

How does the new FIT4SEA help you in relation to your training?

“I think it’s great to be pushed a little bit. It’s so convenient to just collapse in bed after a 6x6 hour shift. It’s much easier to remember to exercise now that I have it on my mobile”.

as bait”, says Michael Thinnesen.

He has gradually discovered that some nationalities in particular are motivated by the chance of winning a t-shirt with a print, for example one from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE, and everyone is crazy about winning a trophy or medal. ”I’ve had our own medals manufactured, and that’s really something that everyone is excited about. Everyone enjoys getting on the podium after a tournament and being presented with a medal and having their photo taken for our ’Wall of Fame’. It all helps to motivate”.

The crowning as WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR also fits the crew’s winning mentality and craving for prizes quite well: “The award proves that we are really dedicated, and winning this award makes us proud and gives us the desire to continue”, says Dante Covacha Tupaz.

Jason De Castro, Chief Officer, GIJON KNUTSEN Why have you chosen to use the new FIT4SEA website?

“I love the new FIT4SEA website. It’s incredibly easy to use. It motivates me to exercise and stay in good shape. At any time, I can register and check which training exercises I have done”.

How does the new FIT4SEA help you in relation to your training?

“It helps to stay motivated and encourages us to stay in good shape. I would encourage everyone to join and become part of the community”.

ABOUT WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR

Kasper Bak Christensen, Chief Officer, BERGENSFJORD, FJORD LINE Why have you chosen to use the new FIT4SEA website?

“It’s easy to use and it’s also much easier to get my colleagues to start registering their training with the new site. For example, I have been out for a 15-kilometer run with a colleague when we were in port”.

How does the new FIT4SEA help you in relation to your training? ”It’s easy and very manageable to keep track of my own progress”.

SHW launched WELFARE SHIP OF THE YEAR in 2020.

A great welfare ship promotes a sense of togetherness on board through social activities that focuses on mental and physical well-being and involve every­ one on board.

The winning ship receive an optional prize worth USD 1,000.

See how to register your training in the FIT4SEA tool on the center spread.

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– We l l - b e i n g –

IT HAS TO BE FUN,

SAFE AND PLEASANT TO BE ON BOARD TOGETHER On ESVAGT ALBERT BETZ, 33-year-old Officer Andreas Forsberg has been appointed as welfare officer. With the full support from the shipping company, captain and colleagues, he is the instigator of activities that strengthen the sense of unity and well-being. ESVAGT ALBERT BETZ came in second in Welfare Ship of the Year 2021.

By Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, journalist

What does it mean to be a welfare officer?

“When I came on board a little over a year ago, no one had dedicated themselves to initiate any social activities. I told the captain that I wanted to do it, because I felt like it was missing. He suggested the title of “welfare officer” and appointed me. This means that I am responsible for facilitating various events and redistributing initiatives from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE”.

Why do you want to take on the extra assignment of being a welfare officer? ”I also did it on other ships. Taking on responsibility and communicating is just a part of who I am. I think it’s very important that there is something else to do on the ship besides just work. My professional life began in MAERSK. And while I was there, I was lucky enough to sail under captains who prioritized the sense of community and activities on board. Those are values that I have taken with me. I don’t receive any additional pay to be a welfare officer and I also spend time on it in my periods

at home. I prepare activities and order, for example, medals and other things we need for the activities. I am willing to sacrifice some of my free time, because what I have invested is paid back multiple times when I see the joy it brings to my colleagues.

I have received amazing support - from the ordinary deckhand to the chief engineer, captain and shipping company. I think there’s always been a huge general interest in strengthening the social life on board, there was just no one to facilitate it”.

What are some of the initiatives and activities you have initiated as a welfare officer?

“From the very beginning, I have been very aware of the need to involve everyone in the process of deciding what social activities we should have. Every week we hold an operational meeting, and here I spend a lot of time presenting possible ideas for different activities. During this meeting other people can also pitch in with ideas. You can also contact me in a more

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private setting, if you prefer it that way. We have, for example, barbecue on deck, board game tournaments, darts tournaments and we’ve also had a tournament with a racetrack. The racetrack was a stroll down memory lane for many of the participants.

It made everyone laugh and the whole thing was so much fun. Right now I’m preparing the the Danish Carnival tradition to beat the cat of the barrel, and we’ve also had a Lego building competition, which everyone was very excited about - and which furthermore taught us to collaborate.

We also use FIT4SEA a lot and we are part of the monthly challenges that SEA HEALTH & WELFARE set in motion. The whole ship has joined FIT4SEA, and we are on our way towards a common goal”.

Is there a common characteristic of the activities you do on board? ”We laugh a lot - both at each other and with each other. We are good at supporting each other. We are a permanent crew,

– We l l - b e i n g –

Barbecues and the racetrack are examples of popular activities on board. which also means that the conditions for building a strong sense of unity are very good. The fact that we have tried different things together means that we develop a different sense of unity. The roles are switched around. For example, when you’re playing a game, maybe it’s suddenly the trainee or the apprentice who is the best at something”.

Why is it important that you, as a welfare officer, also focus on topics such as harassment and bullying? ”It’s important to have an open conversation about harassment and bullying, even if you don’t register any immediate problems with regards to the use of language on board. In my experience such talks are nevertheless beneficial. We had a theme day where we focused on SEA HEALTH & WELFARE’s initiative ‘Be a buddy - not a bully’. I ordered a pack of t-shirts, cups, posters and dialogue cards

to get the conversation going. We already had a good culture, but different people can have very different boundaries when it comes to what you think is funny or not funny. There are a lot of jokes that are funny in Danish, but don’t work in English.

For example, our Danish irony can be difficult to understand. We had a good talk about it, and the t-shirts that we’re now wearing occasionally remind us of that. After that day, I noticed that it had opened up for conversation across staff groups and rank”.

How have your efforts as a welfare officer strengthened the general well-being and sense of unity on board?

“Social activities and team-building theme days create a sense of trust and security.

It definitely increases our collaborative abilities and creates more openness towards each other. It also makes you want to have some more personal talks and, for example, share some of the more difficult

thing that may be going on at home. It’s really important that you establish a connection between work life and private life in this way - otherwise it will be too hard to be away from home for such a long period at a time.”

WELFARE OFFICER “A welfare officer is selected on the basis of skills: It must be someone who knows how to involve and motivate his or her colleagues. A welfare officer must be someone who likes to take the initiative when it comes to events and social activities - and it certainly helps to be a bit imaginative. It’s important to always have a welfare officer on board, given that there should always be a focus on social activities and the general well-being on board. The ship’s welfare officers should coordinate with each other to ensure a safe handover and sparring”, says Andreas Forsberg about the role of the welfare officer.

ANDREAS’ TIPS FOR TEAM BUILDING: LONG DISTANCE LEGO BUILDING

ESVAGT ALBERT BETZ

The crew is divided into teams of 2-4 people. Two teams now have to work together to build a Lego set, e.g., a car at a difficulty level of +7 years.

Offshore Support Vessel built in 2019.

Is used to sail technicians to, Deutsche Bucht Offshore Wind Farm. Located at the wind farm for 14 days at a time. The ship is based in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, close to the German border.

The crew consists of 13 members from Poland, the Philippines and Denmark.

59 meters long, 17 meters wide Gross Tonnage: 2998 Flag state: Denmark Shipping company: ESVAGT

The challenge of the task is that one team has to build and the other team has the instruction manual in another room. Both teams have a walkie-talkie as the only means of communication. The team with the instruction manual guides the team of builders.

The two teams that, through collaboration via walkie-talkie, are the fastest to build the correct model, have won.

Warning: The exercise can cause frustration, laughter and despair over the fact that it can be very difficult to build a Lego set intended for a child of +7 years when you do not have a visible manual at hand.

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– We l l - b e i n g –

WE HAVE A COMMON SENSE OF BELONGING On MONACO MAERSK, the crew prioritizes joint activities and celebrations, and they even have their very own newspaper on board. All these are initiatives that create a stronger sense of unity and cooperation, says Ashutosh Shashi Mishra, Third Officer.

MONACO MAERSK came in third in Welfare Ship of the Year 2021.

By Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, journalist

MONACO MAERSK Container Ship built in 2017.

The crew consists of 27 people aged 19 to 56 years from Denmark, Ukraine, India and the Philippines.

The crew is on board between 11 weeks and 5-6 months.

58 meters wide and 399 meters long Gross Tonnage: 214286 Flag state: Denmark Shipping company: MAERSK

What are you doing to strengthen the sense of community on board?

“We have a hectic working life on board, and we have almost no opportunities to come ashore when we’re in port. That’s why we rely on creating some alternative break periods on board. It’s important that we give ourselves the chance to relax by doing something other than work from time to time.

We do various social activities when we need to relax and have fun. Through the social activities we get talking and we form closer relationships with each other. We

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gain a greater understanding of each other and build up a shared energy. It rubs off on our work and not least our collaborative work. This is important, because the majority of the tasks on board are carried out in teams”.

The atmosphere on board can be described as cheerful and jolly. I think the atmosphere is like this because we always make sure to say hello, good morning and things like that to each other - and because we respect each other’s cultures. It helps to make us feel a little more like a family than colleagues. We have a common sense of

– We l l - b e i n g –

Barbecue on deck is a popular social activity on MONACO MAERSK. “Through the social activities we talk to each other and we form closer relationships with each other,” says Ashutosh Shashi Mishra.

POPULAR ACTIVITIES ON MONACO MAERSK: Saturday film night · Birthday celebrations · Barbecue · Karaoke and guitar on weekday evenings · Sunday poker · PlayStation – FIFA and NBA

MONACO TIMES - LOCAL NEWS FOR THE SHIP’S CREW On the MONACO MAERSK they have their very own newspaper, the Monaco Times, were seafarers can read about planned activities and birthday celebrations, and see what events are planned.

The newspaper also has its own Instagram account @monaco_times and has become a means of creating a common focus for activities and togetherness on board.

On MONCA MAERSK, where Ashutosh Shashi Mishra is the third engineer, there is a family-like atmosphere.

They always make a special event of it when they celebrate birthdays and mark holidays with good food.

belonging. It’s very important for the sense of unity on board”.

What are some examples of social activities that you have on board?

We had a competition that we called ‘Monaco Squid Games’. It was a week-long competition and the whole crew participated. We set up four teams, each with their own name: Master, Mudliar, Morarjee og Cassim. Which means “captain” in different languages.

We had five disciplines: Basketball, darts, table tennis, football and carrom, which

3rd Engineer Archit Tewari is the initiator of the newspaper: ”I came up with the idea because I like to be creative, and at the same time I wanted to give my colleagues something that concerned them personally. They have been so happy about it, they’ve shared it on Facebook.”

is an Asian board game. Participants from the four teams participated in different disciplines and we had a point system. The team that had scored the most points by the end of the week won the competition.

We have our own newspaper on board, which is made by our third engineer.

Everyone enjoys reading it when it comes out about once a week”.

How would you describe the atmosphere on board?

“Even though we are far from home and far from those we love, we still feel like we

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are part of a family. A new family, where we share things with each other and create stronger bonds with each other”.

TIPS TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY: Hold meetings/gatherings on board where each crew member shares something about themselves.

Source: Ashutosh Shashi Mishra, Third Officer

– We l l - b e i n g –

Cultivate and strengthen the community on board – get help from SEA HEALTH & WELFARE A professional life at sea is both intense and busy, and it can be difficult to find the time and energy to prioritize social initiatives and activities. Get help from SHW to boost activities on board.

By Anna Bergmark, consultant, SEA HEALTH & WELFARE

Can you imagine a workplace ashore where there are never any social events? No Christmas party, summer parties, joint lunches, team nights, birthday celebrations, etc. Nothing, just work.

It’s difficult, right?

As a seafarer, you are together with your colleagues 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for up to 9 months at a time. You are, so to speak, forced to be together within a relatively confined area.

So, why not make the most of it while you are on board?

Have fun together and get to know each other, just as they have chosen to do on the Welfare Ships of the Year: GIJON KNUTSEN, ESVAGT ALBERT BETZ and MONACO MAERSK.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ON BOARD? • A ppoint one or more welfare officers • Shortly after signing on, plan a number of events that you must have held before disembarkation • Introduce regular joint evenings - such as a weekly movie night, quiz night or similar • Put a recurring item on the agenda at management or safety committee meetings, where you discuss possible initiatives or events that can strengthen the sense of community on board.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX If you are on a 6-6 shift schedule, the energy level may not be at its highest, and it can be difficult to get everyone to join in.

Make a tournament that runs over several days - for example, a darts tournament, where not everyone needs to be present at once. That way you can simply shoot and take note of the result when you find a spare fifteen minutes. Maybe someone can relieve you from your shift for those fifteen minutes.

You can also set up the arrangement in the area that needs to be manned, for example, on the bridge, in the ECR (Engine Control Room) or in the CCR (Cargo Control Room). You can easily draw pigeons on the bridge, have a small quiz in the ECR or serve the birthday cake in the CCR. Under warmer skies, the party/event can be held in the bridge wing.

HOW CAN SHW HELP? We have lots of ideas and descriptions of joint activities - find inspiration on our website www.shw.dk or contact Anna Bergmark at anb@shw.dk.

We can also help you with: • Purchases for the ship’s club, e.g., prizes, board games and training equipment • Books from the The Seafarer´s library about, among other things, card games, quizzes, recipes, handicrafts and musical instruments • Grants for exercise events on land, e.g., running, cycling and swimming in the home country • Competitions including FIT4SEA, the photo competition and the Welfare Ship of the Year.

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– Mental Health –

Learning tools

DIRECTED AGAINST HARASSMENT AND BULLYING SEA HEALTH & WELFARE has developed a range of new learning tools that can be used by anyone who wants to put focus on and prevent harassment and bullying!

PERHAPS YOU ARE: • Member of the safety organization aboard?

• An officer aboard a ship who needs inspiration to start a conversation with the crew about offensive behaviour?

• A shipping company employee who needs to deliver a half or full-day training session on harassment and bullying at an officers’ seminar?

• A teacher or instructor at a maritime school who needs tools to spice up the teaching on the, sometimes, difficult subject?

Our tools are free of charge and can be downloaded at www.shw.dk/be-a-buddy

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– Personal Protective Equipment –

New rules regarding the use of personal protective equipment With Directive (EU) 2019/1832, the Commission amended the previous Directive 89/656/EEC of 1989 on the minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace.

The directive gives the employer a greater responsibility for ensuring that the requirements for safety at work are met.

The changes mean that the employer’s responsibility has been expanded in relation to the definition of what constitutes “protective equipment”, as well as the use and adaptation of protective equipment in relation to the user. Employers must now think more about protective equipment as Personal protective equipment, which must then be adapted to fit the individual user’s

needs, as this provides the best protection for the user.

In relation to the new directive, the form that compares risk categories with the body parts that are to be protected by the personal protective equipment has been changed. The category of “biological risks” has been changed to “biological agents” and a new category of risks called ”other risks” has been added. The individual subcategories for each risk have also been revised. The body is still divided into 14 parts, but where it previously stated that the hearing must be protected, it now says ”ears” - when mentioning sight, it now says ”eyes” - and so on.

The old directive contained a detailed list

of protective equipment. For example, “head protection” was a term for a safety helmet or other headgear that would protect the head. In the future, there will be a description of what the protective equipment is to protect against, and the list is not exhaustive. As a result, virtually everything that protects a body part from danger is now considered “protective equipment”.

For example, as something new, sunscreen is included on the list of protective equipment that the employer must provide - for example, in waters with strong sun, where creams are now considered essential in relation to the work that is carried out. Safety glasses or visors with corrective lenses are also covered by the new rules where this is required. The cost of protective equipment can no longer be split between the user and the employer, now the employer must pay the costs.

The protective equipment must also be adapted to the users. As a result, “one size fits all” solutions are no longer sufficient.

The gender, height, weight, hand and foot size, etc. of the employee must be taken into account to ensure that the protective equipment can be adapted to the user in a proper and safe way. In the future, you cannot exclusively buy work gloves in a size 10 if the user uses a size 7.

Every employee has the right to a healthy, safe and well-adapted work environment. Personal protective equipment must be worn during work when hazards cannot be avoided or limited to a sufficient degree by other precautionary measures such as substitution, technical solutions or organization of the work.

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– Personal Protective Equipment –

What you should know about protective creams as a protective equipment!

Hand eczema is the most common occupational disease in Denmark. Your skin must last a lifetime and that is why we want to focus on how to protect your skin through the use of creams.

PROTECTIVE CREAM CAN BE USED AGAINST: • N on-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar rays or radiation from welding) • Ionizing radiation (e.g., radioactive radiation, X-ray) • Chemicals • Biological agents • Thermal hazards (heat, flames and cold).

HOW DOES THE CREAM PROTECT YOU? The cream penetrates the skin and forms a protective layer, which helps the skin to protect against exposure. However, there are no creams that protect the skin from chemicals and biological agents. That is why it is important that the right cream is used in relation to what you want to be protected against.

If you need protection against skin cancer due to exposure from the sun, use an effective sunscreen that protects the skin from UV-A AND UV-B radiation. If the cream is to protect against the welding arc, the cream must be a type that protects against UV-C radiation. Remember that the lips are also part of the skin.

Often, skin eczema is due to repeated contact with water e.g., frequent hand washing after cleaning or contact with chemicals, oils or biological agents. Here, the cream have no effect during work, but must be used after the task has been carried out in order to provide care for and repair the skin, as otherwise have no effect dries out faster and cracks or develops allergies or eczema.

It is important to use a very moist and allergy-friendly cream in order to ensure that the skin does not develop allergies or skin eczema as a result of using the cream.

So preferably use a cream without perfume and dyes.

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CAN THE ”INVISIBLE GLOVE” BE REPLACED BY THE USE OF PHYSICAL GLOVES? No, the cream, sometimes referred to as ”the invisible glove”, cannot replace the use of a physical glove, as it does not provide the same protection. It is also not a good idea to apply the ”invisible glove” under the proper gloves, as studies show that the chemicals you are trying to protect yourself against actually penetrate the skin faster and no double protection is provided.

CREAMS ARE COSMETICS! It is important to remember that various creams such as sunscreen, lip balm, moisturizer, etc., are categorized as cosmetics, which have their very own and less restrictive rules compared to other products that contain chemicals. However, they can be set up in the chemical database if desired, as a special group has been set up here for cosmetic products.

Protective creams use the same labeling of the product as other cosmetics.

– Photo Competition –

Winner

Photo Competition for Seafarers 2021 – The Danish Competition We have found the winners of the Danish photo competition for seafarers 2021 and, as it has been the case in previous years, seafarers on board the Danish ships have participated with many fascinating photos.

During the year, we have received 254 photos from 38 photographers. This year’s judges were photo teacher Jens Kostrup and photographer Olle Thorup.

On the day of the decision, all the pictures were presented, and as soon as the judges arrived, they went for a round between the pictures in order to get a general view.

After this, they began to systematically choose the images that were to compete for this year’s top rankings.

The judges said about this year’s collection of photos: “Once again it’s been a year with many great motifs and it’s been a pleasure to see all the photographs and choose the winners among them - it has not been easy! We have seen many photographs with exciting compositions, color choices, new perspectives and with a look into the everyday life of a seafarer, and it’s been a

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great joy to experience the inventiveness of the photographers. We have looked at composition and taken into account the graphic challenge, but at the same time we wanted to find images that also tell a story.”

On the next page are are the winning photos with the judges’ justification.

In the competition 1st to 5th place will receive prizes. The 1st prize is a gift card of DKK 5,000 sponsored by the Danish Maritime Foundation, the 2nd prize is a gift card of DKK 1,000, and 3-5. place will receive gift cards of DKK 500.

We thank you very much for all the great

– Photo Competition –

2nd place 4th place

3rd place. The photographer’s own words about the photo: “Happiest Jump is an exclamatory celebration photo for the successful Dry Docking of Emma Maersk at Yuilian Dockyards Shekou, China. The persons in the photo are young Filipino Crew from ages 20-40 who agreed in the harmonized celebratory jump more commonly 5th place

known as Jumpshot among Millennials and Gen-Z’s

photographs, and we hope that you want to participate again this year along with other seafarers - remember that you can already send us your photographs now. Check the rules for more information at www.swh.dk, Welfare

Graphics, light, lines, and depth. The picture is a good example of photography as a graphic expression. The dramaturgy is enhanced by the horizontal and vertical lines. The light on the crane cab brings an increased dimension to the picture. Miami’s skyline forms a nice background.

WINNER VESSEL SERVICE. Photo by Cadet Laura Karas, GEORG STAGE An image of a time before us, descriptive without getting nostalgic.

The picture holds the lines, the proportion between the sea and sky is right. Technically it is well done. The color balance is fine, and the composition is good. A quiet and nice picture.

5TH PLACE 3RD PLACE HAPPIEST JUMP. Photo by Deck Cadet Aldrin Ulep, EMMA MAERSK We have life, people, drama, and great colors. The picture is full of happiness, and it is great to experience the joy – where are they going? What have they done? It is a circus act.

4TH PLACE 2ND PLACE WORKING 24/7. Photo by Deck Cadet Per Janus Böhme, ARNOLD MAERSK

happen – the towing trot is on the way.

Good composition with movement and a working situation. You get a great hunch of the dimensions and size between the two parties – the big ship and the small assistant.

WILL HE CATCH IT?. Photo by Chief Engineer John Holm, SVITZER RAN He has caught it, and we know, what will

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POLAR BEARS – MOTHER WITH CUBS. Photo by Crane Operator Malik Pars Markussen, MARY ARCTICA The picture has a classic composition where the eye is led to the main character, the cub in the foreground, who keeps an eye with the photographer. There is an elegant balance between the elements of the photo, foreground, and background. The colors are awesome and help to promote the image’s narrative.

E

– Photo Competition –

Laura took this year’s winning photo while waiting 21-year-old Laura Karas, a galley trainee from the training ship GEORG STAGE, has won 1st place in the photo competition for seafarerers 2021.

Since 1951, seafarers on board Danish ships have been able to submit photos of their everyday life at sea to the SEA HEALTH & WELFARE PHOTO COMPETITION. In 2021, 38 seafarers participated with a total of 254 images. One of them is 21-year-old Laura Karas, who, while taking the winning photo, was a galley trainee on the training ship GEORG STAGE, which trains young people for a working life at sea.

This year’s winning image, titled ”Vessel Service”, received the following words from the judging panel, which this year consisted of two photographers: An image of a time that was before us, calm, descriptive without being nostalgic. Keeps the lines, appropriate relationship between water and sky. Photographically, it’s good. Nice colour balance and well composed. A nice calm picture.

With the nice words and the honour comes a cash prize of DKK 5,000.

AN UNEXPECTED SWIM Laura Karas took the picture in August

2021, when GEORG STAGE was heading for Svendborg but dropped anchor in the Bay of Køge. ”It was the beginning of the autumn cruise, and the Danish summer was nice and warm. We were allowed to go on vessel duty by Chief Officer Helle Barner Jespersen. There was no teaching, and no cleaning to do.”

The trainees filled the rowboats, and headed for the beach, where the students slipped into their swimsuits and jumped into the waves. ”Even though we are surrounded by the sea all the time, we very rarely get time or permission to jump in. So, it was a lot of happy, wet trainees that returned to GEORG STAGE a few hours later - ready for the evening coffee,” says Laura Karas, and it was here that she took this year’s winning photo. ”I took the photo because I was waiting for my turn to get a seat in one of the rowboats. I already had an ambition to take one photo and one video clip every day”.

The picture is taken from the jetty, and you can see the rowing dinghy heading towards GEORG STAGE, which is further

out. ”I wasn’t thinking much, I just thought the water was incredibly beautiful and calm, and looking at it now, there’s a nice play of colours with the red life jackets against the blue sky and water. Plus, it’s cool that someone stuck the oar in the air to make a greeting. It was taken with my grandfather’s ancient little digital camera, so it’s a miracle the quality was so good!”.

For Laura Karas, the photos she has from the trip are important memories. ”I am most fond of the photos I took of my wonderful new friends, reminding me of what is most important about sailing: making the community work optimally despite our many differences and challenges.”

Laura Karas will use the prize of DKK 5,000 to buy a new phone.

Facts about the photo competition THE 2021 EDITION OF THE PHOTO COMPETITION FOR SEAFARERS marks the competition’s 70th anniversary.

The first photo competition for seafarers was first held in 1951. The competition was divided into two categories. One category for the best photo-technical photographs and one for the best motifs.

A photograph could participate in both categories at the same time.

The motifs should be related to life at sea, the ship, the seafarer’s work life and his hobbies - both at sea as well as in port.

The first prize was photo articles or photo books valued at DKK 50.

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The second prize was photo articles or photo books valued at DKK 25.

Today you can find many magazines about photography in The Seafarers’ Library in Libby, which can be borrowed for free.

– Nordic photo contest –

Nordic photo contest 2021 Winners

The winning photo in the Nordic Photo Competition for Seafarers is taken by Richard Jensen from Sweden. The evocative picture shows a fishing boat and a part of the new maritime world, windmills. Sadly, there were no Danish winners.

760 photos from 136 photographers from seafarers on board Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and Icelandic ships had been submitted to the national photo competitions for seafarers in 2021. The five winners from the national competitions plus ten additional pictures are chosen to participate in the Nordic Photo Competition for Seafarers 2021.

The photo competition is held in the Nordic countries in turns and the 2021 competition was held in Finland, where the jury members were Hanna Weselius, photographer and writer, University Lecturer of photography at Aalto University and Tiina Mertanen, Director of Museum Services, The National Museum of Finland /Finnish Heritage Agency (including the Maritime Museum of Finland).

There are prizes for the 1st to 5th place and the kind sponsors this year are Ulykkesforsikringsforbundet for Dansk Søfart, Denmark, Sjøfartsdirektoratet, Norway, Sjöfartstidningen, Sweden, Loðnuvinnslan hf., Faskrudsfirdi, Iceland and Finnlines, Finland.

WINNER ”Fishermen returning to port”.

Richard Jensen, Safety Officer, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER, Sweden A tranquil and beautiful image where the majestic windmills put human efforts on scale. In the picture we see a traditional fishing boat in a new industrial maritime landscape.

2ND PLACE ”At arm’s length”. Jörgen Språng, cook, mt BIT OKLAND, Sweden A classical black and white composition of work at sea. One can easily smell the motor oil and sweat and hear the cursing.

3RD PLACE ”Direct hit”. Johan Nilheimer, master, mr ROSLAGEN, Sweden A beautifully captured decisive moment.

A classical archipelago vessel shows the living heritage of maritime traffic.

4TH PLACE ”Breaking the Ice”. Lukka Jonasson, AB mv NORSEA FIGHTER, Sweden A fascinating view from the ship’s bow showing the depth of the sky and the surface of the frozen sea.

5TH PLACE ”Seaman vs rigg”. Denny Flögstad, bosun NJORD VIKING, Norge A harmonic view of a moment of rest, where the contrast between human and technology is depicted in a balanced way.

One may ask whether he is browsing the internet or writing poetry.

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– Ask the Consultant –

Chemicals on board DEAR SHW, What exactly does the Danish regulations say about chemicals in the engine room?

Are we allowed to have them in the engine room as long as they are properly marked, PPE and workplace instructions?

For example, dosing of boilers we do it every day and it´s convenient to have the chemicals nearby.

Best Regards John, Chief Engineer DEAR JOHN, Thanks for your e-mail.

Different chemicals require different storage conditions. You can find the storage requirements for each chemical in the Safety Data Sheet for the chemical. For instance, Toxic chemicals must be stored in a locked room or locker. Chemicals containing solvents must be stored in a well-ventilated room and there are also requirements for electrical installations.

You can read more in chapter 13 - How do you store your chemicals? in the mandatory booklet for supervisors: “Chemicals.

Take care of yourself and others - from knowledge to practice”.

Best regards ANNE RIES, Senior Consultant

CORRECTION TO

TIP

en 13’er

DO YOU USE THE IT PLATFORM @SEA-@SHORE TO HANDLE YOUR CHEMICALS ON BOARD? Then you have 4 different options when you need to set up new chemical products 1. You can find the product on board and enter it into another storage location.

2. You can find the product in your shipping company’s positive list and set it up for a storage location on board.

3. You can find the product in the The entire chemicals database and set it up for a storage location on board. If your shipping company has a positive list in the system, you must inform that you are using this. Some shipping companies do not allow you to set up a product on board that is not on their positive list.

In that case, you would have to send it to the shipping company before you set it up. Check your procedure for this and see who you should contact in the shipping company.

4. If the product cannot be found in the The entire chemicals database, you can set it up as a ”self-created product” on board. It will then be assigned with a 100,000 number and you will not be able to approve the Workplace Instructions for Use for this product.

When you “self-create” a product by entering the hazard information about the product, the product will not be approved by SHW. I.e., we do not know if it complies with Chemicals legislation. You will also need to attach the safety data sheet for the product yourself.

We therefore recommend that you only “self-create” products that are being used for the purpose of testing or for one-time-only use, otherwise it must be submitted via the shipping company for set-up on the shipping company’s positive list. Check your shipping company’s procedure to find out whether you are allowed to set up “self-created” products and, if so, what is required for this process.

In the latest issue of the magazine At Sea, an error unfortunately occurred in connection with the versioning of “Tip en 13’er” (Pools coupon). Due to this error, the answer options for question 6 were not the same in Danish and English. At the same time, there was an error in the response code.

Question 6 was: How often are you required to hold security committee meetings?

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The right answer options are: 1: Every month X: Once a year + in case of death 2: At regular intervals + in case of specific accidents on board The correct answer is: 2 We apologize for the error and the confusion it has caused.

– We l l - b e i n g –

You have a great view of Sandvig from the rocky coast on Bornholm.

You are just a few clicks away from a wonderful holiday on the coast of Denmark holiday homes have plenty of beds, so there is room for the whole family.

At SHW.dk/holidayhomes you are only 2 clicks away from a fantastic holiday in one of our three holidayhomes, and there are many weeks available this season.

If you are interested in renting a holiday home this season, please send an email to feriebolig@shw.dk and ask about available weeks etc. You can also find an overview and more information on SHW. dk/holidayhomes.

The holiday homes in Skallerup Klit and Holmsland Klit are close to the North Sea, while in the holiday home in Sandvig on Bornholm you live right on the beach with a unique view.

You can read more about the holiday homes and get inspiration for things to do in the local area and nearest town on the website. All

We wish you and your family a fantastic holiday!

Enjoy the best of Vesterhavet at Skallerup Klit and Holmsland Klit

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Get updated with the magazines in The Seafarers’ Library You need a personal user/ to access to the library, so send the following information to bibliotek@shw.dk to register:

The Seafarers’ Library offers over 1.000 magazines through the app Libby, and you can always borrow the latest issue. As a matter of fact, with smart tags in Libby, you can be notified when a new issue of your favorite magazine is released.

Get updated on news with magazines like Time Magazine, The Economist, Newsweek International, MoneyWeek, or National Geographic.

• • • • •

If you are into sports, get updated here: Boxing News, VeloNews, Golf Monthly, Baseball America, World Soccer, Kick Off, Tennis Magazine, and many more.

Name E-mail Pin code of four letters/numbers Your ship and shipping company Do you allow us to send you information regarding the library? Yes/No.

After receiving an email from us, and having downloaded the app “Libby, by OverDrive”, search for The Seafarers’ Library.

After entering your email address and pin code you are ready to borrow electronic books, audiobooks, and magazines.

And if you like any kind of music, find the news in a variety of titles like: International Piano, Jazzwise, Opera Now, Rolling Stone, or Uncut.

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It is easy to order new books Our books belong on your ship! Remember that the Seafarer’s Library, the SHW stations, seafarer services in Denmark, and the Danish Seamen Churches around the world love to provide you with new books! So please reach out to us, either directly to the library at bibliotek@shw.dk or to the stations, seaman services and churches. We have books in many different genres about a wide range of topics.

ARE YOU TIRED OF NEW BOOKS? TRY READING A CLASSIC.

DO YOU PREFER TO GO WAY BACK, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO READ:

Through The Seafarers’ Library you can get both recent classics and “the real oldies but goodies”. We start with the more recent ones: “ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE” about the rise and fall, birth, and death of the mythical town of Macondo set in south America written by Gabriel García Márquez.

“CHESS” set on a cruise ship in 1941 where the world chess champion is challenged to a match by a mysterious passenger written by Stefan Zweig, “BERLIN GAME” considered as being the best novel by Len Deighton. An agent must go to Berlin to uncover a mole at the MI6, a city he knows, and loves.

You can also choose a classic sci-fi like “THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS” by Ursula K. Le Guin set in the winter-world Gethen where people are androgynous, normally neuter, but can become male or female at the peak of their sexual cycle.

“OLIVER TWIST”, by Charles Dickens about the half-starved orphan and his friends. It was Dickens’ first attempt to rouse the public conscience over the social evils of his day – published in 1937.

“ANIMAL FARM” & “1984” by George Orwell. “Animal Farm” being an allegory of the Soviet revolution, and “1984” set in Oceania in the ultimate totalitarian state, describing a society tyrannized by a ruling party led by Big Brother.

“THE WAR OF THE WORLDS” by H.G. Wells, the first modern tale of alien invasion, published in 1898, one of the most influential of all science-fiction works.

“DRACULA” from 1897 by Bram Stoker about a young solicitor who endures a nightmarish stay at Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, which foreshadows some bizarre events in England.

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We love PODCASTS!

THE HAPPINESS LAB

THE BATTERSEA POLTERGEIST

A podcast made by Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos. She has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale she takes us through the latest scientific research, she shares the wisdom of the ancients, and some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness. You can listen to episodes like: “How to be Angry Better”, “The Eight Pillars of Grieving”, “How to identify Your Negative Emotions”, and “Happiness Lessons of the Ancient: Lao Tzu”.

Is a “hugely entertaining podcast” according to a review in the newspaper The Guardian, where it also says: “In January 1956 strange things started happening in a house in Battersea, south London. Banging on the walls and ceiling so loud that the neighbours complained. Pots and pans that hurled themselves across the room. Slippers that walked by themselves. A teenage girl levitating above her bed.” The podcast tells the story about the poltergeist haunting the house for years. The host, Danny Robins, has gone over old newspaper reports, and notes made by a paranormal investigator, and he has talked to the girl who was haunted!

She’s now 80 years old. Also, the podcast includes a dramatic re-enactment of what happened with actors playing the family.

(The Guardian, Miranda Sawyer, 23 Jan 2021)

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THE TAREN’S MŌTTIV METHOD PODCAST The passion of host, “Triathlon Taren”, is to bring tips on healthy living and triathlon training to amateur athletes around the world. The podcast features professional endurance athletes, researchers in the health and fitness world, age group triathletes, runners, cyclists, swimrunners, and all types of endurance athletes. The episodes are conversations with different experts, and you can listen to episodes like: “5 Steps to Injury Free Running”, “Training more DOES NOT Improve Your Triathlon Performance”, “Intro to Swimrun Races”, and “Strength Training Improves Endurance Performance”.

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