Every seafarer knows the routine before joining a new company.
You call an old batchmate. Message someone you sailed with years ago. Ask in a WhatsApp group: How is the company? Salary on time? Relief? Promotion prospects? Internet onboard? How long are the contracts?
The answers can be Incredibly useful. The problem is that they are scattered across phone calls, WhatsApp groups and conversations that eventually disappear.
That simple problem led me to create Sailor’s Reality.
The idea is straightforward. Give seafarers a place to anonymously share their actual experiences with shipping companies and turn those individual experiences into structured information that other sailors can use.
Instead of simply calling a company good or bad, Sailor’s Reality focuses on the questions we actually ask each other. What are sailors earning at different ranks? How long are they actually sailing? Is relief generally on time? What are the promotion prospects? Is overtime paid? Is internet available onboard? How is the shore office? Most importantly, would they join the company again?
One sailor’s experience should never define an entire organisation. The objective is not to attack or rank shipping companies. It is to bring together enough independent experiences that a clearer picture gradually emerges.
Sailor’s Reality is still young, and its usefulness depends entirely on participation. If you are sailing now or have sailed with a company recently, take a few minutes to share your experience. Every contribution makes the picture clearer for the next seafarer making that decision.
Seafarers have always helped one another. This is another way we can.
Know before you sign. Share what you know.
Marex Media