Problems at sea are unavoidable. How they are handled makes the difference.

In this episode of SEAFARERS WAY – The Contract at Sea, Captain Rommel discusses how the POEA/DMW Standard Terms and Conditions provide a clear process for grievances, discipline, and investigations onboard—and why following that process protects both the seafarer and the ship.

This episode covers:

• Why the contract includes a grievance machinery

• Where and how a seafarer should raise concerns onboard

• The importance of written complaints and documentation

• The role of the Master in handling unresolved issues

• How investigations and disciplinary actions are supposed to be conducted

• Why fairness at sea depends on procedure, not emotion

This is not about encouraging conflict or confrontation.
It is about understanding the proper way to speak up, protect yourself, and maintain professionalism in a confined shipboard environment.

Because at sea, silence can make problems grow—
but process keeps them contained.