Time and again this question has been asked by many a newcomer in this profession. What all do I need to carry with me?
Generally one can assume that he/she will be flying to the destination where they will be joining the ship. So when packing the bags one must be familiar with the luggage limitations per piece of baggage, the total baggage allowance as well as the number of pieces of baggage as they vary from airline to airline.
What one carries onboard can be broadly classified into 4 categories:
- Documents and certificates
- Clothing and footwear
- Cosmetics and medicines
- Electronics
Documents and certificates
Here, the first one would obviously be one’s passport. Its validity will have to be for the duration of the contract, at the least, and a little more to cover any unforeseen delays. The Continuous Discharge Certificate, or the CDC, as it is commonly called and the Certificate of Competency, or the COC, follow closely. There are, of course, the STCW certificates which include Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, Medical First Aid, Advanced Fire Fighting, Personal Survival Techniques, Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, and Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties / Ship Security Officer. The Yellow fever certificate is mandatory, though the renewal of the yellow fever certificate which used to be done every 10 years is not required anymore as the validity of the immunization is now lifelong. Additionally, one would require to carry along any additional endorsements depending upon the type of ship and flag of the vessel.
Clothing and Footwear
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Almost every company provides its seafarers with work overalls and safety shoes prior to joining the ship. Additionally one would need to carry 6-8 sets of innerwear and socks. These are the items that are quickly and most easily used up without even realising, due to the work profile onboard. Companies have also begun providing uniforms to be worn onboard and so formal pants are usually covered there. Given the extreme variations in temperatures faced, thermal wear and a couple of light t-shirts are advisable carry-ons. A couple of nightwear, a pair of jeans and some t-shirts/shirts would complete the ensemble. For footwear, a pair of formal shoes for the uniform and a pair of sneakers would do just fine.
Cosmetics and Medicines
One may ask what cosmetics? Well, nothing fancy, but you will need to pick some toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, facewash, shampoo etc. that you will require for 6 or 9 months, depending upon the duration of the contract. You are provided with both bathing soap and clothes washing soap powder when onboard and so it is entirely up to you whether you pick items like body wash. Due to extreme temperatures, dryness of the skin is a common occurrence and hence body lotion is highly recommended. Lip balm/vaseline is a commonly asked for item onboard.
If you are regular in shaving facial hair, then shaving cream, as well as shaving razors, will be a must carry. Remember that many items are quite expensive abroad. Though many people just carry a trimmer onboard to keep trimming their facial hair. It does solve a lot of problems. If you intend carrying medicines, ensure you have a prescription for the same. A lot of over-the-counter medicines that we get in India are restricted abroad. Unless you have a prescription for them, they can be confiscated and you can be heavily fined for possession if they are noticed in an inspection by shore personnel.
Electronics
This segment is generally the most popular one and most queried about. Life at sea has changed a lot with the concept of people gathering in the lounge after dinner for a movie gradually fading away nowadays with everyone retiring to their cabins and watching/listening to entertainment on their laptops. People tend to carry loads of movies and TV series on portable hard disks. Cameras/DSLRs used to be a commonly carried item, though with cellphone cameras coming with high resolution these days, people tend to prefer the latter. Also, with the advent of internet on ships, people posting often on Instagram and Youtube tend to curate a lot of content onboard. So point-and-shoot cameras, Go Pros and even DSLRs with the various lenses required are carried.
A universal plug point is a precious commodity these days. Most people come onboard and then start asking the Electrical Officer for a round pin to flat pin adaptor as they cannot connect any of their devices to the sockets in the cabin. Carrying an extension strip with surge protector would allow you to connect all your devices with the need of only one adaptor for the extension strip.
Rather than carrying books, these days e-books are the preferred choice as it helps in reducing the space required in the baggage.
Buying electronics abroad is no longer a need as most of the items are available back home. But if you do decide to pick anything abroad to bring back home, remember to check this:
1. Does the warranty cover your country of residence, or do you have to pay extra for it?
2. Is there import duty on the item when taking it back home? e.g. flat screen television
3. Are the items banned in India? Until December 2018, drones used to be confiscated by the customs officials upon entry of the passenger in India. Now, one has to obtain permission for obtaining drones while nano drones (weighing 250 gms or less) can be operated without a license.
Are there other items you would like to carry onboard? Do mention them in the comments below.
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