Welcome June 2025

Hello Seafarers,

As a former seafarer, I am honoured and humbled to contribute to this edition of the Seafarer’s Bulletin dedicated to celebrating the Day of the Seafarer. We truly acknowledge your sacrifice, dedication, professionalism and resilience which is indispensable to the functioning of global trade and the economy.

Based out of our Manila office, one of the epicentres of the maritime crewing world, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to interact with our seafarers visiting the office or attending our events.

At a recent V. Officers conference, we emphasized the four key leadership behaviours we aim to instil in our leaders both ashore and at sea: Decisiveness, Accountability, Customer Focus, and Simplicity. With participants sharing real-life examples, it was truly inspiring to witness our seafarers embodying these behaviours in their daily lives both onboard and ashore.

We also value the feedback you provide during these conferences and through other channels. Understandably, the majority of the feedback focuses on crew safety and welfare—areas that have always been, and will continue to be, a primary priority for V. For instance, when we heard some of our Seafarers did not feel valued for their loyalty, we introduced the innovative Voyage Loyalty program.  The program is designed to reward seafarers for their loyalty and offer increasingly valuable benefits the longer they serve with V. The program is an industry first, and has proven to be extremely popular, with 100 new members joining every week.

As the Global Director of Operations Support and Industrial Relations, one of my principal responsibilities is to work closely with seafarer unions and maritime organizations, including the ITF and IMEC, to ensure fair and equitable conditions and remuneration for our seafarers through the implementation of applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and Conditions of Service. A key non-negotiable within this mandate is the assurance that all seafarers receive accurate and timely payment without exception, enabling them to provide for their families and dependents.

We remain committed to supporting you at all times. We trust that you are fully utilising the Crew Support Centre, which is available 24/7 to assist with any concerns you may encounter.

Thank you sincerely for your hard work and unwavering dedication, especially during periods of geopolitical .

Wishing your fair winds, following seas and a safe return home to your loved ones.

Sharad Saldanha

Global Director, Operations Support and Industrial Relations

Who Is Sharad Saldanha & What Is His Role As The Global Director, Operations Support and Industrial Relations?

What is your role with V. Group and what is it you really want to achieve within it?

After hanging up my sea boots almost 20 years ago, I came ashore as a Crew Manager in V.Ships Singapore and have since held different positions in the V. Crewing organization. I am presently serving as Global Director for Crewing Operations Support and Industrial Relations. As the title suggests, I am responsible for various crewing Centres of Excellence (COE) that provide Global Operational support to the main Crewing functions of Crew management , Recruitment and Mobilisation.

This includes

• Travel Desk – Managing timely and efficient Crew changes
• Crew Support Centre – 24/7 support for our seafarers via calls or Chat
• Flag State COE– Application and monitoring of Flag State Licenses
• P&L Support COE – Crewing Budgets and Wage scales
• Medical Crew Claims COE  – Monitoring of Crew P&I Medical Claims
• V.Group Global Singapore – Crew Employment Entity in Singapore
• Industrial Relations COE – Managing CBAs and Union Related matters

The Centre of Excellence model is a relatively unique concept in the maritime industry—one that V. has thoughtfully developed and refined over the years. My goal is to build on this foundation by continuously enhancing our services, leveraging emerging technologies to provide even greater support to our seafarers and crewing operations teams.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

My very first job was a Deck Cadet onboard an Oil/Chemical Tanker. As any seafarer can relate to, your first vessel is a steep learning curve teaches you valuable lessons you carry with you for the rest of your career.

Being away from the comfort of home for the first time taught me to be independent and disciplined, while working with different nationalities onboard improved my understanding of cultural awareness, adaptability, and the importance of respectful teamwork in a diverse environment.

Above all, it drilled into me the ‘Safety First’ behaviour which I carry to this day.

What's the one thing that inspired you to join this company?

V. Ships has always been a global leader in Ship Management with a diverse workforce and opportunities worldwide. Having sailed on V. managed vessels and experienced its work culture and values first hand, choosing to launch my career ashore with V. was an obvious decision.

What's a skill you're currently trying to learn?

I am trying to work on improving my public speaking and presentation skills to communicate more effectively and present ideas with greater confidence and clarity, especially in cross-cultural settings.

Finally what advice would give a seafarer looking to develop for the future and where can they find out more?

My advice to any seafarer looking to develop for the future is to stay curious, and proactive. Invest time in learning new technologies, improving soft skills like leadership and communication, and understanding the industry beyond the vessel. Stay connected through professional networks like LinkedIn, attend Crew Conferences, and make use of the extensive range of training material available online, to stay informed and keep growing.

For seafarers planning a transition ashore, start preparing early by developing transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, and digital literacy. Try to gain understanding of how shore-side operations work—whether in crewing, safety, technical, or commercial departments – Start by exploring the Shore sections of the VMS or ask your visiting Superintendent.

Start early. Stay curious.

Day of the Seafarer 2025 #MyHarassmentFreeShip

On the 25 June, the global maritime community came together to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer. This year, the IMO launched the campaign 'My Harassment-Free Ship', an initiative to promote a culture of respect and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at sea.

This aligns with V.'s aspiration to ensure we create a Positive Workplace Culture for all our colleagues and seafarers.

As part of this year's Day of The Seafarer campaign we join the pledge to create a harassment free workplace for our seafarers, with voices from around the globe reinforcing our commitment to creating a safe and positive workplace culture at V.

Step up. Speak out. Support your crew.

Oceanic and Voyage Loyalty Hosts a Culinary Event for Seafarers

Oceanic and Voyage Loyalty proudly hosted a celebration for Day of the Seafarer at the training centre in Manila to honour the heart of the maritime industry - our seafarers.

We were delighted to welcome seafarers for special lunch, creating a sense of community and gratitude. As part of the celebration, our in-house Nutritionist also shared practical advice on healthier lifestyle habits on board, promoting wellbeing at sea.

Happy International Day of Seafarers!

Expansion of V.’s Crewing operations in Georgia

Marcin Wolasiewicz, Global Director for Crewing Operations joined Regional Crewing Operations Director, Vladimir Feoktistov, to open the new office space in Tbilisi.  

V. has two offices in Georgia, in Tbilisi and in Batumi, both responsible for Recruitment, Mobilisation, Planning and Training in line with other Crew Operations duties. Between both crewing offices they manage up to 900 seafarers at sea at any one time (Positions on Board POB) and mobilise up to 200 seafarers per month.

Since 2014 the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) recognised the qualifications and maritime education of Georgian seafarer, leading to the growth and recognition of the seafarer’s profession and the promotion of their employment in EU countries.

By February 2024 Georgia ratified the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, becoming the 105th country to become a signatory. In addition, Georgia is now recognised as a ‘White List’ country by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee.

Marcin Wolasiewicz, Global Director for Crewing Operations added. “Over the years, our experience working with Georgian crews have been positive and we see a good opportunity to develop our pool in a structured way, as one of the streams supporting Global Crew Sourcing Strategy.”

Celebrating the May 2025 V.Group Safety Catch of the Month Winner!

We are pleased to recognise our Deck Cadet Ganesh Vana of KMARIN REASON (M. East Cluster) as the recipient of the V.Group Safety Catch of the Month for May 2025 for his swift and decisive action that prevented a potentially serious environmental incident. 

What Happened? 

During cargo hose disconnection operations, Ganesh noticed that the securing valve for the shore hose had been left open – a critical oversight that could have led to an oil spill. He immediately intervened, stopped the operation, alerted the shore team, and ensured the valve was safely secured.  

Ganesh’s vigilance and actions serve as a powerful example of proactive safety leadership, reflecting our shared belief: ‘See it. Own it.’ 

Leadership at Every Level 

What makes this recognition even more inspiring is that it comes from a Deck Cadet – a reminder that leadership in safety is not defined by rank, but by action. 

Ganesh led by example, showing that every individual, regardless of position, has the power—and the responsibility—to make a difference when it comes to safety. 

Let his example inspire us all to act with the same level of decisiveness, accountability, and commitment. 

Recognition & Awards  

As a token of appreciation for his contribution, Ganesh will receive:  

• A Certificate of Appreciation 

• A $200 GMT Travel Voucher 

• A Personal Commendation Letter from our CEO, Robert Desai, and COO, Ian Trebinski 

Worthy to note that monthly Safety Catch winners are now shared with the respective vessel owners—a step that not only celebrates individual excellence but also strengthens our partnerships and reinforces the shared safety ledership. 

⚠️ Unsecured valves during hose disconnection pose a major environmental and operational risk. This incident underscores the importance of double-checking critical steps and stopping the job when something isn’t right.  

📚 Visit the Learning Library for related Lessons Learnt videos and other resources to support continuous safety learning across the fleet.  

At V.Group, every team member has the right and the duty to raise safety observations. Whether you are highlighting an unsafe condition or stopping a job before it escalates, your action contributes to safer operations for all. 

All eligible, non-anonymous entries are considered for the Safety Catch Award each month, with key criteria including: 

• Active use of the V.(Crew) Connect App 

• Demonstrated application of the Stop the Job policy 

Let’s continue promoting a safe and responsible work environment together. Encourage your colleagues to engage with the Safety Catch programme, because safety is not just a policy, it's a shared mindset. 

Congratulations once again to Deck Cadet Ganesh Vana! 

Stay alert. Stay responsible. Stay safe. 

V.VP Score in May Continues to Improve

Our Group V.VP score has soared to an incredible 2.55 by the end of May, marking our highest achievement since January when we reset our metrics. Despite a slight dip earlier in the year, our steady and determined efforts have led us to this record-breaking score. Fantastic work, everyone! Let's keep this momentum going!

Here are our V.VP Hall of Fame achievements for May:

• Top Performing Cluster: Kudos to our colleagues in China for maintaining their leading position with an outstanding score of 3.12.
• Outstanding Office: Congratulations to ITM Piraeus with a score of 3.28 and Shanghai Dev. at 3.27. Every office has shown improvement, so well done to all teams!
• Leading Fleets: Well done to the Shanghai Fleet 1 for achieving a score of 3.29.
• Exceptional Vessels: Seaways Shenandoah shines with a score of 3.87, followed closely by RT. Hon Paul E Martin, Eagle Valence, and Seaways Guayaquil, each with a score of 3.86.
• Segment Type: Tankers led the way with a score of 2.82.

For this month's Seafarer Bulletin, we would like to keep the light on Timeliness of Unwanted Events Metric. We want to emphasise the critical importance of reporting all incidents, including injuries and near misses, promptly. Timely reporting ensures that we can address issues quickly and improve safety and operational efficiency for everyone on board. Through our V.VP program, we monitor this metric, which measures the average reporting lag in days. This is calculated by the time difference between when an event is recorded in ShipSure and the actual date the event occurred.  

Although our scores remain low, we have observed a consistent downward trend month over month this year, thanks to everyone's efforts. This positive trend indicates that we are moving in the right direction toward improved safety and performance.

Your timely reporting of all incidents is crucial in achieving better scores and enhancing our overall safety standards. I am optimistic that with your support, we'll keep seeing improvements, and I look forward to sharing our progress in the coming months.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to safety.

Training Surveys for VMS / ShipSure

As part of our own continuous improvement, our biannual VMS / ShipSure workshop training survey opens on the 7^th of July.

The survey aims to assess how the training on VMS and ShipSure impacts the behaviour and working environment of our deck officers.

The last survey received 1456 responses mainly from Masters, Chief Officers, and Chief Officers.  

The results showed that 81% noted a positive impact of training on their team members, while 92% feel better equipped and better in understanding ShipSure and VMS relationship after attending workshop.

Of respondents 86% are likely to recommend attending training with 62% expressing refresher training would be helpful or extremely helpful.

In total 854 comments received which helps the learning team develop and improve the training.

Look out for the VMS / ShipSure Training survey coming out soon as your response helps shape future training.

Bring Your Sea Experience Ashore - Your Next Step Starts Here!

Are you currently sailing with V. and considering a move ashore?

We’re inviting our own talented seafarers to apply for future shore-based career opportunities across our global offices.

Your knowledge of life at sea is invaluable and we believe it belongs at the heart of our shore-based operations.

Whether you're passionate about vessel management, crew support, safety compliance, or training, your next role might be waiting just ashore.

The Ship to Shore Programme is designed to support and encourage V. seafarers who are ready to transition into shore-based careers.

Your sea experience is your strength — let’s bring it ashore!

If you’re passionate about continuing your maritime journey from a different vantage point, one where your expertise helps manage fleets, support operations, or train future seafarers, we invite you to apply.

We’re continuously looking to match sea-going talent with onshore roles.

Submit your profile, and we’ll reach out when the right opportunity comes along.

Captain Artem Panchenko becomes Head of Seafarer Development

We’re pleased to announce that Capt Artem Panchenko has been appointed as Head of Seafarer Development. In this new role, Artem will focus on supporting the career progression of our seafarers, helping them understand the opportunities available at V., navigate the promotion process, and reach their full potential.

Artem brings valuable insight to the role, having started his own career with V. as a cadet, rising through the ranks to Master before moving into shore-based positions. His experience, combined with a genuine passion for learning and development, makes him a strong advocate for the many career paths available within V.

With dedicated focus in this important area, we’re reinforcing our commitment to helping seafarers build rewarding, long-term careers with us.

V.Care Wellbeing Webinar - Compassion Stress

In this month’s wellbeing webinar ComPsych psychologist, Ruchika Sethi, delves into the topic of coping with compassion stress.

Compassion stress is the term that describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others. This training will raise awareness of the need to maintain appropriate self-care despite the demands of work and/or the pressures of home life while caring for our colleagues or the ones we love most.

Workshop Objectives

At the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Describe how helping others in need can lead to potential self-neglect
• Understand the importance of self-care in working with an emotionally stressed population
• Understand how to perform a self-care assessment
• Describe to best strategies for implementing self-care strategies

V.CARE: Wellbeing Webinars

You can catch up with the rest of EAP orientation and previous webinars below:

https://vimeo.com/1049342320?share=copy

Are you aware of all the wellbeing resources available to you?

Both the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and inspiration for your wellbeing can be found on the V.Care website, or available through the V.Crew Connect App.

You can also join the V.Care Facebook page or V.Care Instagram to hear from other V. seafarers and families about their journey with V.

Voyage Loyalty Update

ShipMoney - Your Digital Payment Solution

Did You Know? You Don’t Need to Wait for Cash Onboard

With ShipMoney, your wages are paid directly to your own prepaid Visa card — giving you immediate access to your funds as soon as they’re released.

You can:

• Withdraw cash at ATMs
• Pay in stores or online
• Send money home via Wire Transfer, Western Union, or MoneyGram
• Provide a Companion Card to a trusted family member

👉 Remember: Your card works worldwide and stays active even while you’re off contract!

Healthy Corner - Kidney Disease Prevention at Sea

Maintaining kidney health requires proactive daily habits, particularly in environments where routine, nutrition, and activity levels can be disrupted. While managing salt intake is crucial, it is only one part of a broader strategy.

Importance of Hydration and Fluid Balance

Hydration is fundamental to kidney health. The kidneys rely on adequate fluid intake to effectively filter waste from the blood and remove it through urine. When fluid levels are low, waste products and toxins can build up in the body, increasing the risk of kidney damage.

• Drink water regularly throughout the day, not just when thirsty
• Use a reusable water bottle onboard
• Aim for 8-10 glasses of water daily, and more under warm conditions
• Monitor urine colour: pale yellow typically indicates good hydration, dark urine can signal dehydration

Dietary Tips Beyond Salt

In addition to reducing sodium, other dietary choices can support kidney health particularly by managing the intake of protein, potassium, and phosphorus.

• Protein Management

While protein is essential for health, consuming too much can place added pressure on the kidneys. Excess protein (generally above 1.6-2.0g/kg/day) increases the production of waste products that must be filtered by the kidneys, potentially accelerating kidney decline in those at risk.

Suggestion: Choose moderate portions of high-quality protein sources such as fish, poultry, meat, and eggs.

More information on servings can be found in the Oceanic Health & Wellbeing Guide.

• Potassium Awareness

In early stages of kidney disease, kidneys can still regulate potassium levels well. As the disease progresses and kidney function gets worse, the body cannot eliminate potassium as effectively, leading to high potassium levels (hyperkalemia). High levels of potassium in the blood can be dangerous, affecting heart rhythm and muscle function.

Suggestions:

• Balance your intake of potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes, oranges) according to your kidney health status
• Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables, as available onboard, rather than focusing heavily on high-potassium options
• For those with diagnosed CKD, potassium intake should be monitored and adjusted under medical or dietary guidance

Phosphorus Control

Too much phosphorus can weaken bones and strain the kidneys, particularly in people with reduced kidney function.

Suggestions:

• Limit intake of processed foods, which often contain phosphate additives
• Choose natural sources of phosphorus, such as whole grains and legumes, but in moderation
• Avoid dark-coloured sodas and packaged meats high in phosphate preservatives

Physical Activity and Weight Management

Regular physical activity is essential for preventing kidney disease, as it supports several key aspects of overall health.

Engaging in consistent exercise helps regulate body weight, manage blood pressure, and control blood sugar levels, all major risk factors for kidney damage. Physical activity also strengthens cardiovascular health, which in turn reduces strain on the kidneys.

Additionally, regular movement improves circulation and lowers stress levels, both of which contribute to healthier kidney function. Incorporating moderate physical activity into daily routine has been associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing CKD.

• Incorporate light to moderate activity whenever possible (walking, stretching, bodyweight exercises)
• Use available space on board for simple routines such as stair climbing or resistance band workouts, if bands are available onboard
• Avoid long periods of inactivity. Break up sedentary time with movement whenever possible