Making W@VES - Women in Maritime at V.

The IMO highlight opportunities for women in maritime during May and across V.Ships there has been several stories that highlight the opportunities for women in maritime to flourish at V.

IMEC Storytelling Award

A V.Ships Engine Cadet Mansi Bhandary, originally from Mulki in the Indian state of Karnataka recently won the IMEC Seafarer Storytelling competition as she shared what inspired her to pursue a career at sea.

The competition run by the International Maritime Employers Council (IMEC) called upon cadets to share their stories of life at sea, and Mansi was selected as one of the three winners who had their story shared at their annual conference. The award was an all-expenses paid trip to attend the IMEC conference in the UK to share their story amongst industry leaders.

IMEC’s call to action was designed to amplify seafarer voices and perspectives for the benefit of IMEC Members and the wider maritime industry. Following the IMO day of Women in Maritime earlier in the month Mansi’s story reflected the drive and determination to join and succeed in the merchant navy as a female seafarer. She joined Sharad Saldanha, Global Director of Operational Support after the conference to visit the London offices and share some thoughts on the award.

“So, this video I made, because I knew that it was not about my voice. You know, I am here, I am working and most of them see me as a successful woman already. But then in that video, I wanted to talk only about the people, about the person who has supported me, who was behind all this, and I am really happy that I won that competition and lot of people got to know that my mother also exists behind my success.”
“There was a second engineer who used to read manuals with me, not all the engine cadets get this. So we used to sit, we used to discuss about the problems, we used to talk what alarms are there, how can we rectify the problems. So I think he helped me a lot and not only him, there were officers, there were crew, especially the crew was from Philippines.”

“They all treated me like so good and I was very lucky to have officers and crew like them and the food was amazing on board and the deck officers, my captain, these all people helped me and not just them, the people in office. I would say Wilma ma'am, whenever I call, she picks up the call, she helps me. Everybody, everybody in this journey after I become a cadet, I would say every single person only helped me, helped me to grow.”

Mansi is currently preparing for her next assignment onboard a Frontline Tanker managed by ITM in Dubai, where she will gain further experience and complete her initial sea time.

V.Cadets & W@VES


Over April the spotlight has shone brightly for V. Ships work in growing the seafarer talent pool and supporting females joining the shipping industry. Women currently make up only 2% of the global seafaring community, with 6% of the V.Cadets being female and an ambition of growing this to 20% by 2030.

The W@VES (Women at V. Education and Support) initiative was also recognised this month as part of the annual ESG Shipping awards in Greece for their work in supporting more women into the industry.

Working in partnership with our clients the W@VES initiative has implemented various strategic initiatives to create a more female friendly working environment onboard, which include access to gender specific facilities, workwear, safety equipment, and health and wellness programmes. These initiatives, along with an onboard culture training programme, will be used to establish best practices for a safer and more inclusive environment at sea to benefit all seafarers.

As part of the initiative, we shared some of the cadets’ experiences with International Seaways and gave advice to future female seafarers in the short videos below.

Deck Cadet Erica Joyce Rafael

Engine Cadet Christine Joy Alinsub

Mansi's Story

Seafarer Satisfaction Surveys - Thanks for the Feedback

We would like to thank all our seafarers who have completed our new pre-joining and debriefing surveys. Your feedback is already helping us better understand what works well and where we can improve our operations for your benefit.

What’s Been Done So Far

Based on the feedback received since the start of the surveys late last year, we’ve identified 3 key areas where we plan to focus on initially:

  • Travel – ensuring travel details are provided as early as possible and last-minute changes are handled effectively by support teams
  • Communication – improving access to and responsiveness from the shore teams. This includes a refresh of both the Crew Connect App and V.Link within ShipSure
  • Re-imbursements - significantly improving the processing time through additional automation and ensuring any queries are addressed within 48 hrs

What Happens Next

The feedback collected is being reviewed regularly by the Crewing teams with action plans agreed for implementation both centrally and locally.  We will provide quarterly feedback on these improvements in this dedicated section of the Seafarers Bulletin.  Look out for more updates – and please keep sharing your feedback so that we know if these improvements are working!

“We appreciate the time our seafarers have spent sharing their honest feedback so far. These direct inputs from our seafarers are essential to our continuous improvement and help to make sure any changes will bring a genuine benefit to all crew.” Allan Falkenberg, Chief Operating Officer Marine HR

Please ensure you take the opportunity on joining the vessel and after assignment to share your feedback.

USCG Certificate of Excellence: 1st Engineer Boris Chofu

The Azamara Pursuit is the first Azamara vessel to return to Alaska since entering management in 2021.  On arrival in Kodiak, AK the vessel underwent her United States Coast Guard (USCG) Certificate of Compliance and Port State Control inspection with a team of 8 USCG Officers boarding the vessel.

Simon Holford, HSSEQ Manager for V.Ships Leisure noted. “I am particularly proud that 1st Engineer Boris Chofu was presented with a USCG Certificate of Excellence for his "dedication and commitment to upholding the highest standard of training and performance of safety duties...".  Given the environmental and safety demands of operating a cruise ship in one of the most sensitive and highly legislated places on earth, this reinforces how vital our crew are in operating, maintaining and presenting the vessel in the best possible way and demonstrating their knowledge, experience and professionalism at all times.”

A few days later the vessel underwent a United States Public Health inspection whilst in Juneau, in Alaska, and scored an incredible 99/100.  This is a very considerable achievement and is dependent on all departments (deck, technical and hotel) working as a team and being able to evidence a wide range of operations at the very highest level.

A big 'thankyou' to Boris, Captain Jonas, Chief Engineer Deni, and all the officers and crew onboard for working so hard to maintain the highest standards across all aspects of the vessel.  Also, to our Fleet Manager Dimitris Kontes and the whole Fleet Cell for their unwavering support.

V. Commercial Wins: May Update

It has been a strong month for Ship Management in May at V., with wins spanning tankers, bulk carriers, offshore, leisure, and more, the commercial teams have been busy securing both exciting new names and valued returning clients. From Hamburg to Chennai, Monaco to China, it's been a truly global effort.

Ship Management wins

  • 12x Tanker | Seapeak – A major new business win for our LNG Ship Management team, taking on 12 DTT gas vessels and marking a significant addition to the fleet.
  • 1x Tanker | Westport Tankers – A retention win for our Hamburg office, with the SMA signed, a strong vote of confidence in our team.
  • 1x Tanker | Infinity Ships – Repeat business for our ITM Dubai office, reflecting the trust and relationship built with this long-standing client as we continue managing their MR tanker fleet.
  • 1x Bulk Carrier | Prime Star Transportation – A repeat client win for our China office, brought in on the strength of our competitive offering and solution fit.
  • 1x Bulk Carrier | Pelayaran Andalas Bahtera Baruna – Continued confidence from this Chennai customer, with our Chennai team retaining management of the Como Glory post conversion into a cement carrier, on the back of a strong ongoing relationship.
  • 1x Offshore | STAC Marine – Repeat business for V.Ships Offshore Asia, with the SMA signed for the AHT Posh Persistence, a testament to the trust our offshore team has built with this client.
  • 1x Leisure | Accor – A welcome return for our Monaco Leisure team, with a signed contract for the OE Olympian reflecting continued client confidence in our specialist expertise.

Crew Management wins

  • 4x Tanker | Apex Shipping and Energy – A great new client win for the Piraeus team, with four vessels, an LR1 and three MRs, secured. Apex chose V.Ships as the best solution fit, and with agreements under signatory, this is a promising start to what could be a long partnership.
  • 3x Bulk Carrier | Pioneer Marine – A continued vote of confidence from Pioneer Marine, with three bulk carriers confirmed as part of their existing budget agreement.

Congratulations to all those involved in securing these contracts, importantly also our crews who provide their expertise and a commitment to delivering the best for our clients.

Meet the Safety Catch Winner for April 2026!

🏆 Celebrating our Safety Catch Winner for April 2026!

We are proud to recognize Deck Cadet, Illia Zherdetskyi of vessel Cosco Hellas (S. Europe Cluster) as the April 2026 V. Group Safety Catch Award winner!

Illia’s vigilance and decisive action show how taking ownership and acting early can prevent serious harm. In recognition he will receive a certificate of appreciation, a personal commendation letter and a $200 GMT Travel Voucher.

Safety Observation – What Happened

An obstruction was identified at the engine room, Where an angle bar restricted safe and immediate access.

In an emergency, even seconds matter – this could have delayed escape or response, with potentially serious consequences in a time-critical situation.

Work was immediately stopped, the obstruction removed, and safe access fully restored.

Why This Matters – Key Learning Points

  • Escape routes must remain clear at all times – zero tolerance for obstruction.
  • Small hazards can have major consequences in critical situations.
  • Stop Work Authority saves lives – acting immediately prevents escalation.
  • Proactive reporting strengthens our safety culture and protects everyone.

Stop Work Authority in Action

Every colleague, ashore or at sea, has the right and responsibility to stop work if something is unsafe. Illia demonstrated this by recognising the hazard, acting immediately, ensuring a safer environment for all.

The Value of Safety Catch

The Safety Catch programme is more than recognition— it enables us to share real-life hazards and solutions, learn from each other, prevent incidents, and strengthen a proactive safety culture.

Every report contributes to safer operations across our fleet.

Looking Ahead …

All monthly winners will be considered for the Annual Safety Catch Award, recognising outstanding safety contributions across the organisation.

Let’s continue to look, think, and act—because it’s these everyday actions that make the difference.

Lesson learnt

Ship to Shore Roles - ETO Karandady Rao

Recently an Electrical Technical Officer, Karandady Rao, who worked with V.Ships since 2019 approached us with a request for support in finding shore-based employment. Due to a serious life situation,  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he was no longer able to continue working at sea, although he remained highly motivated and fit and capable of working ashore.

Through collaborative efforts, V.Ships has been able to support him and help to find a shore-based opportunity that would suit his knowledge and experience at sea. Karandady is now an Electrical Superintendent based in Chennai and continues to share his experiences at sea in his new role.

We would like to highlight V. Group’s continued career support for seafarers, even when they are declared “not fit for duty at sea,” and assisting them explore new opportunities ashore where possible.

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 below, and we’ll reach out when the right opportunity comes along.

Register Interest

V.Care Wellbeing Webinar –Managing Worry and Anxiety

In the maritime industry, uncertainty, responsibility, and demanding environments can sometimes lead to ongoing worry and anxious thinking. Whether at sea or ashore, concerns about operations, family, workload, or future challenges can begin to affect wellbeing and daily performance. May’s V.Care Wellbeing Webinar will help participants better understand how worry and anxiety develop and introduce practical techniques to manage these thoughts in a healthier and more productive way.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Recognise how worry and anxiety can impact wellbeing and performance
  • Understand the difference between realistic concerns and unhelpful “what if?” thinking
  • Learn practical ways to respond to anxious thoughts more effectively
  • Explore techniques to manage uncertainty, build confidence, and maintain emotional wellbeing in challenging situations

The recording of the session is linked below.

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 to hear from other V. seafarers and families about their journey with V.

V.Care Webinar

Oceanic Healthy Corner: Stay Connected Onboard

Studies show that simply spending time with crew onboard is one of the best ways to stay happy and safe.

  1. It beats stress and loneliness.

No one understands the stress of a voyage better than your fellow crew. Sitting down together for a coffee or tea, playing onboard games , or simply talking with one another , gives your brain a break from work. These shared moments create a "home away from home" and help you feel less lonely.

  1. It makes a safer place.

When you know the people you work with, you trust them more. When crew members feel comfortable communicating openly, they will be less afraid to speak up on deck if they notice a safety hazard. Good communication leads to better teamwork during emergencies.

  1. It helps new joiners fit in.

Stepping onto a new ship can be intimidating. A friendly crew that welcomes new faces makes the transition smoother. When new crew members feel welcomed, their stress levels go down, and they can focus better on their jobs.

  1. Crew members look out for each other.

When people socialise regularly, it is easy to notice when someone is acting differently. If someone suddenly becomes very quiet or starts skipping meals, fellow crew members are more likely to notice early and offer support before things get worse.

Simple Ways to Bring the Crew Together

With small habits, you can make a huge difference and get your fellow crew feel closer onboard:

  • Encourage conversation during meals instead of looking at phones.
  • Set up short gatherings with music or organize card games and small tournaments using what is available onboard.
  • Take time to celebrate birthdays, or something important to each other.

 

Taking a few minutes every day to share a laugh or a conversation with your fellow crew is not just a way to pass the time; it is one of the best ways to support a safe, happy, and successful voyage.