Life as a seafarer is unique. You spend months navigating the oceans, and when you finally hit dry land, your time is precious. Every moment with family and friends counts. So, when it comes to choosing a car that sits ...
Shippys.org Latest Articles
Satellite WhatsApp on Pixel 10: A Lifeline for Seafarers
wanderer
A Leap Beyond SOS: Voice & Video Calls Over Satellite Google’s Pixel 10 series has emerged as the first smartphone capable of making WhatsApp voice and video calls via satellite connection, enabling true off-grid communication—no mobile network or Wi-Fi needed. ...
Supreme Court to Decide Income Tax Exemption on Merchant Navy Officer’s Salary Credited in Indian Bank Account
wanderer
India’s Supreme Court is poised to hear a landmark petition that could reshape how income earned abroad—but credited into Indian bank accounts—is taxed for Merchant Navy officers. At issue is whether such foreign-earned salary can be exempted from Indian income ...
DG Shipping Circular 31 of 2025: Impact, Legality, and Solutions
Sea Gypsies
Overview On 18 July 2025, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), India, issued Circular 31/2025—a policy that has ignited intense debate within the Indian seafaring community. The circular addresses the challenge of fraudulent and unapproved maritime certifications among Indian seafarers ...
Women in Shipping – Progress, Challenges, and the Reality Check
Vikramjit Singh
The shipping industry, one of the oldest and most male-dominated sectors, is undergoing a slow but visible transformation. As part of the push toward gender equality, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, many maritime organizations are now ...
Indian Seafarers: Respected Today, But Will We Stay in Demand Tomorrow?
wanderer
Indian seafarers have long been a force to reckon with in the global maritime industry. We’re among the highest-paid Asian seafarers, commanding respect on the bridge, in the engine room, and in management roles ashore. Shipowners continue to hire Indians ...
Is the 2nd Officer the Next Victim of AI in the Merchant Navy?
wanderer
Once, every ship had a Radio Officer. Then came GMDSS, satellite communications, and automation—and the role faded into history. Today, the 2nd Officer, long seen as the ship’s navigator and planner, might be heading toward a similar fate, thanks to ...
Why Are All Ports Not Convenient for Seafarers?
Vikramjit Singh
The shipping industry is the silent engine of globalization—carrying over 90% of world trade across oceans. It’s often said that if shipping were to stop, half the world would go hungry. Yet, amid this undeniable importance, one vital element remains ...
Medical Help Onboard – A Matter of Empathy, Not Ego
wanderer
This article is based on a real-life experience shared anonymously by a general steward with Shippys.org, a platform that gives voice to seafarers’ untold stories. The steward recalled an incident where, upon reporting a genuine health concern to the 2nd ...
Life of a Seafarer: A Brief Overview
Vikramjit Singh
Author is a Chief Officer who has spent over a decade navigating the world’s oceans, leading deck operations and ensuring the safety of crew, cargo, and vessel alike. Through his writing, he hopes to bridge the gap between land and ...