25 years of experience, P&I Club certificates, yellow fever vaccination, special offers for seafarers from other countries: transfer service, accommodation search, discounts on certificates in partner training centers, employment assistance through Georgian crewing companies.

Psychologists, HR professionals, and nonverbal communication researchers have long studied how facial expressions in photos shape the perception of a person as competent, trustworthy, and right for the job.

The key finding is clear: people form first impressions of a candidate in a fraction of a second, and facial expression has a major impact on how professional they appear.

When people speak about the psychological challenges of working at sea, they usually think of stress, fatigue, sleep disturbances and loneliness. The intimate side of a long voyage is discussed far less often. Yet sexuality is not merely a matter of physiology. It is influenced by a person’s emotional state, their relationship with a partner, prolonged separation and the eventual return home.

Every five years the command staff is required to change certificates and update the package of documents for further work. Ratings need to improve their qualifications to move up the career ladder. But what to do if you now live in Europe and there is no opportunity to undergo training in a Ukrainian TC?