'Bow Fitness' sets sail for a healthier 2024

04.03.2024
MPS strengthened its commitment to a healthier crew by partnering with crew welfare service provider Well At Sea in launching the online wellness platform Bow Fitness in December. While the level of participation across the ten pilot vessels has varied due to operational demands, the initiative has been well received by the crew.

Bow Fitness is a wellness program designed to help seafarers reach a higher level of wellness through physical, mental, and social activities they can take on by themselves or with a team. It is powered by an online platform that seafarers can access, from their individual digital workbooks and exercise and meditation videos, to learning courses and group challenges. By participating in the prescribed activities, seafarers earn trim coins that they can use to purchase rewards for themselves or for their families.

Each vessel has a designated program ambassador tasked with validating all the activities and encouraging participation from everyone on board.

The platform is currently accessible to the ten pilot vessels: Bow Architect, Bow Chain, Bow Fagus, Bow Fortune, Bow Gemini, Bow Olympus, Bow Optima, Bow Orion, Bow Sea, and Bow Spring.

Bow Fitness orientation on board Bow Optima

Steered by key phases

In addition to the gamification and rewards features of the program, Bow Fitness also has three phases:

  • Self-responsibility, which encourages participants to know the state of their health through daily monitoring of their health data
  • Spending time with others, which promotes team activities such as exercises, learning courses, and challenges
  • Promoting healthy behaviors, which challenges participants to share with others what they have learned from the program

Smooth-sailing start

One month after its official launch, Bow Fitness has gained momentum among the pilot vessels.

“We were able to begin with the Bow Fitness orientation when we held our General Safety Meeting, and some of the crew showed great interest upon hearing about this new fitness platform. A healthy body and a fresh start are always in everyone’s new year resolutions. With Bow Fitness, we may be able to achieve that ‘new year, new me’ vibe that we have always dreamed of.”

- Romeo Baquillos III, Second Officer, Bow Architect

Bow Architect proved this interest to be genuine by adding a unique twist to one of the activities: a happy feast followed their body scan activity.

Other vessels seemed to have been inspired by the challenges that they had their own initiatives in addition to the prescribed activities: Bow Optima held a table tennis tournament, while Bow Orion organized zumba sessions.

For some of the crew, the activities seemed uplifting that they still looked fresh even after completing a challenge.

Bow Gemini crew after completing a 'Bow Fitness' challenge

The pilot run of Bow Fitness will continue for five more months, after which the management will decide if the program will be rolled out to the entire fleet.

For now, kudos to the pilot vessels for a job well done, and best wishes on the succeeding challenges!