The one-day event was opened by VP Fleet Management Knut Erik Fredriksen, who attended his first provincial crew and allottees conference. Fredriksen welcomed seafarers and family members by reiterating Odfjell's commitment to safety: We always do things safely. Otherwise, we do not do anything at all. He then proceeded to share recent developments within the company, including the first quarter financial results and upcoming projects from Ship Management.
Inspiration filled the hall when four Odfjell seafarers, who have committed 25 years of their lives to seafaring, were awarded for their loyalty and passionate service: Fitter Patricio S. Besañes, Chief Cook Ernesto L. Betos, Second Engineer Siegfred Ocat, and Motorman Marlon P. Salomon. Fredriksen, VP - Head of Crewing Agnes Enesio, and Manager Ship Audit Captain Marlo Salayo awarded the certificates and tokens to the four loyal Odfjell'ers.
To ensure that seafarers and family members are informed about the latest from Odfjell in the Philippines (OiP), Enesio shared some Crewing-related updates. Magsaysay Houlder Insurance Brokers, Inc.'s (MHIBI) Gemma Cardona presented the health insurance coverage of crewmembers and their dependents.
Safety Workshop
As done in Bacolod, the seafarers were gathered in a separate room for their Safety Workshop, which followed this year’s Global Safety Day program and focused on hazard identification and proper personal protective equipment usage and work at heights.
The new fall arrest equipment was also introduced to the participants.
It had been a fruitful workshop: the participants were all engaged, and did not hesitate to speak their minds on the topics that were discussed. They also generously shared their best safety practices with each other.
Fredriksen summed up the workshop, highlighting the excellent participation from the crewmembers, with heartfelt words:
"I feel that this is passion. What you have shown today during the workshop makes me proud."
The family members showed the same commitment when they were divided into groups during their workshop. While the wives and mothers discussed strategies on how to prepare the family for financial and disaster-related emergencies, the children entered the answers in the online form. The brainstorming was followed by a discussion so everyone in the room got to hear to inputs from the other groups.
The activity also gave the family members a chance to meet and bond with fellow members of the Odfjell community.
