How to Make the Most of Shore Leave

Without a doubt there are perks of working in jobs at sea and living life on a container ship that most people working in shore-based positions could only dream of. One of those perks that’s at the top of the list is the opportunity to visit new countries while on shore leave.

But how should you make the most of that precious, and often all too short, time on land?

How to make the most of shore leave when you work in a job at sea

Working in seafarer jobs means you’re probably well accustomed to speaking and working with people whose mother tongue is different to yours. So we say, make the most of your time on shore and go out there and have a good time. You’ve earned it!

Ask fellow crew members for advice

Life on a container ship usually means that you’re crewing alongside someone that has a lot more experience than you, both in terms of career and in shore leave experience. Ask around or speak to likely looking co-workers and see if they have any top travel tips on where to go (and where to avoid!) when you arrive in port.

Get information on the ground

It might be that you don’t have internet connectivity on board your vessel, in which case you might need to decide what to do and where to go once you’re on land. Try asking the ship’s local agents, or even striking up a conversation with a friendly local.

After all, they’ll be the ones with the insider knowledge and should hopefully be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to seeing the sights and finding somewhere to sample the local food and drink.

Don’t leave anything to chance

You know that as a seafarer schedules, deadlines, sticking to rotas is crucial and it can be tempting to let that all slide when you hit shore. Keep within your schedule in accordance to your crewing duties while in port.

You’re going to need to keep track of the time/date and not leave your fellow crew members hanging - either by showing up too hungover to work, or not showing up at all.

Read more: 8 Things You Should Never Do in Jobs at Sea

Plan your shore leave and make sure you’re back in time, ready to start work and get back to life on a container ship with a clear head!

Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork

Running into trouble with the authorities is no one’s idea of fun or a good use of limited shore leave time, so if you do fall foul of those in charge in your destination port, at least make the process as pain free as possible.

That means carrying identification such as your seamen book and/or shore leave pass, or at least copies of them.

Keeping contact names and numbers on a piece of paper as well as in your phone is also a good idea. Especially if you’re in a country where the language is completely different to your own.

Read more: Jobs at Sea & Dealing with Lost Luggage & Documents

Write down info such as  your vessel’s INMARSAT number, a contact for the ships’ agent, and the terminal gate-keeper’s number for extra peace of mind.

Downloading a language translation app could also come in useful in the event of a lost in translation situation where connectivity is possible or before you embark initially.

A short break from your seafarer job

Most of all, have fun, make the most of your time on shore, and take advantage of the unique opportunity that jobs at sea have given you: the chance to explore other countries and experience other cultures. After all, you don’t get that from a 9 to 5 desk job do you?!

Find jobs at sea with Martide

Apply for jobs at sea with Martide now by registering your account. It's quick, easy and free - and once done means that all of our vacancies are open to you to apply for!

And if you’re a seaman actively  looking for seafarer jobs in shipping, take a look at the positions Martide has to offer - you might just find your next great move!

Don't forget you can also download our mobile app for free too - that means you can apply for jobs wherever in the world you are. Get it now from Google Play for Android or the App Store for Apple.