September
25, 2018 Tuesday
Enroute
to Papua New Guinea
Up
to now I'm still puzzled on why TCC is avoided by seafarers here in OSM and
reliever crew seems to be hard to find on Deck crews, I'm not sure or pin point
on what's the main cause why seafarers here find TCC to be repulsive.
(Probably
the reason , I suspect is beyond this ship. As what other crew said that this
ship has the most lenient work practices compared to other tanker ships in TCC
Fleet., its possible that other ships have a more brutal policy,)
In
other matters
Given
on that situation that there's a possibility that other ships have stringent
measures on work, and its possible that my working equipment I use on everyday
will be affected (because they might Ban in the future) ., I'm currently
thinking of a solution on how to make my equipment less visible to prying
"uwak" eyes. (I have no problems using my equipment with filipino's
around but having "uwaks" is another story).
The
proposal solution I was thinking was having more like a huge pouch on my belt
to hid my tools around. I saw such a pouch thankfully in lazada online store. I
think it's big enough to conceal my tools and yet have the enough capacity to
shoulder the weight and accommodate all of my tools around. Anyway this tactic
is still under development process and I will still have to do a lot of
thinking on how this might work in the actual work place.
In
other news .,
The
ship (Vanguard) finally berthed in Perth and I finally got and internet sim
card from the seaman's centere. The first thing I did (aside from putting a top
up load) is check out my social media sites and update them. Facebook, twitter,
instagram, etc even check out my online banking.
For
the social media, there is really nothing much I did but just post some
pictures and reply a few messages. But when I checked out my online banking , I
was surprised and definitely disappointed that no money was wired transferred
to my U.S. Dollar account., Puzzled on
why there is no money wired transffered to my bank account even though its
already way past salary date, I immediately messaged my sister (via facebook)
to contact the supervisor in charge and have things clarified. The following
day , I received a reply from my sister and found out that the payroll system
here is different compared to my two previous employer who use the same bank.
BDO.
Apparently
although OSM uses BDO as a bank in its payroll, their payroll systems is somewhat similar to Career Ship Management.
They simply keep tabs on the amount of salary I earned and not forwarding it to
my bank account. To simply explain it,. All I have right now is simply numbers
on a piece of paper indicating that was my salary and I won't get my overall
salary until I finish my contract first.
Their
payroll system sucks compared to my two previous employers.,…
I
was under the impression that they have the same pay methods , since they use
Bdo and they require their seafarers to open up a U.S. Dollar account. Turns
out it was disappointing that they will not wire transfer my salary anytime
soon. Practically it’s a waste and pointless on why they require their sailors
to have a U.S. dollar account if they can't wire transfer the salary in the
first place. Totally disappointed on how the way they handle the payroll.,
As
for the regular allotment (and "special allottement" called M.P.O. or
Master payment order) , They do pay on time , but if you ask what is the
definition of "on time means" to them , is that it’s "the end of
the month" , not early as like 3rd week of the month compared to ALL OF MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS.
Honestly
the only reason why I joined up on OSM , was because of the reason of having
their payroll system associated with the BDO bank, which has an online mobile
banking system and instantaneous wire transfer and without this, I don’t see
any reason why I should remain longer than necessary in this company.
The
effects of OSM not having an effective payroll system for me is that , it's
impossible for me to have an instantaneous wire transfer of money to my sisters
bank account which is good for emergencies, all other money transfers here are
sadly have to go thru the slow process. Another nasty effect is that purchasing
items online. Apparently i use online shopping in prep for the equipment's I
will use onboard the next ship. Purchasing of online digital games on my gaming
console is affected also and other online banking transaction as well. This is
definitely a huge set back.
Despite
my annoyance and anger over OSM's pathetic payroll management, I have to
restrain my anger and just keep it to myself. I just keep repeating the phrase
for me to "be professional" if anything goes wrong on my employer.
"Professional" in the sense that do only two contracts, never say a
word against them but take action, finish the contract and leave (which mean
that I should hop again on another company)
In
other news …..
Since
the ship berthed in Perth, we were allowed to go on shore leave which meant I
can go on the nearby town to buy some needed supplies and equipment. Thankfully
the shore leave here in this pathetic OSM , is really a shore leave were I get
to wonder off in town, (unlike the sham shore leave, in UPL - Shell were they
just only let people step on soil but never let them to go anywhere they want).
On the shore leave I finally get to wander off in Fremantle Perth area, and did
buy a few stuffs - on the second day, but on the first day it was just
basically shore leave and have a drink on the local bar.
After
long last I finally got to go on a proper shore leave , even though the chief
mate was hesitant and said that I should first ask permission on going to shore
leave before dressing up.
 |
| full of stuff that i bought on the local store, good thing i have an extra tactical backpack with me |
 |
| Nintendo eshop cards i bought at the local game stop store in Perth , Austria. I bought this because im going to buy digital games for my nintendo switch (incidentaly the region i registered it is australia) |
