Today we got the opportunity to have three site visits! We started off the day by going to Bernard Schulte Shipmanagement Training Center (BSM). As soon as we entered the building I noticed that it was built to mimic a ship with small circular windows and rooms, like the engine room, that were made just as they would be on an actual ship. They believe that their job is to ensure that the ship is armed with qualified, certified, and medically fit seafarers. That is why they offer intense training for any kind of vessel that their company may work on. To do this, they create many simulations for their students including fire safety and what to do if they have to abandon the vessel. Something I found interesting was how vertically integrated the company was. They have their own software company, travel agency, port services, and shipping service.

Then, we got to visit Columbia Ship Management. While the BSM site visit focused on the training of crew members, the CSM visit focused on the management and expansion of the company. They manage 450 vessels and are beginning to charter small private jets. Since they are a third party company, their goal is to focus on providing the customer with whatever service they want. They are constantly evolving and are receptive to new ideas. Something I found interesting was their new mental health support for their seafarers. Their presentation pointed out that being at sea for long periods of time can be lonely and they want to make sure that their employees are well taken care of.

After a delicious lunch, we reached our final stop, which was Medochemie. They are a pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes products throughout the world. They have 15 manufacturing facilities and over 700 products. Their goal is to offer the most affordable medicine that they can. During the presentation, they pointed out how important safety stock levels are in their company for multiple reasons. Sometimes there can be an error with a batch or the demand can be more than they expected. I enjoyed getting to see their warehouse and admire how organized everything was. We also got to wear very fashionable robes and shoe covers!

I am thankful for the opportunity to visit with these different companies!