One thing anyone will notice when visiting Limassol is the constant movement of ships in the active ports from giant container vessels to small tour boats. The surrounding Mediterranean is vital to the culture and community of the city. Today, we were able to further explore that culture by visiting two different ship management companies, Bernhardt Shulte and Columbia Group. Taken to the Marina area of Limassol, we were first taken to the training center for Shulte. There were in-depth simulators and even cabins for the trainees to sleep in while they underwent their training. All in the effort to prepare them for any possibility to decrease the risk of an accident out at sea. The staff emphasized how shipping is a 24/7 industry, and no two trips are the same for the crew, making it task that can never be underestimated. We were then taken not to far to the offices of Columbia Group, where we got a look at the on-land side of the ship management industry. In one room of there office building that came straight from the 80’s there was a giant screen showing the real time movement of the ships under the management of Columbia. It displayed which the type of the ship, waters that should be strictly avoided, and even the weather. Particularly with waters the boat should avoid for safety concerns. It was interesting to learn how for example if a ship were to sail into Russian waters it would have to call land to change its insurance due to the heightenend risk. Which as both companies mentioned is being measured and tested with every wave, but hey that’s just business.