u/v12fanboi

Came across this. Thoughts?

GROOMING & PERSONAL PRESENTATION

From Europeans (Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch)

Minimalist, clean grooming — well-trimmed beard or clean shave, not unkempt stubble that's "neither here nor there"
Clothing fit matters — not just wearing a uniform but wearing it well; ironed, fitted, tucked properly
Personal hygiene discipline even after long watches — deodorant, breath, clean hands are non-negotiable in shared spaces

From Japanese/Koreans

LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS ABOARD

From Filipinos and Europeans

Gym/fitness culture taken seriously — not just when you feel like it
Sleep discipline — proper rest cycles, not binge-watching and then complaining about fatigue
Meal discipline — eating on time, not snacking all day or skipping meals and then being irritable on watch

From Scandinavians

Work-life boundary even onboard — off-watch time is genuinely restorative, not spent anxious about the next duty
Mental health awareness — acknowledging stress, not performing toughness 24/7

WORKMANSHIP & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

From Germans and Japanese

Tool discipline — every tool returned clean, in place, logged if needed
Documentation culture — if it wasn't written down, it didn't happen
Planned maintenance actually done on time, not just ticked and deferred
Pre-job briefings taken seriously — not a checkbox but a genuine safety culture step

From Filipinos (underrated)

Resourcefulness and practical problem-solving under parts shortage
Cheerfulness and team cohesion even under difficult officers — a soft skill that keeps the ship running

What Indian officers often need to unlearn:

ETHICS & INTEGRITY

From Northern Europeans

No gift/favour culture with port officials or surveyors — maintain professional distance
Whistleblowing culture — if something is unsafe, you say it regardless of rank
Honest near-miss reporting instead of burying it

From Japanese

Kaizen mindset — continuous incremental improvement, not big dramatic fixes
Personal accountability — when something goes wrong, the instinct is "what could I have done differently" not "who do I blame"

What to shed:

ETIQUETTE & INTERPERSONAL STANDARDS

From Europeans and Australians

Dining etiquette in the officer saloon — phones away, conversation, not everyone eating alone in their cabin
Acknowledging crew by name — especially ratings; knowing the names of your fitters and ABs is basic respect
"Good morning" culture — greeting colleagues in passageways, not walking past people you work with

From Japanese/Koreans

Specific gaps in Indian officers (generalising, but patterns are real):

Condescension toward Filipino or other Asian crew — needs to stop completely
Treating shore staff (port agents, surveyors, chandlers) as subordinates rather than professionals
Loud phone calls in shared spaces, especially the bridge or engine control room
Over-familiarity with some and cold hierarchy with others — inconsistent treatment based on nationality or rank

COMMUNICATION

From British/Australians

Structured, concise handovers — SMEAC or equivalent, not rambling verbal dumps
Written communication that is clear and professional, not full of abbreviations and typos
Feedback culture — able to give and receive criticism without it becoming personal

From Scandinavians

Flat communication — junior officer can raise a concern to the Master without fear; this saves ships