Conrad de Jesus is the heftiest person in his village. Standing 190 cm tall and weighing more than 90 kg, it’s no surprise that he makes a living by using his physicality. Seafaring was an obvious career choice, he told The Ken.

“You need a strong body and a strong mind. At sea, you work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. When it’s stormy, you vomit and get back to work. When you miss your family and you’re dying to see anything besides seawater, you get back to work,” he added.

De Jesus is an officer on watch, the third-highest ranking position in a ship’s crew. That puts him in charge of the ship’s safety and navigation. It took him nearly 11 years of sailing and studying in seafaring schools to reach this post.

Many men in the Philippines have chosen the same path. Seafaring is a common way for Filipinos to earn higher wages. Some see it as a chance to see the world.

The country is the world’s largest supplier of workers who build their livelihoods on all manner of ships. Over 700,000 Philippine Star Budget increase for Maritime Industry Authority’s law enforcement sought Read more 700,000 Philippine Star Budget increase for Maritime Industry Authority’s law enforcement sought of the world’s 1.9 million International Chamber of Shipping Russian and Ukrainian seafarers make up 14.5% of global shipping workforce, according to ICS Read more 1.9 million International Chamber of Shipping Russian and Ukrainian seafarers make up 14.5% of global shipping workforce, according to ICS seafarers are Filipino. The country also receives US$7 billion Manila Bulletin Pinoy seafarers’ P376-B annual remittances to take hit if… Read more US$7 billion Manila Bulletin Pinoy seafarers’ P376-B annual remittances to take hit if… in annual remittances— accounting The World Bank GDP (current US$) - Philippines Read more accounting The World Bank GDP (current US$) - Philippines for nearly 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP)—from the merchant-seafaring sector, which includes commercial, cargo, and logistics vessels.

While the Philippines is crucial to the global shipping sector, it’s on a collision course. Over the next few weeks, the European Commission—the executive of the European Union (EU)—may ban ABS-CBN News Philippines: 400,000 seafarers at risk of sailing ban Read more ban ABS-CBN News Philippines: 400,000 seafarers at risk of sailing ban Filipino seafarers from working on ships that pass through European waters and ports over shortcomings in the country’s training programme for seafarers.