Leading international and catering management provider MCTC is encouraging the industry to join them in recognising the crucial role of the cook onboard vessels with the very first Cooks Day celebration on Monday .

MCTC launched the initiative in March and has been urging the industry to join them in recognising and appreciating the role of the cook, who are ‘the backbone of every vessel’, says CEO of MCTC Christian Ioannou.
Shipping companies and their crews can get involved in Cooks Day in a number of ways, including:

•    Encouraging vessels in the fleet to support the initiative and to raise awareness of the critical role that onboard cooks play;
•    Sharing pictures with MCTC of crew members enjoying their favourite meals, which will be posted on the catering management company’s social media channels;
•    Emailing MCTC with stories of how the cook has helped or supported crew members and colleagues;
•    Recording a personal video message for the cook, thanking them for their work and contribution. The footage can also be posted on MCTC’s social media channels and its website.

For the day itself, crew members can bake a cake for their cooks, hold a baking competition, or organise a group photo with seafarers and the vessel’s cooks holding a ‘Cooks Day’ banner, or by simply thanking their cooks after their meals. People can also share the Cooks Day logo on social media channels. Download the logo by clicking here.

Mr Ioannou said: “Cooks really are the backbone to every vessel and ensuring crew members remain productive, healthy, full of energy and highly motivated. But they are often overlooked as they are shut away in the kitchen. We want to make sure on Monday they feel valued and appreciated.

“Cooks have a very challenging role of catering for a culturally diverse workforce and helping seafarers come together and take comfort in the delicious meals being offered to them, which can often remind them of home and pick them up at the end of a long day away from their loved ones.”