Dear Harvey,

Your post has drawn quite a few comments but no reply to your question!

My suggestion would be the Sony ICF-SW7600GR which is an excellent
portable shortwave receiver. It is quite sensitive and selective and
offers a synchronous selectable sideband circuit which makes SW
listening much more pleasurable. I would also recommend your friend
consider the Sony AN-LP1 active antenna which can be placed near the
porthole in his/her cabin, though it may not be 100% necessary.

While I do not have any personal experience using this radio on board a
ship, I have used it at a number of oceanside communities (on piers,
boardwalks, etc.) with just its built-in whip. It works very well in
such locations - reception always appears to be better near the ocean
and I presume that ON the ocean it would be better yet.

The radio is relatively small and can be powered by 4 AA batteries,
either alkalines or rechargeables. Obviously on a ship, your friend
would want to carry a supply of alkaline AA batteries. The radio plays
for quite a long time with a set. (The AN-LP1 antenna takes 2 AA
batteries.)

I hope this is of some use to you.

Best,

Joe