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#Post#: 87487--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: linesrg Date: April 23, 2014, 2:50 pm
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Moley,
I am one of those people who have been at sea 40years. I don't
know as it is any better or any worse as I don't believe it is
as simple as that.
What I would suggest is to go for a cadetship with a large
organisation that still has a predominantly British officer
make-up. This isn't a racist thing it is based on people I have
sailed with who, in one instance, did a trip as cadet where at
times he was the only person on board for whom English was a
first language. I don't believe this is the best recipe for a
training regime.
The industry is undeniably becoming much more multi-national
which isn't necessarily a bad thing, currently my ship has 31
people on board, 4 of whom are British and one Irish.
Training with the likes of BP or Shell would still give a good
grounding now as it did 40 years ago.
If you are going to make a real go of the marine industry then I
would strongly suggest sticking with it and a company who will
support you through to gaining your C/E ticket. Once this has
been achieved you can look towards various opportunities both at
sea and ashore.
Resist the temptation to go for short term gain with a company
that offers you promotion but no clear indication that they will
support you gaining senior certification.
As regards specialisation then look towards jobs with such as
the various offshore vessel companies or the drilling boys once
qualified.
Good luck with your interview and career in the merchant navy.
Regards
Richard
#Post#: 87833--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: moley Date: May 3, 2014, 2:51 pm
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Hi all,
Although I've only replied now. I read all your posts earlier
this week. I was very busy last week prepering for my interview,
and getting all those jobs done before I go.
I had my interview last friday (2/5/14) and have been told I
have been succesful with sponcership. Wohoo! Just got to choose
a company that i'd prefer to be paired up to now.
Many thanks for all your advice, I used alot of it with my
answers to questions asked on the day. They commented on how
detailed I had researched on what I wanted to do with reasons
etc. So thanks again :)
I'll let you guys know what company I have been empoyed by
incase any of you landy lovers are by some chance apart of it
too. Then we'll be able to bore the rest of the ship mates with
landy talk hehe ;-)
Nice one guys
Tom.
#Post#: 87836--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: chally2 Date: May 3, 2014, 3:32 pm
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Consider what Richard has said. It's very good advice. It can
get very lonely at sea and if you're the only one on board in
your culture it doesn't make for an enjoyable trip.
#Post#: 87864--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: moley Date: May 4, 2014, 8:06 pm
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I said to the guy that interviewed me that when training I would
very much prefer to train with a english first language crew.
Which he understood and agreed with the reasons.
Unfortuantly BP and Shell isn't availible to me with this
training organisaiton.
I'm thinking of applying for Boston Putford in the North Sea
(Support, Standby and multi roll vessels for the rigs mainly).
Although owned by a American company it contains mainly British
officers.
If unsuccessful with this company I'm thinking of applying for
OOCL Ltd (container company) and then the Maritime Education
Fund.
We shall see what happens.
#Post#: 87869--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: SteamPunk Date: May 5, 2014, 7:05 am
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That'll be SSTG then?
I bet they didn't tell you their different companies pay you
VERY differently.
Boston Putford are a good choice and they are part of a larger
American conglomerate (CKor or something like that) with good
opportunities. I would also recommend SeaLion shipping if they
are currently recruiting, although they rather overdosed on
cadets a few years ago and got some outright tossers so they
might have given up on that for a while. Both good companies
who, as a bonus, pay well. I understand Gardline offers
interesting work partly due to their habit of buying aged ships,
although this is second hand info. Evergreen have a really bad
reputation for not giving a toss about cadets, don't go with
them.
Don't get hung up on the actual crew nationality. But working
for a British/American company does help to ensure a certain
minimum standard of spoken English which helps a lot, given our
national propensity to be terrible with languages.
MEF - Been there and done that - switched to BP when I
discovered I was eligible for fast tracking. Leave MEF for the
last resort on a better than nothing basis. The pay is at the
low end of the scale and your training may suffer from a lack of
consistency. Not saying don't go with them, but there are better
options.
If going with a company operating dredgers, small supply
vessels, local ferries or similar ensure that arrangements will
be made to get you on ships with big enough main propulsion
units to get your unlimited CoC or that will get troublesome
later. (It is standard to make such arrangements. For example
Wightlink cadets spend most of their time on container ships.)
By the way.
CONGRATULATIONS and Well Done. :thumbs: :giddy:
#Post#: 87958--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: gp3trainee Date: May 8, 2014, 12:57 am
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Excellent news. Well done, Moley.
G
#Post#: 88360--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: moley Date: May 19, 2014, 9:48 am
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Hi all,
@SteanPunk,
He did say the paypackets were different once trained. But
didn't go into any details, but I didn't ask either to be
honest.
I asked and I am able to get an unlimited CoC by the end.
Good news! I got accepted to Boston Putford and I'm off on their
observer trip for 8th-9th June for 14days. So not long now :D
(The biggest downside is the series won't be finnished by then
:-( )
Is there anything you guys can suggest that I take with me when
on-board? I have been told that work kit is supplied for me
(boots and presuming other safety gear)
This is what i've thought of, feel free to critize
I was thinking four sets of clothes.
2 set of work clothes
2 sets of off duty clothes.
4-5 sets of underwear
I guess there are washing facuilities on-board
rain coat, couple other warm tops.
Laptop for watching movies, gaming etc .... Minecraft is a must
(Current long project is a V8 if anyone is intrested)
headphones
mags i like reading.
few others things
few home comforts SH><. hehe
Some good old mum's cakes, Hidden very well ;-)
Can't think of much more but i'm sure you guys will say u don't
need that. OR Do take this.
I constantly take with a first aid kit in my vehicle and when I
go away. (only a small one that also include pain killers,
little sowing kit which you would be suprised how often I've
used. Not medically though thank god.) Not something i've ever
taken but I reckon it's a good idea to take Joy rides if I end
up getting ill.
Can't wait for the 9th June
Tom.
#Post#: 88382--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: SteamPunk Date: May 19, 2014, 4:24 pm
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Congratulations Tom, I think you will be happy with Boston
Putford and as it appears you already have some practical skills
I think they will be happy with you. [The pay-packets are also
different in training, which sstg like to keep quiet, Putford
pay well :thumbs:]
If you meet a British/Russian engineer called Serge (pronounced
French style) or a shiny new deckhead by the name of Andy, say
hullo from me :smilewide:
Now brace yourself, this is a long one :blahblah
I work on a very different kind of ship and I don't see ports
that often, supply vessels in the North Sea rarely seem to go
more than 3 days without 12 hours alongside. Sea trips are also
much shorter (although very tiring due to almost constant heavy
seas). I imagine this makes for some differences in what people
pack.
My luggage for a three-four month trip is about what you would
expect to take on a two week European holiday, so I reckon one
weeks worth should do for you. Take plenty of natural fibre
T-shirts to wear under your overalls and a bare minimum of good
stuff. There will be a laundry on-board and all drying will be
in a tumble dryer so you don't need large reserves of skiddies
and that sort of thing as they go from dirty to clean and dry in
a few hours. Picture yourself rocking up on the dockside. You
want to be the guy who looks calm, competent and can pick up his
gear and go straight up the gangway. Not the lemon in gash
flipflops with two huge bags full of Jack Wills polo shirts and
outrageously expensive and fragile sunglasses :wanker:. Taking
a laptop and/or tablet is normal, but it's only two weeks so
don't go nuts :rolleye0012: Ships generally have a library of
DVD's and Games (mostly terrible) and everybody will have a
portable hard drive or three loaded down with films and highly
unusual porn. ::)
It is normal practice to supply PPE on board but if you need
glasses a pair of prescription safety specs is a good idea,
rules on contact lenses vary but if you wear them you must also
take your glasses. If you have particularly large (as in >12)
feet, taking your own boots might be an idea. Don't worry about
medical stuff, ships are legally required to have a well stocked
medical bay and self prescribing medication is often a company
offence. Shoving a power socket adapter in your bag is a good
idea as the socket type will depend on the whims/nationality of
commissioning company and builder.
Take your passport. There is a fair chance you will visit ports
on both sides of the North Sea.
Bet you a pound to a penny they will be watching you on this
trip, it won't just be to see if you like it. Turn to on time,
work with enthusiasm and show interest. Ask questions but not
just for the sake of it and if the responses get increasingly
monosyllabic take the hint and shut up for a while. If you get
through the whole fortnight without someone shouting at you
it'll be a miracle. You may not have done anything wrong, its
just a stress thing. I know it's not professional but it
happens, don't let it bother you. By being interested and making
yourself available you will get to see interesting stuff rather
than spending two weeks chipping and painting. If something big
is going on don't just knock off at the end of your watch,
cadets are expected to hang around and learn something. If you
are on watch but have nothing to do DONT read a magazine, play
solitaire or just disappear (even if others are). Reading
manuals is a good fill in and if somebody is heading out to do
something ask if you can go with them.
There is always a chance that your first trip to sea will suck.
Crews on your ships will be tiny so individuals make a huge
difference, if it does suck don't sweat it, it'll be better next
time. Imagine if you had a real job and had to see the same
people every day? :executioner:
You may :bleurgh. It happens, just make sure it goes in a
toilet or over the side. (the lee side).
Don't be afraid to visit the bridge, it's quite interesting up
there, but be aware of what they are doing. Rocking up and
prodding things during personnel transfer will not go down well.
Learn to love tracing pipework.
If anybody tells you to arrive at the ship dressed smartly/in
uniform its a windup. But your T-Shirt should contain the bare
minimum of holes.
Don't drink. It'll be a dry ship and if that gets noted on a
formal level that will be game over before it has even begun.
#Post#: 88969--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: moley Date: June 4, 2014, 6:50 am
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Thanks for all that information. Some very useful tips there
that I hadn't thought of. :-)
If I see Serge or Andy, whats your real name? I think I may get
a funny look if I say steampunk says hi. Maybe not... :)
Now only 4days until i'm off. Last week i was a bit nervous. Now
I just can't wait ot get cracking. :-)
I'll let you know how it goes.
Tom.
#Post#: 88983--------------------------------------------------
Re: (Fairly) Modern Steam and Ship Phots.
By: chally2 Date: June 4, 2014, 2:51 pm
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What I forgot on my first trip but never again was an alarm
clock.
Never be late to turn to.
Simple things like small scissor/nail clippers for your toe
nails. (small but important things).
Plenty of computer games. You guys are spoiled with mine craft
and mp3s now.
I used to drag a pair of cambridge computer speakers and the
bass box around. A lug but worth it for films and games.
Have a good trip. I still remember mine.
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