Advice on shipping career

matthews · #1 08-01-09, 17:04

hi, im not to sure if this is the right forum to post this on, I get the magazine so thought i will give it a go
Im 17 and for about 5 years now ive wanted to persue a career in the shipping industry as a Deck officer. But not too sure about the engineer cadet and electro-engineer, im still not 100% what field to get into. It is hard to find someone these days who is in this industry, so i hope to get advice here.
As you may know you can go through two different qualification ways to get into this career. HND or degree. I already have the GCSE's to get the HND one, and right now studying the a-levels to get the degree route. But is there much of a difference between the two, in oppurtunity, and pay ways. Because im not to sure to leave school at the end of AS and just go through the HND route?
Ive already researched a lot of shipping companies, and a few that attract my attention are carnival cruise company, shell, and clyde marine training.. Any advice anyone could give me on these matters?
thanks

Twisterowner · #2 08-01-09, 18:39

Go for an engineer. That way, when you give up seafaring you will have skills that are of use to many employers ashore. You will also have the most interesting job on the ship.

Dyflin · #3 08-01-09, 20:06

Become an engineer and see the world from the officers bar... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

If you have a mechanical aptitude then go the engineering route. If you have an interest in ships, cargoes, navigating, seamanship, small boat handling etc. then go the deck route. Don't set your sights on any particular trade or company until you have been around for a bit and seen a few. I was with Clyde Marine and found them reasonable and good to work with (others not so). I would suggest talking to the cadet/training person in Clyde (don't know who that is nowadays) as to which route HND or Degree route.

It's an exciting career for young people, stick with it.

(there are still many jobs a deck officer can get ashore too)

office_sailor · #4 08-01-09, 22:13

There is a Merchant Navy open day at Warsash Maritime Academy on the 23rd of Jan, where you can meet officer cadets, sponsors and training companies. If you want more details, see http://www.warsashacademy.co.uk/.

Hope this helps!

matthews · #5 09-01-09, 17:47

thanks. But i think i will hav to know what field to go into, before applying, and also will need to find a sponsor company to take me through my cadetship, right away.. I will get in touch with the companies about the HND or degree level courses.

And i was supose to go to that warsash open day, but cant make it.
Can anyone tell me, what would be the best comapny to get into, or think it is? the cruise companies sound good, but would maybe be too difficult to get into, but it sounds like there is a huge shortage in cadets, is this true?
thanks

philip_stevens · #6 10-01-09, 11:25

Contact the Merchant Navy officers union for advice on careers. They have, in the past, sponsored cadets.

I spent 28 years as an Electrical Officer on reefer- and container-ships.

Latestarter1 · #7 14-01-09, 17:18

Jungleboy,

I served as a navigating cadet a long time ago R829042 will mean somthing to those in the know. Having passed my Second Mates, I changed careers and became an engineer, later on getting my Second Engineers ticket, a rare occurence.

Seafaring used to be a great life both on the bridge or on the bottom plates. As I saw it the only advantage of being on the bridge was the ability to dump a bag of dried peas down the forced draft vent and blitz the poor old engineers huddled by the controls.

However nothing came close to the buzz of manouvering a Sulzer 8RND or a Daisy Doxford on the controls without blowing a relief valve!

Now all bridge control and automation and worst of all working for foreign shipping companies on short term contracts with NO pension exepctations, and worst of all little fun!

If you are unsure if you want up top or down below, are you really comitted to a life at sea?

matthews · #8 14-01-09, 18:31

well, I have been interested in ships for years now, and wanted to join the MN for years, since I can remember to be honest.
I can see what you are talking about though about the ships changing in technology and character.
The reason why I am not sure about the deck or engineer is, that i like some aspects of the deck and like some aspects of engineer. I think I would be commited to a life at sea, but can only answer that until I go and do it for myself.

Minn · #9 17-01-09, 16:07

I think vacancies for cadets will be most likely to show up via the UK Tonnage Tax training requirement. The advice to contact Clyde Marine is good as they supply most of these cadets.

I repeat the advice you have already been given to choose engineering rather than deck; about the only jobs you can do ashore with a deck qualification are deputy harbour master, P&I Club claims hack or surveyor; none of them pay well compared to the engineering jobs available ashore.

Alex_Blackwood · #10 18-01-09, 17:38

Try here:-

http://www.rfa.mod.uk/

Don't be put off with the RN connection.

Minn · #11 18-01-09, 20:48

That is good advice; the son of a friend (now a surveyor in Dubai - the gilrfriend got him in the end... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img])had a good time in the RFA.

penfold · #12 17-04-09, 21:49

I'm just about to finish my Engine cadet training with Clyde Marine sponsored by Zodiac. As has already been mentioned, speak to all the training providers(listed here ) and go to a college open day if you can and speak to the recruiters there; just remember to take what they say with a pinch of salt(especially Clyde!). The time to do the HND or the degree is about the same, so it's down to how you learn the best; the degree requires more research and essay writing, whereas the HND is more rote learning. Both end up with you having a CoC. Any questions PM me and I'll try to answer.