Sea phase?

[seanyo_82]

Hi everyone I hope this isn't a stupid question but I'm really confused/curious. So I'm aboout to start HND deck at warsash and ive been told my first college phase ends 23rd of december and then my sea phase starts. What i want to know is what i will be doing in my sea phase as it lasts about 8-9 months from january to september. I know i will obviously be on a ship during some of this time and my company has told me im doing a 3 month on 3 month off rotation so if i get on a ship lets say begining of january within a few weeks of finishing college, then i do 3 months at sea so that takes me to the end of march begining of april, what will i be doing the rest of the 5 months until i start college again? Unless i get put on abother ship after my 3 months off which will be in end of june so that leave only july and august but i cant see that happening? Anyone care to shed some light, basically what im saying is i dont believe i will get 5 months off after 3 months at sea that sounds ridiculous? thanks

[Jonny]

You will probably go on for the 2 months after your time off then or they may only give you the 2 months off and 3 months back on.

[CharlieDelta]

It really depends on your company and what availability they have. Some people only get four or five months seatime in their fist sea phase, which leaves you with plenty of leave, whereas others will get closer to six or seven months.

[ETwhat?]

yup the simple answer is it depends. Having said that theres nothing to say that you wont join a ship before christmas rather than getting a few weeks off at the start. Its also worth asking them as that way you come out seeming keen, if thay have the space 2 months at sea is much better than spending it on land

[CharlieDelta]

This is very true, I volunteered and was scheduled to start my first trip before Christmas, though in the snow put the dampers on that and I ended up joining at the start of January.

On the other hand, the term seems to finish on the 23rd this year, so you're pretty much guaranteed Christmas off.

[seanyo_82]

just got a reply from my training officer apparently she thinks my companys typically voyages for cadets last 5 months i highly doubt that that's way to long i was thinking more 3 months max

[ETwhat?]

well theres plently of ships that do 4 months, and certainly theres nothing to say that you will do the same rotation as the other officers. but doing a 5 month trip would still give you far to much time off, in truth to find out about sea time you need someone from your company as it varies hugely.

And i do agree getting to sea for christmas would be highly unlikely however it was more that you should no longer take standard holidays as given

[CharlieDelta]

Five or six months is not unheard of for cadets, especially deep-sea. I did one trip of nearly five months, then had three months off. Which means next sea phase I need about eight months, so will have much less leave. Others have done one four month trip, two three month trips, a four month and a two month - the combinations are endless. You will almost definitely not be on the same rotation pattern as the officers while you're a cadet - you take the seatime when you can get it.

[seanyo_82]

what do u mean 5 month trip wud give me far to much time off? anyway my training officer must be wrong as she's not even in the company and the contract letter i recieved said i would be on a 3 month on 3 month off rotation i assume that means 3 months at sea 3 months off or am i wrong?

[ETwhat?]

well you said that you have 8 months in the phase so a 5 month trip would give you 12 weeks leave, given that lots of companies give one week for month served thats almost 2 months extra time off. Are you contracted to the company afterwards as that could be were the 3 months on/off comes in.

if the letter refers to cadet sea time then yeah you will be doing what they have told you altough i would try to get 3 months on 1 off and another 3 months on and a month off at the end to get flat and holiday sorted before returning to the college. a lot of it will depend on how flexible the company can be.

[seanyo_82]

I dont think i am contracted to them afterwards, this is what my contract says,

Job title-
You will be employed as a cadet.

Your employment will terminate automatically at the end of the training programme as defined in the sponsorship agreement you have entered into with our company and ship safe training group.

Holidays-
Your holiday entitlement will be structured to fit around the training programme. This will amount to 87 days per annume, on a three month on, three month off basis.

so im doing 3 months on a ship then 3 months leave??

[CharlieDelta]

I think that's just a very badly worded contract. If you were doing three on/three off during your cadetship then you wouldn't get the required seatime.

[ETwhat?]

hmmm, it does sound like it however you the 87 days is less than three months so its seems a bit at odds with itself, my advice is just go with the flow and enjoy

[seanyo_82]

yeah i was like wtf that doesnt seem right to have that much time off! I'm pretty sure the contract is wrong lol i will just have to wait and see ill let you know what happens xD