Your advice would be appreciated

[Vesper]

Hello/Ahoy etc,


Brief intro - I'm 27, going to be 28 in January. Have a degree in history and the required 5 GCSE's at C including English/Maths and a science. I also have 180 UCAS points. I have experience working on a cruise liner as a shop assistant and also spent a few years in the RNR.

In my previous life I was a Construction Project Manager in London but the recession has taken care of that, I was in the industry for about 4 years before deciding to jump ship and now I'm considering teaching.

I've also had a bit of a problem medical wise which partly explains my change of career, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in January 2010 and it's been on and off for about a year, but I'm getting better. It can go into remission for years but unfortunately it never goes away completely.

I originally wanted to join the RN which explains my degree in history as my recruiting officer said the degree didn't matter but I decided the RNR was enough for me in the meantime. Unfortunately I've had to leave due to the medical problems and I was considering the RFA but Ulcerative Colitis prevents me from working for them too.

So to cut a long story short, what I'd like to know is whether I'd be eligible to apply for a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy, I'd like to work in coastal duties, Dover/Ireland ferry/Sea Cat or anything which involves shipping in local UK waters. Also, does anyone know of any Merchant Navy sailors who suffer from UC and if so, how do they cope? Steve Redgrave the Olympic Rower had it and also the Queen Mum so it doesn't limit you that much when you're well.

Thanks for your help.

-Vesper

[Randomist]

Hi vesper, welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you have a lot of experience, which would be valuable to you when applying for a career in the MN. I believe that the requirement for the Foundation Degree (FD) route as a cadet requires you to have a degree in Maths, Physics or an accredited physical science. However there may be some exceptions. Even if you couldn't get an offer for FD you could still follow the Higher National Diploma route (HND) which still grants you an Officer of the Watch certificate (MN), the exams with the MCA are no different between HND and FD.

I have never met anyone with the same medical condition that you have, joining any shipping company and sailing as Cadet or Officer will be dependant on you gaining and ENG1 Medical Certificate. The requirements of which are listed here in MSN 1765: http://www.pml-solas.org.uk/forms/msn1765.pdf

I hope this helps

[dawg]

the requirement for the Foundation Degree (FD) route as a cadet requires you to have a degree in Maths, Physics or an accredited physical science

o.O ...I think you mean A-level...

Degrees are a academic quals, Foundation "degrees" are vocational quals, not academic ones (there is a difference: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc...=rep1&type=pdf), equivalent to "Associate Degrees" in other countries; i.e.: standardised HNDs with transferable "CAT points" attached; so, you need UCAS points to get on one... probably 180, and you can get them from a range of sources: http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/tarifftables/.
If you're going for deck, I suppose logically you might want A-level maths or physics, plus - things like geography, maybe computers, business, english, a language, but A-levels aren't the be-all-and-end-all, you just need some maths UCAS points and some non-maths UCAS points probably.

As for your medical stuff, you might want to get an ENG1 doctor's contact details off the MCA and then go and pay for an ENG1 to screen yourself before applying. A company will probably want you do do another one, but if you go to the same doctor, you should get the same result.

[Randomist]

Yeah, I mis-read the post. All the degree words being banded about lol.

Lots of sponsorship companies provide information as well as the MCA about where to get an examination for ENG1, it's worth asking about. It depends how long it has been since you were awarded an ENG1 and some companies like you to have a certificate from their approved centres, but for the most part, so long as you have a valid certificate there's be no reason to get another one.

[danielbv07]

Hi Vesper, I would say spend the money and consult an MCA appointed GP as soon as possible. Training organisations such as Clyde do not seem to specify an unrestricted (class 1) medical on their website; it may well be that if you are issued with a restricted (class 2) medical certificate you could still undertake training with a sponsor who operates in coastal waters.

Good luck

Dan

[Vesper]

Thanks very much guys! I'm a bit worried I might be too old too (28 in January) but I've no desire to fly a desk for the rest of my life. In the meantime I'll look into this medical stuff, I think I had one when I had my first cruise liner job.

Also, do you know if there's many opportunities for UK duties? Other threads suggust most of the Brit crew have been undercut by Europeans. I don't really fancy cruise liner stuff tbh, sucking up to passengers isn't my thing. Also, what are the benefits like and average pay like if I may be so nosey? I guess they differ for each company. I was stunned RFA officers get 84 days off!

-Vesper

[Randomist]

I wouldn't worry about age. There are people of all ages in cadetships now. When I was a cadet there was one guy who was 35 and another who was 42. It's not a problem.

[SWonder]

Hi Vesper, I would say spend the money and consult an MCA appointed GP as soon as possible. Training organisations such as Clyde do not seem to specify an unrestricted (class 1) medical on their website; it may well be that if you are issued with a restricted (class 2) medical certificate you could still undertake training with a sponsor who operates in coastal waters.

Good luck

Dan

Clyde Marine Training require you to have an unrestricted medical certificate and will not except a restricted one for near coastal waters or with any other restriction. I know this because i was recently issued with a restricted one when having my first ever Eng1 medical and was told it meant i couldn't start training. However i have since lost over 3 stone(i was restricted on BMI) and am now well under my target weight.