Whichkind of ship for ETO trainee?

[Ozz]

Hey folks,

I have my interview for an apprenticeship with clyde marine in a weeks time. But I imagine they're going to ask which company I would like to work for and why, I'm struggling with research on this and wondered if anybody could help. I obviously would like to work for the one that is most likeley to put me on a ship for the best training/experience for an ETO and with good future prospects. personally I would also like to travel abroad as traveling the world in my career is something I would love to do. But I'm not going to go in to the interview and say I'd like sponsorship with ..... because they are going to send me to barbados lol.

Any help is greatly appreciated and if anybody could warn me about any other questions that I may not have thought about researching it would be much appreciated.

many thanks in advance.

Ozz

[ETwhat?]

Clyde dont place with many cruise ship companies so that might rule barbados out and to be honest while they do concider your desires a lot of it also depends on which companies on their books are asking for eto cadets, they do try to make these match your desire but not always. Theres very few companies that dont involve traveling to other places (cal mac are an example as they are just in scotland).

As for what ship type is best i think that really depends on the company and how involved they are. personally something with a wide and diverse fleet is best you then do maybe 4 or 5 trips all on different types of ship and as a result get to see a bigger range of equipment/ procedures/ ports etc and really as a cadet thats your focus, while going to nice places is a perk its not the thing to focus on over the cadetship. more getting the most out of your training. Clyde do list the companies they deal with online so have a look at each of them.

other questions will be about the lifestyle away from home family friends etc. and then general interview questions.

hope that helps a bit

[GuinnessMan]

They will put you with anyone and anything. I have seen ETO cadets with CalMac (who don't even hire ETO's, it's what the C/Eng's are paid for!)

However, if you don't want to hop into a company with a large fleet of ships, I would suggest Harrisons 2002 Ltd. You won't actually have any contact with them, but you will with the ship management company, and that is V.Ships. They have over 100 vessels based out of the Glasgow office alone, and there are several all over the world which you can go with, so trust me, it's a good company to hop in with.

[Clanky]

As far as answering the question at the interview ro-pax (passenger ro-ro) ships would be a pretty good answer as there is a fairly large variety of electrical equipment onboard from the engine room to the hull openings and cargo gear (stern door / ramp, bow door, vehicle ramps etc) to a large galley and other passenger services.

In terms of your actual training then you should receive fairly good training from any company which carries ETO's, as much as the chief is supposed to know about electrics he will never be as knowledgeable as a qualified and experienced ETO and as an ETO cadet a big part of your training is electrical so you need as detailed a knowledge as possible.

[Ozz]

Some fantastic answers guys. All have been very helpful The more info I get the more I am at ease so feel free to keep information coming my way. Very nervous, the interviews on wednesday. Just any information that's going to be helpful in the interview is greatly, greatly, greatly appreciated!

Thanks again

Ozz

[ETwhat?]

Something that cropped up in another thread is to remember that the cadetship is only the training and as with clyde you have no contract to hold you to the sponsor you are free to go wherever you want and that wants you after. so even if its not the desired place as long as it gives you the training thats all thats needed and its not that long at sea. (just over 9 months in three years)

[CharlieDelta]

Have you applied to anywhere else? Or just Clyde?

Welcome to the forum by the way!

[Ozz]

Have you applied to anywhere else? Or just Clyde?

Welcome to the forum by the way!

Just Clyde marine. I thought they were pretty much the only way to go for training as an ETO?

And thank you

[Clanky]

I am pretty sure that Foreland Shipping take ETO cadets as well (they did while I was there anyway, although that is a few years ago.)

[CharlieDelta]

Foreland are through Bibby as far as I know.

The cruise companies are worth looking at too, I know Carnival have a pretty substantial ETO intake each year, and with diesel-electric propulsion on all but one or two ships, it could be more interesting.

[chris]

SSTG and Trinity House are also good for ETO training

[GuinnessMan]

So what we've now determined is that the three big recruiters are all good for ETO training...

[chris]

An interesting development of this thread would be to discuss the types of duties ETO cadets have performed on their training ships and as there aren't many at present, the work performed by ETOs as witnessed by engineer officers. The STC ETO class discussed their experiences of the sea phase and the quality and depth of training received varied considerably.

For example much of the Carnival UK maintenance is performed in house while Holland America rely on service engineers, this affects the amount of knowledge retained by the ETOs / electricians as appropriate and what can be passed down to the cadets.

The size of passenger ships is also a factor. Small ships carry fewer ETOs who seem to have a broader knowledge than larger ships where ETOs specialise in a small area such as lift maintenance.

[GuinnessMan]

An interesting development of this thread would be to discuss the types of duties ETO cadets have performed on their training ships and as there aren't many at present, the work performed by ETOs as witnessed by engineer officers. The STC ETO class discussed their experiences of the sea phase and the quality and depth of training received varied considerably.

For example much of the Carnival UK maintenance is performed in house while Holland America rely on service engineers, this affects the amount of knowledge retained by the ETOs / electricians as appropriate and what can be passed down to the cadets.

The size of passenger ships is also a factor. Small ships carry fewer ETOs who seem to have a broader knowledge than larger ships where ETOs specialise in a small area such as lift maintenance.

I've seen the Electrician change light bulbs.....changed some light bulbs.....changed a few more bulbs.....attempted to fix a washing machine.....electrocute himself (he lived)...

[chris]

what type of ship was that on?