Second sea phase

[Crawf121]

Me again,

So I've been given a approx rundown of the training schedule for my HNC course from my company, and i can see that the sea phases are quite long (phase 1, 6 months. phase 2, 12 months...approx) Now i know its the MN and you should obviously be getting used to the fact you are going to be at sea for long periods and every cadet does this. However i was wondering do you get breaks in these times? especially the 12 month period when you can go home? As i understand usually once qualified you work 3:3 or 4:2 ( i don't expect this as a cadet) so to sum it up just wondering if you get to go home at least once in that second sea phase.

Thanks in advance

James

[RJShields32]

Every month I am at sea, I am guaranteed a week at home, usually get a little more. From what I hear quite a few companies work on this basis

[Chiefy]

cadets "normally" get 1:1
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1month on 1 week off +/-

[GuinnessMan]

cadets "normally" get 1:1
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1month on 1 week off +/-

And that is dependent on whether they have enough sea time or not....

[EH75]

Yeah you'll get some time off. You only need 12 months so say you get 4-5 months in the first 6 month sea phase (about average in my experience and giving you about 4-6 weeks off at some point) you will only need to spend 8 months or so of the second sea phase on board, also giving you a couple of months off. Obviously quite company dependant on how they work it but essentially yes, you will get some time off.

[Lewis]

It varies a lot from company to company. I worked 6 weeks on 2 weeks off over my first sea phase. Others worked 4 months on one months off. Others joined ship few days after college finished and were on ship till few days before college started again. Worst of all others spent months at home hardly got any sea time and will struggle in next sea phase. If this is job for you should be worried about getting enough sea time not enough time off.