SSTG Companies

[Andy_S]

If I get in at SSTG what are the best companies to go for? I am really after deep-sea and CMA CGM, Evergreen and OOCL looked the best of the bunch. I have liked the sound of CMA CGM right from the start so they are my number one choice. Just wondered if anyone has any experiences with any of them or any of the other SSTG companies?

At 26 I am a bit worried if any of the 3 cargo companies I mentioned will take on an "older" cadet seen as they probably get a lot of applications compared to some of the smaller companies. I feel the age has a few plus points really but not sure if they see it that way.


Andy S

[dawg]

Re: SSTG Companies

Evergreen and OOCL are Taiwanese I believe. CMA CGM is French I think.

I'm older than you, and I woudn't expect your age to be a problem...
Those many applicants are perhaps more likely to be people younger than you, which means you'll stand out a bit anyway.

I expect you've probably already thought of this kind of stuff:

1. More responsible, good work ethic, life skills, reliable, serious about making a career of it (I think showing a desire for promotion tends to appeal to companies, they don't seem to want those who are content to remain 3/Os all their lives).

2. Try the "safe bet" / "safe pair of hands" routine... because of the above (delete as you wish), you are more likely to make it through... they don't want drop outs.

Sure, they'll probably all three be expecting a little more from you in the way of explaining what your motivation is and plans are... and expect you to know about their companies and be aware/interested in what they do outside of ships.

I can see how Evergreen could make you feel a bit nervous with **** like this:

REQUIREMENTS[*] >18yrs, preferably <25yrs

source http://www.evergreen-marine.co.uk/tu...onsorships.pdf

That's pretty hard to justify when there was an award-winning cadet in their 40s a couple of years ago.
http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/d/t/66 ... ce_AWK.pdf

...but on the upside, look at the rest... they're telling you what they want to hear at the interview, aren't they.

Background on them...
http://www.evergreen-line.com/
http://www.evergreen-marine.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen_Marine
http://www.evergreen.com.tw/

4th biggest container company.
I bet you any money you always fly by EVA Airlines with them

They are a sort of oriental conglomerate modelled after Korean "jaebol" (like Samsung) and Japanese "zaibatsu" (like Yamaha)... these are companies that want to have a finger in every possible business you can imagine - from underpants to spark plugs, and they are very hierarchical...
...you could put on your app form that you've enrolled on a Chinese language course (or French for CMA CGM), the point being that you know you'll be dealing with non-British people on board and through the admin at some stage.

Praps you won't notice much difference between them, except that you might be more likely to literally be on a slow boat to China with OOCL or Evergreen!
Judging by that pdf file and what I know of the "land of surprising fun", you might put CMA CGM at the top of that list of three.

I'd be interested to hear how it works whichever you go with.

[Andy_S]

Re: SSTG Companies

Thanks for all the info. :P

I have nothing at all against an Asian company but I think CMA CGM being French might mean the management/work style might be slightly more in line with what us Eropeans are used to. They also have some British flagged vessels. I read a blog one of their officers had written about life on board and he said they were a company that is very in touch with employees etc and life on board was good.

Only problem is some guy who I was in contact with who had been to an interview at SSTG in Feb said CMA had only about 3-5 places at that time. I guess they may well be full by my interview in May.

[dawg]

Re: SSTG Companies

Thanks for all the info. :P

I have nothing at all against an Asian company but I think CMA CGM being French might mean the management/work style might be slightly more in line with what (us) Eropeans are used to.

Tactfully put.

They also have some British flagged vessels. I read a blog one of their officers had written about life on board and he said they were a company that is very in touch with employees etc and life on board was good.

This one?

http://shipoftheday.blogspot.com/2010/03/cma-cgm-medea.html

Only problem is some guy who I was in contact with who had been to an interview at SSTG in Feb said CMA had only about 3-5 places at that time. I guess they may well be full by my interview in May.

Maybe he wants them too...

They may not do it on a first come first served basis... maybe it's still worth trying to shine. I would have thought a company as large as theirs with fewer places would mean they were looking for quality rather than quantity. Just a thought.

[dawg]

Re: SSTG Companies

So there's some hints about what they like (in ropey English)
http://www.cma-cgm.com/AboutUs/Careers/ ... rsity.aspx

http://www.cma-cgm.com/AboutUs/Careers/ ... Ships.aspx
Evidence of Eastern European staff: Croatian and Romanian.

I would guess that the French Union(s) ensure that they've got a healthy portion of French staff, with a few Spaniards and Brits thrown in for reasons unique to those countries (Tonnage Tax in our case).

[Andy_S]

Re: SSTG Companies

I hope they don't do it first come first served. If they like the sound of you I wonder if you can a get a place for 2011 if they are full this year. I'd be happier with starting next year rather than going with some dodgy company. 8-)


I hope they have nice French wine on board!

[gauravblazed]

Re: SSTG Companies

sir i want to join as a cadet..but yet no comapny..please help me out

[RAH]

Re: SSTG Companies

When I went did my interview with SSTG the guy said CMA-CGM do some of their recruitment through Delta Marine Personnel Services (www.deltamarine.co.uk), apparently they are a bit more likely to recruit British Officers after the cadetship than OOCL and Evergreen.

[Beef1992]

Re: SSTG Companies

Delta marine is owned by OOCL and Hamburg sud and another company . and delta marine had a healthy portion invested in SSTG.

my contract with SSTG is not signed by delta marine but is actually contracted to OOCL and signed by them which i thought was strange but owh well . thats better for me

[size4riggerboots]

Re: SSTG Companies

sir i want to join as a cadet..but yet no comapny..please help me out

You'll find a list of companies you can apply to here http://www.careersatsea.org/apply/spons ... panies.php

Best of luck!

[TheIrish]

Re: SSTG Companies

I am with CMA CGM and so far i can say they seem to be a very good company to be sponsored by

[eskisean]

Re: SSTG Companies

I wanted to go with CMA when i went for my interview, but the guy talked me out of it indirectly, in the end I picked north star, they best had be good!

[TheIrish]

Re: SSTG Companies

I wanted to go with CMA when i went for my interview, but the guy talked me out of it indirectly, in the end I picked north star, they best had be good!

funny that, because I was wanting to go with a company and he talked me out of it as well, so i chose CMA

[eskisean]

Re: SSTG Companies

haha, what company did you originally want? it must just be so he can fill the places.

[TheIrish]

Re: SSTG Companies

yea, well i was wanted OOCL or Evergreen. OOCL because i watched a megastructures episode with OOCL hamburg on it, and was entriged lol. and Evergreen because they had a good leaflet lol. CMA CGM didnt appeal to me at the time because Ive had bad run-ins with french people, but now im sorted, and happy