Africa express line

[flobbernoggin]

After ringing up SSTG I was told they only have open sponsorship's at Africa express line.
I was told they are a deep sea company specializing in perishable goods and they have mostly multinational crews. while I don't really mind the deep sea part im a little bit apprehensive about the multinational crews.

So does anyone know anything about AEL? Any one have experience with multinational crews?

[Clanky]

Don’t know anything specifically about AEL, but the majority of companies who you will work with nowadays are likely to have multinational crews.

As the standards of many of the traditionally cheap officers such as Filipinos is improving all the time this is less of an issue than it used to be, although there are still some seriously dodgy officer around in terms of competency there are also some very good ones and there are more and more British officers around that I wouldn’t want training cadets.

In terms of life onboard if you are the only person onboard with English as a first language then it can be difficult, but it can also be a great way to experience other cultures, much will depend on you.

Good luck.

[The Kraken]

As Clanky has said, most companies have multi-national crews. I do know Africa Express Line run routes around the West African coast and to Europe, however with the current trouble with Nigeria and pirates at the moment they wouldn't be my first choice.

[Winning Wilks]

I have also been invited to an interview with SSTG for AEL. However, I can not find any information on them anywhere other than their website. Does anyone have any other source of information for them?

[flobbernoggin]

They do have a parent company: http://www.compagniefruitiere.fr/

Theres not that much relevant information but it may be worth giving it a look over. Such as here: http://www.compagniefruitiere.fr/met...ier/uid/2/id/2

[The Kraken]

Check out thier vessel names here: http://www.africaexpressline.com/liners-and-schedules, then use http://www.marinetraffic.com and search for the specific vessels for pictures and technical information.

Just tried it with the first vessel on their list and this was the information I came across: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/...hips/636013068, also be sure to look at what country the vessel is flagged to on that website. This one is Liberia which doesn't have the highest standing worldwide.

[Winning Wilks]

Thanks for those links from the both of you. Very helpful!

Check out thier vessel names here: http://www.africaexpressline.com/liners-and-schedules, then use http://www.marinetraffic.com and search for the specific vessels for pictures and technical information.

Just tried it with the first vessel on their list and this was the information I came across: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/...hips/636013068, also be sure to look at what country the vessel is flagged to on that website. This one is Liberia which doesn't have the highest standing worldwide.

Just checked all of the vessels, they're all either flagged Liberia or Panama. Can you shed some light on the implications of this?

[The Kraken]

Well it's a contentious issue really, and I don't want to generalise too much but SOME companies - not all - flag out ships to Panama, Liberia and other similar nations as they tend to have a more lax attitude towards safety regulations, ship maintenence, taxiation etc than European countries do. It doesn't mean that if you join a ship with one of these flags it is bound to be terrible but for me it would bring up a few red flags.

[Clanky]

There are other reasons for flagging ships in these countries such as better tax regimes etc. so as The Kraken says it doesn’t mean that they will be terrible.

[GuinnessMan]

Just checked all of the vessels, they're all either flagged Liberia or Panama. Can you shed some light on the implications of this?

As most have said, cheaper tax, other than that bugger all really. I don't see why the likes of Panama would raise a red flag? (Liberia, hmmm)

Panama actually happens to be one of the stricter flags when it comes to DMLC and other bits and bobs....

[Pilot Chris]

Having had to deal with reflagging vessels from a shoreside point of view I am with GM on this, Panama is a bit stricter than its reputation!

[Benr42]

You will find multinational crews almost everywhere. Even the offshore industry now has a mixture of nationalities . Also AEL are apparently a good company for cadetship . I have a few friends who spent their cadetship with them

[Winning Wilks]

You will find multinational crews almost everywhere. Even the offshore industry now has a mixture of nationalities . Also AEL are apparently a good company for cadetship . I have a few friends who spent their cadetship with them

What were the opinions they had? What made them a good company? Very interested in what they have said as I can't find anything about their cadetships anywhere.

[GuinnessMan]

Having had to deal with reflagging vessels from a shoreside point of view I am with GM on this, Panama is a bit stricter than its reputation!

Very difficult folks to deal with, you need to have lawyers or the right chap in the consulate for everything!

[Benr42]

They thoroughly enjoyed their cadetship on board AEL vessels. They said decent officers which is key for your training, decent vessels, good crews, good ports. I will try and gather more info for you on this