Curious

[Chiefy]

Here's a question for you all....

How serious are you about stopping at sea?
Is it just a cheap way to get a degree?
Are you aware that it is as much a way of life as just a job?
I keep comming up on cadets who come to the industry as a last resort, and hate the hell out of it, and really just look at it as something to do and cheap way to get some educashun.

I know that this forum is here to try and help some of that sort of thing but really looking at some of the thoughts / posts / topics I worry that people arent really taking it seriously or thinking things through, and I think thats a shame.

Though I also know there are some (especially here) who have researched it to the n-th degree and taken a good while to make the choice,

Anyway I'm just a doddering, grumpy old fart in need of more tea....it's true my 'cos 18yo daughter tells me so....regularly

[chris]

Re: Curious

Hi Chiefy

As one of the older cadets, I'm serious about a life at sea, looking forward to the lifestyle change. Truly bored of the 9-5 office routine and much of life in the UK, right now anyway.

I'm planning on emigrating to a lower cost country and see my MN lifestyle choice as a way of emigrating while earning a vaguely western salary level. I've always been quite practical, interested in electrical stuff (sadly not engines) but wasn't very keen on an R&D type career in the electronics industry, and I love travelling so the leave is a big attraction to me.

Longer term, when I feel its time to get married settle down etc, I'm hoping I'll be a senior enough rank to do contract work* (DP Ships, survey, cable laying) and just work when I need the money, spend the rest of the time with the family, windsurfing or skiing. In my TH interview, we also spoke about using my previous business/finance experience in shore side management / consulting roles.

*I'm assuming the shields Electro FD is the future and will become some OOW equivalent route and that I haven't made a big mistake by not going the traditional Engine + electro add on route.

so thats a brief summary of my motivations, comments welcome

[Chiefy]

Re: Curious

Ahhh that gives me hope

I feel / suspect I mainly get the feeling from younger cadets, who seem to just wander through life in the hope (expectation?) that greatness will be thrust upon then rather than anything as old fashioned as work

The thing is the job can be very 9-5 on occasions ok the timming might not be right but you know there is alot of routine still, but not the sort of routine of sitting behind a desk type!

I dunno maybe I just woke up grumpy

This is still the best job in the world, I love it but thats just me, I done nothing else, even went to "the right school" for becoming a cadet, when stuff like that mattered (jeeze where did 20+ years go?)

Too many people see this as just a job, and are so suprised we work weekends, dont stop at night, have to be away for months at a time, dont have internet (in many cases) , have limited e-mail, and (god forbid) there is a structure, hierachy and discipline.

More tea me thinks

[chris]

Re: Curious

well 9-5 on a ship can never be as dull as the job i've just quit, i'm betting my life on that not just the house

some history, my great great grandfathers brother founded harland and wolf (the harland bit), great grandfather was something in the city ship brokerage?, then the titanic sank, family gave a lot of shipping wealth to charity (guilt) and now I'm restarting the link...

[Chiefy]

Re: Curious

You see, just when I think all hope is lost, along comes some one to restore faith in stuff

Life wont be dull, but you might find you crave dullness occasionally I love being on leave and litterally doing nothing, not a thing for at least a week, other than drink and you know I do have a wife

[rennells]

Re: Curious

I can't imagine any career I'd rather have!
The travel ... outdoorsyness ... socialising with other crew ... responsiblity ... challenge ... leadership ... getting really stuck-in ... and mastering the art of seafaring!

My ancestors were Masters of Merchant ships in the 1700's and early 1800's, and I'd be so honoured to follow that tradition.

[Chiefy]

Re: Curious

damn it dont all gang up on me a prove my pet theory wrong

though in this case I will be happily proven wrong, but just this once you understand (giggles)

[steamer]

Re: Curious

I get pretty worried about some of the posts I see on here and in other places where promotion is seen as something that you get from time served and not recognition of a good job done. Personally I couldn't give damn about the HND/FD bit of the course, I think people get too hung up on that. I see the training as:

OOW - GCSE's
CO - A Level
Masters - Degree

Personally, I can't wait to get wait to get stuck in-I've done a lot of saling and learnt how to carve out your own personal space whilst crammed up with other people to stay sane...but I do worry about some on here being able to cope and having a rounded view of the industry.

[MEJG]

Re: Curious

I may give over an attitude of ambivalence towards life at sea but it really is the life for me.

I wouldn't call it a cheap way to get a degree, it's a route requiring dedication and commitment. I had a confirmed place at Aberdeen University in 2009 studying MA Economics and Politics but i rejected the place, got a full time job and decided to wait for Maersk to get back to me about my application. I have looked into all aspects of the job from lifestyle to versatility of skills and more - the Merchant Navy is the life for me.

Routine and discipline do not dissuade me, it's both necessary and part of the MN charm. As is the challenges, both mental and physical, that life at sea brings. I can see the downside to being in the MN; but the downside is tiny compared to all the benifits!

[lazygenius]

Re: Curious

I have similar motivations to Chris.

I too plan to emigrate when I qualify, and working at sea will take finding work in a new country with next to no contacts out of the equation.

When I left school I knew i wanted a practical, hands on job, as life in an office sounds like hell to me. I trained as a plumber but I've got a bit fed up with it, and while its still a good job in 30 years time I could easily still be wriggling about underfloors and squeezing into silly spaces not fit for humans to work in.
I like the clear structure that the merchant navy offers, so I know that if I work hard and put in the hours, the rewards are there.

I also love the travel aspect, I've been home for a year now after a stint of travelling and I've have itchy feet since I got back.

Do you find a lot of cadets uninterested cheify, or perhaps a bit surprised as to what the job entails?

[CharlieDelta]

Re: Curious

I think the other question is how many plan to stay at sea and how many plan to move ashore.

[lazygenius]

Re: Curious

I'm not going to lie, if circumstances dictate that its no longer feasable to go to sea then I'll find work on land; ie kids, wife etc etc. Another reason I took the engineering route was the broad skills which can be aquired, and I know merchant navy engineers are well regarded in heavy industry.

It's difficult to know where your going to be in 10 years time, so I doubt anyone could say " I'm going to stay at sea all my career", and i daresay those that have done just that didn't expect to!

My mates old man went back to sea as a deck officer after 20 years of doing other things, so I guess it isn't final if you do decide to come shoreside.

[Martyboy]

Re: Curious

Hold on................ No weekends off? (joke)

I personally don't see this as a cheap way to get an education..... If I could skip the college stage and get right onto the ship and learn everything on the job I would, but with the industry being so specialised its not possible(and I suppose not advisable in the long term)

People keep saying that want out of a 9-5 office job but it seems to me that deck cadets work 8 hours a day with dress trousers and a shirt on filling in paperwork in an air conditioned room.

I personally couldn't see myself talking a shore job, but at the same time, i'm just starting out in the industry so couldn't even begin to imagine what i'll do at the end of training.

[MEJG]

Re: Curious

After 20 years i see myself sipping gin and tonic on Ascension Island working as a corporate liaison to the government

[coldo]

Re: Curious

I almost think i fall into the "not too passionate about a life at sea" category.

I'm 23, have an honours degree in Graphic Design. Brought up on a farm so am naturally an industrious/hands on person. I have since worked in Graphic Design, Business to Business Sales and am currently working as an account manager for one of the largest motor dealers in Europe.

I feel since i've left Uni, i've kind of bounced around jobs, never found anything that is "for me", i really enjoy the motor industry, however it doesn't offer much variety, salary isn't great on the grand scheme of things and progression within the company is slow and un-predictable, some of my colleagues have been at the same level for 10 years+!

Then i made the decision - Since i am young, no ties, reasonably fresh out of University so returning to education won't be an issue, i decided to look for jobs in which i can re-train, jobs that would set me up for life with a good skillset and experience. I Applied for a couple of engineering jobs on land at Rolls Royce and British Airways, aswell as the Cadetship with Carnival and a job on the Oil Rigs with a company in Aberdeen.

Was offered 2 out of the 4 - Rolls Royce(working about 30miles from home) and the cadetship with Carnival, working all over the world, tax free earnings and a "once in a lifetime" opportunity, it was a no brainer really!

Since i left Uni, i've freelanced in Graphic Design and intend to do it as much as possible throughout my cadetship, im passionate about design, however realise it isn't a viable career for me anymore but as a sideline for an extra few hundred quid a month it's perfect.

So yeah, i'm not one of you guys who has dreamt about working at sea since i was a kid, but i had the choice to stay at home and i decided against it so i guess i must have a desire to give this career a good shot!

I do honestly think my personality, mentality and mindset will see me succeed in this lifestyle. Whether i'll stay at sea for the rest of my career - i don't know! However i don't think anyone can be knocked for completing a degree and devoting another few years of their life to any job.