Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

[newbie3]

Hi all, new here and just looking for the cadet perspective of Clyde Marine. They seem very organised and all that... but I've not had a great experience so far with emailing about general questions. Now I'm looking on their facebook page and see that it could take up to 8 weeks to be invited for an interview and that cadets only find out their sponsoring company the day they start at college.

To me this seems ridiculous. With the amount of variety in the companies represented by them, you'd think people are insisting on finding out who they've got before turning up at college for three years?

I've tried asking Warsash college for some help in approaching companies that have not before sponsored cadets through UK colleges and got no where, so I seem to be forced into this agency set up, which I'm not keen to do. Is it really the done thing?

I'd be grateful for any feedback!

[steamer]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Clyde Marine are a factory with a good PR machine behind it. Their interviews consist mainly of testing you to see how much of their propaganda you have memorised and that ever present question....why do you want to go to sea.
You can approach companies directly, or go through SSTG.

At the end of the day, the agencies make claiming back the govt funding easier for the sponsor companies-so most will use them.

[MEJG]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

http://www.careersatsea.org/apply/spons ... panies.php - that'll give you a list of sponsoring companies which you apply to directly and some colleges to allow direct application and they will help you to obtain a sponsor... http://www.nafc.ac.uk/Home.aspx is one of the smaller and more remote colleges but they're very friendly and will be very pleased to help you out.

http://www.seacareers.co.uk/ - was the one i picked, so far my only regret is that I didn't put my application in sooner so i could of started last year.

[newbie3]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

I was afraid of that steamer. Their website does seem to be aimed a very low standard of intake, ie advising people to look on a map before leaving for their interview... doesn't bode well for potential navigators eh!

MEJG - thanks, I've looked at those career websites over and over. I'm only really interested in AHT and subsea construction/survey vessels so there's not a vast number of companies out there. I'm really targeting Norwegian companies too, which seem to have little knowledge of the UK system and colleges, if it works with their tax rules in the first place.
Being a southerner, I've not had too good at look at NAFC, but I'll get in touch anyway and see if anything good comes out of it, thanks.

I have a good career at the moment, and as much as I do want to become a Deck Officer, organisations like Clyde are really making me question what I am getting myself into and what I stand to lose!

[Chiefy]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

A few things to maybe think about too, Clyde take the pain out of training cadets for the sponsoring companies, they do all the leg work, look after you in college, chase you around when your standards slip etc, meaning that each individual company dosent need to employ a cadet training section or go through the recruitment process, making thier life nice and easy and cheap. They would also do all the tax paperwork for them and take a percentage or fee for their trouble <-- not that I know this for sure but they arent doing it for fun

The Nowregians wont be interested in you till you are qualified, they have thier own tax system and it dosent extend to UK cadets, bearing in mind the tax is linked to training AND having UK flagged vessels.

Going purely for AHTS limits your choices from the get go, mainly because they are traditionally an end user of seafarers, they are getting better, but traditionally they are some where you go once qualified, for many of the above reasons, and cadets (used) to be mainly school leaves / under 18 as such an AHTS is way more dangerous a place than a deep sea ship. Space is limited on AHTS and as such cabin space and traing facilities are more limited, I also include the factor that many only have Captain, Mate and Second Mate with the Captain taking a watch thus the people you want to learn from are fewer. Also bear in mind your Certificate once gained alows you to sail on any vessel, IF you have not been on certain sized ships you end up with a limited certificate, which should you want to move may well be limited by this leagal restriction, getting a full fat cetrificate and then moving is a bit more sensible.

Maersk have all sorts of ships and once you complete your training I seem to recall you get a bit of a choice where you end up, and there have been cadets seen on thier AHTS but usually to make up missing seatime for various reasons.

May I repectfully advise that you maybe expand your training horizons and worry about where you end up once you qualify.

Also becoming a cadet will make you instantly poor for the training period but again it's a long term bet and the rewards can be pretty good once you get to the top

[newbie3]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Thanks for your input, I do appreciate the advice. I am very worried about where I will end up because I'm currently working on AHTs and construction vessels (mostly Norwegian) and loving it, so I don't want to leave that environment if I'm not sure I can come back to it. So I really can't justify putting my faith in a company that can't guarantee an environment even close to it, I'm really not in it for the world of Disney cruises and customers put it that way! I had kind of hoped my previous experience would have meant such companies would have been more interested in taking me on but Clyde didn't want to know, just as long as I had a handful of GCSEs that was all that concerned them.
Are AHTs and construction vessels included as limited? That's raised a good point. I'm biggest concern is that without experience as a cadet on board, I have very very limited chance of getting in as a 3rd officer.

[Chiefy]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

I cannt remeber the deckie rules, but it is to do with tonnage and ship size, so you might end up on a limited ticket, with Engineers it's engine power so some of the bigger AHTS's are fine but the smaller ones not so

To be honest Maersk would then seem to be your best bet, but moving within the industry isnt that hard once you qualify, and as for choosing a company through Clyde, only tick the boxes for cargo ships / tankers etc, and avoid the cruise section completely

BTW I am not the Maersk recruiting agent, but they do at least have all flavours of ship and there is a chance of asking nicely to get moved about

[newbie3]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

I didn't see any option to limit the time of vessel worked on for Clyde, and I really not at all keen to go near them. I think if they deliberately withhold sponsor information until it's too late for a cadet to do anything about it, not only suggests they can't be bothered pleasing people and that the typical intake doesn't care too much.

Initially I was keen to write to Maersk Supply Services but if Maersk in general can ensure I get unlimited qualifications then it sounds like a good bet. I just don't want to be stuck out of the loop on a tanker for the rest of my career, or even a few years of it. I guess I'll have to take that risk, but at least I'll know who's paying the bills before I sign the contract.

Cheers again for your feedback, it's good to hear something positive about one company or another, otherwise you're just trusting their own marketing. I've got an interview with SSTG so maybe they have a bit more flexibility over placements too. Pity it's just Clyde that seem to have a bit of a hold on a few Norwegian companies, that was my only drive for using them.

[AlternativeNavs]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

If its over 3000GT and outside coastal limits you should be fine.

You will be fine with SSTG, they offer you a choice of companies that you request. They then tell you which one your with (out of your choices) if a position is available.

As you are going for a course leading to a Unlimited OOW qualification you will find that if companies can't offer you everything you require (such as sea time or non limited vessels) you will be moved around within the portfolio (SSTG).

You still stay a companies cadet, just you get to travel a bit more.

[Chiefy]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Maersk Supply will just direct you to Maersk Newcastle or whatever they are called this month, they train all the UK cadets then sort it out from there.

Jmz thanks for that I couldnt remeber the deckie rules.....for some reason (Clues in the Nick I guess!)

[MEJG]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Maersk Supply will just direct you to Maersk Newcastle or whatever they are called this month, they train all the UK cadets then sort it out from there.

Jmz thanks for that I couldnt remeber the deckie rules.....for some reason (Clues in the Nick I guess!)

Maersk Crewing LTD is the Newcastle office responsible for recruiting cadets and looking after them...

[shazz]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Hey

I have just found these forums and find the threads very useful, But i've noticed some bad rep for clyde marine training.

Im starting at Warsash on sunday with Clyde and would just like to know what exactly it is that gives the company this reputation. Is it to do with their quality of training, Cadet welfare or just the fact that they leave you in the dark regarding your sponsor company?

I to thought it was strange that i was offered a sponsorship after one interview, But im not complaining as i've not got a bad word to say about them as they've been very helpful so far.

If any one could shed some light on this i'd appreciate it. x

[TheIrish]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

I think the problems behind Clyde are at the end of the day they are a business and have won various business awards. they make money from you as they do the hardwork for companies.
Although companies make money through Tax breaks, they dont make money directly from every cadet
The Likes of SSTG are not proffitable, all their running costs are met by their member companies

[Chiefy]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder........ you have had a good experince others dont, as is the nature of these things the bad tend to be more noticed or make more noise than the good.

However they are a profit making company and not run for fun, so I guess occasionally "stuff" happens that people arent so happy with, and as ever they become the vocal minority......ever watched "Watchdog"?!

[shazz]

Re: Clyde Marine Training - actually any good?

Yeah people are more likely to share their woes than their pros its just the nature of people.

I just wonder if this "stuff" is to do with the whole application process or to do with the training itself...,If its the former then i've certainly had a good experience.