Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How true would you rate this article?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    How true would you rate this article?

    For all those who have been to sea, is this article true? As it really does make me wonder why western officers would choose this life. Or is it in reference more to ratings from poorer countries? One thing that really concerns me at the moment is getting some shore leave to escape the confines of the ship for a bit, I will be on a car carrier.

    http://www.just-auto.com/news/study-fin ... 74312.aspx
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: How true would you rate this article?

    The wages are a bit behind for the crew the article is over 5 years old. However turn around times have not got longer that is for sure, 12-18 hours in port is not uncommon, then there will be stuff to do, like stores, provisions, bunkers,maintenance, cargo load and discharge. The reference to 48 hour working weeks is cobblers too as it dosent apply to ships, though we do have hours of rest and some funky formula about 70 hours / week and 10 hour rest stints and things (luckily it's on computer and it does the maths for you )

    Why do we do it? The same reasons we do anything, we get paid we get good leave and even in this day and age we get a good standard of living compared to your contemparies. Say you join at 18 and qualify at 21-22, you are then a watch keeper and have more responsabilities than most of your mates back home. You do it for the challenge and good times (ther are a few) but mostly so you can pay for your leave, and nice cars and trips traveling abroad and "stuff".

    If you dont know now why you are doing it...time to think about it quite seriously, this is as much a life style choice as it is a job or career.
    Trust me I'm a Chief.

    Views expressed by me are mine and mine alone.
    Yes I work for the big blue canoe company.
    No I do not report things from here to them as they are quite able to come and read this stuff for themselves.


    Twitter:- @DeeChief

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: How true would you rate this article?

      How i look at it is its not just a Job or a Career it is a way of life.
      Be what you want to be not what other people tell you to be
      Adapt and over come
      Careers At Sea Ambassador

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: How true would you rate this article?

        Cheers for the info Chiefy, put a few questions in my head to rest. It is not that I don't know why I am doing it, it is just that classic thing: Fear of the unknown (as I am yet to be on my first sea phase). I am totally loving the course and the things we are learning (such as bridge watchkeeping etc), just some reports/articles seem to paint a bleak picture of seafarers, which I now think is somewhat biast, jealousy perhaps? I think (and hope) I will be the right sort of person to be actually out there on the waves, besides theres not a chance I'm ever going back to working in an office!!

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: How true would you rate this article?

          You do right to worry and wonder, in fact it should be compulsary Of course there are bad reports, but then research "call center pay and conditions" and again I bet they arent all like they can be portrayed.

          However there are owners and operators out there who push the boundaries of what is right, decent and leagal. With luck and a little planning you ought to be able to avoid these operators. But as with everything in life there are extremes.

          The article is maybe a little biased but not in a bad way, we live on an island yet the main stream media and "the man in the street" dosent even realise it, or stop to think how did my ?2 Primarni jeans get here? Or my shiney new Hum-Vee or (spit) my new iPad etc. Look out my cabin window and there are thousands of boxes full of lord knows what all headed for a high street near you, but "man on the street" knows nought of this and frankly cares even less........

          Fear of the unkown has kept humanity going for a good long while, and can be a good thing. Like I said it is a life style as much as a career, and with luck the advantages (to you personnaly) out weigh the dis-advantages. It is nice to come home on leave and shut the door safe in the knowledge there wont be a phone call asking you to pop in over the weekend to help fix / re-build somthing...I have a friend who regularly looses whole weekends, we see him answer his phone come to the bar and say "be right back just got to re-start a machine" and pfffffft gone for days...when we leave home it's for a (relatively) long time, and with luck with an end point in sight etc

          Only ever done 1 stint in an office but was an Engineering Superintendant which is like being a chief but with more ships to worry about and less stand-bys to do It was ok and I might think about it again some day, but I arent rushing to get there
          Trust me I'm a Chief.

          Views expressed by me are mine and mine alone.
          Yes I work for the big blue canoe company.
          No I do not report things from here to them as they are quite able to come and read this stuff for themselves.


          Twitter:- @DeeChief

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: How true would you rate this article?

            Chiefy - have you enjoyed all the jobs you have done at sea? Is it natural for engineers to want to become a chief or are plenty happy to stay as a second or whatever (I'm talking about people who have the skills/ability to be a chief eng but choose not to?)

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: How true would you rate this article?

              Depends what you mean by "all the jobs at sea" cleaning sewage plants and tanks arent high on my top 10 of fun stuff to do Otherwise I have only ever been an engineer so not 100% sure what you mean with that question....

              Every job and every ship has it's good days and it's bad...0200 waking to a fire alarm to find the control room and switchboard on fire count as a bad day but that is an extreme and tells you you are still alive Most of the time I have enjoyed doing this job, there are low spots for all sorts of reasons (personal and profesional) but on average it's been good and long may it stay that way

              Yeah there are a few people around who dont want the Chiefs job, some are excellent 2nd's, others want to be Chiefys but fail the exams or get part A and fail part B and then get partB and fail Part A and so it goes. I wouldnt say there are plenty of these, but a few. Most companies encourage you to go for the top job. Better to promote from within than have to hire in Senior Officers....for all sorts of reasons.
              Trust me I'm a Chief.

              Views expressed by me are mine and mine alone.
              Yes I work for the big blue canoe company.
              No I do not report things from here to them as they are quite able to come and read this stuff for themselves.


              Twitter:- @DeeChief

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: How true would you rate this article?

                Originally posted by Chiefy
                Depends what you mean by "all the jobs at sea" cleaning sewage plants and tanks arent high on my top 10 of fun stuff to do Otherwise I have only ever been an engineer so not 100% sure what you mean with that question....
                Sorry "jobs" was the wrong word really - roles/positions?

                As in what did you enjoy the most, being a 4th/3rd? A 2nd with more responsibility but less paper work......? A Chief with the power?

                As an aside is it harder for Chiefs to change jobs then than 2nds and below?

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: How true would you rate this article?

                  One thing to quickly point out, a lot of companies will highly discourage the practice of being a "professional 2nd Engineer", where you refuse to go any further than 2nd, as your a taking up a rank and sometimes holding a few others back from moving up. Same goes for all officer's ranks actually.
                  I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.....

                  All posts here represent my own opinion and not that of my employer.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: How true would you rate this article?

                    4th could be left alone to do his chemical tests, but come under major stress when purifiers go mental and during bunkering.
                    3rd never really did that but you get your own empire in the land of generators, pretty much do your own thing but only in genny land, and have the fall back of the 2nd and chief for help and advice. Doing a unit 3rd can be left alone in the crankcase (with the motor man) to work thier magic so you can get the piston out.
                    2nd depends on how your chief is, if he's an interfereing bugger it can be a pain as you have to be blocker between the boys and chief and the bearer of bad news when one of you team breaks something and no one knows how to tell the chief

                    Dont forget that on most cargo oats there arent that many bodies (at all) so an engine room could well be 4,3,2, C/E +electrician and thats your lot, so there isnt anywhere to hide!!!

                    Chief can be a pain as you get to do every bloody standby arival / departure, where as watch keepers (if the ports are in the right order) only do a few / trip. Ditto bunkers Chief and 4th get to do them.

                    As for moving companies it all depends on the market and the company taking you, though by time you are chief most people dont move unless theres a real good reason or the company is shedding jobs etc, however getting another job you have the same chance as any rank it's just the lower the rank the more competition BUT also the more scope, companies prefer to promote from within rather than recruit seniors.

                    And as mentioned before compaines do try to discourage "profesional" anythings, for all sorts of reasons

                    The main thing is learn all you can, but remember if it's your first trip in rank you might want to concentrate on that job before looking above you and trying to run before you can walk, A good "any rank" is worth thier weight in gold, good, steady, reliable and honest are all good atributes,know your own little empire backwards and then move on up. Too many people think cadet to chief takes 4 trips
                    Trust me I'm a Chief.

                    Views expressed by me are mine and mine alone.
                    Yes I work for the big blue canoe company.
                    No I do not report things from here to them as they are quite able to come and read this stuff for themselves.


                    Twitter:- @DeeChief

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: How true would you rate this article?

                      Cheers for all the info Chiefy, it is much appreciated. You are a fountain of knowledge!

                      Comment

                      Previous template Next
                      Working...
                      X

                      We process personal data about users of our site, through the use of cookies and other technologies, to deliver our services, personalise advertising, and to analyze site activity. We may share certain information about our users with our advertising and analytics partners. For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.

                      By clicking "I AGREE" below, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our personal data processing and cookie practices as described therein. You also acknowledge that this forum may be hosted outside your country and you consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your data in the country where this forum is hosted.

                      I Agree