Final Trip Deck Cadet

[welshdecky]

Hi all,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on last trips - should you ask to join a familiar vessel type or even a previous vessel if possible?

I've heard that when you go for Orals, the examiner likes to talk mainly about your last ship so I may have shot myself in the foot a bit with this!


My last trip will only be a short one and I'm joining a tanker - will probably be a max of two months. My previous ship types include two container vessels and a ro-ro.

Should I start reading up on tanker operations now so I join knowing all the ins and outs of vessel operations before I get on board?
My MNTB is completed although now I'm joining a tanker, I can get tanker specific operations signed off but am a bit worried that I might only get these signed off as progressing as in such a short trip I probably won't get time to become 'proficient'.

[YoungMariner]

Look at it as a challenge, and try really hard to get on top of the operations and sign off as much as you can. 2 months is a lot of time, if you use it wisely.

You can be honest in the exam that most of your experience is on other vessel types and that you've only spent 2 months on a tanker, but he will expect you to know all of the typical safety features specific to a tanker.

[GuinnessMan]

Hi all,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on last trips - should you ask to join a familiar vessel type or even a previous vessel if possible?

I've heard that when you go for Orals, the examiner likes to talk mainly about your last ship so I may have shot myself in the foot a bit with this!


My last trip will only be a short one and I'm joining a tanker - will probably be a max of two months. My previous ship types include two container vessels and a ro-ro.

Should I start reading up on tanker operations now so I join knowing all the ins and outs of vessel operations before I get on board?
My MNTB is completed although now I'm joining a tanker, I can get tanker specific operations signed off but am a bit worried that I might only get these signed off as progressing as in such a short trip I probably won't get time to become 'proficient'.

If you are going to work on a tanker then you should most certainly read up on the safety requirements and tanker operations manual. If it's your last trip then you will be expected to know a bit about what you are doing and the safety of it all as Tankers (for a deckie) are a bit more complicated than lego boats and Ro/Ro's and I would think that two months is more than enough time to get fully up to speed and proficient.