Deep sea experience needed for Deck Officer ticket?

[SlapheadSteve]

For my cadetship I've been put with a ferry company as my sponsor. I was just wondering how I would be able to get my Deck Officer ticket as I'm sure you need deep sea experience, don't you? The company I've been put with just operate 3 ferries which won't be classed as deep sea. Not sure if I'd be put with another company to get deep sea experience or if it would even matter.

Just thought I'd ask in case there was a very simple answer before I contacted my training officer.

Any help apprecited.

[CharlieDelta]

P&O Ferries cadets don't do any deep sea as far as I'm aware, though people sponsored by the likes of Calmac, Isles of Scilly Steamship, Wightlink etc etc tend to be placed outside the company for at least one trip. Which company is it, if we can ask?

[SlapheadSteve]

I'm with North Link, they do ferries from Aberdeen to the Scottish islands.

[CharlieDelta]

This might help:

http://www.officercadet.com/showthread.php/3601-Interview-with-Northlink-Ferries

Looks like you might spend some time on one of the Stena tankers managed by Northern Marine, if it's similar to the CalMac setup.

[SlapheadSteve]

Much appreciated. I'll give my training officer a quick ring this week and clear things up.

[Mark_S]

As far as I'm aware, everyone going through the cadetship is being trained for the OOW Unlimited ticket, regardless of what routes your sponsor company trades on. From speaking to junior 3rds on ferries that seems to be the case, and a lot of ex ferry cadets seem to end up on cruises at some point.

[Steve]

I was just wondering how I would be able to get my Deck Officer ticket as I'm sure you need deep sea experience, don't you? The company I've been put with just operate 3 ferries which won't be classed as deep sea.

There is no "deep sea" requirement. All the sea time requirements, rules and regulations are listed in MGN 92. You must serve on ships that "proceed to sea", i.e. which leave Categorised Waters. Categorised Waters are things like rivers, sea lochs and estuaries (MSN 1776 if you really want to know). Northlink certainly proceed to sea. It does not matter if you do not in fact leave the "near-coastal" area.

But see Table 4 of MGN 92.

[SWonder]

Hi there, I am interested to read that you are with NorthLink ferries and also slightly confused. They were part of David MacBrayne group which also operates Cal Mac ferries. Cadetships are usually offered with them in joint partnership with Northern Marine Management who manage the Stena Sphere and deal with some other clients in the tanker industry. Usually you would be interviewed by Nothern Marine Management at their offices in Clydebank before you start College and then you would be told a few days after interview if you were going to be accepted by them. Otherwise you had to wait until the first couple of days at College to find out which sponsor company you ended up with.

I am an engineer cadet, currently on my first sea phase. I was with North Link ferries but after they lost the contract for the Northern Isles route(Shetland/Orkney) to Serco after the government tendering process I was then transferred into the Cal Mac part of David MacBrayne. However as Cal Mac have so few berths available for Cadets as it is, I have actually ended up doing my sea time purely through Northern Marine Management. I did just over two weeks on the Stena Mersey, Ro-Pax between Liverpool and Belfast and am now currently on a Stena Bulk P-Max Oil tanker. I have been on here for nearly 5 weeks of a 4 month contract and finding it to be very enjoyable.