West Africa, South America and the Orient

[IndianaMartin]

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience visiting West Africa, South America and the Orient when they were on their cadetship or when they were officers and had cadets onboard. How did you find it? Did you enjoy? I just want to see what sort of things to expect when I go to sea in two months time.


Thanks!

[GuinnessMan]

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience visiting West Africa, South America and the Orient when they were on their cadetship or when they were officers and had cadets onboard. How did you find it? Did you enjoy? I just want to see what sort of things to expect when I go to sea in two months time.


Thanks!

Have they been telling you what ship you're joining to know that?

[IndianaMartin]

They've only told me it could be any ship within Union Maritime's fleet. So I've done some research into the company and their main transportation of goods is LNG and Bulk Carriers and that they are based in Lagos, Nigeria. But CMT said that I may not even be with Union Maritime Ltd. if they didn't have a ship available at the time of my sea phase, so It was just more of how people thought of them countries that's all. I've also had my Yellow Fever jabs along with Typhoid and Hep A and Hep B so It made me think that I would be going to the countries mentioned above.

[GuinnessMan]

Union Maritime don't run LNG tankers, they own several Chemical Tankers on a CPP trade around West Africa mostly

[Mick Alton]

A friend of mine is with Union Maritime. He sailed on a DP tanker in the north sea.

[chris]

I was in a few ports in Peru, so just inside South America. Pretty nice really.

[laura]

Been to West Africa more than a few times, can't say I enjoy it although the good weather is one of the perks for many- as long as the Captain is well versed in 'gifts' it usually goes fine but I find working there a complete pain in the backside, going ashore is in 95% of my experience a fecking nightmare, as is dealing with 'authorities', probably ever so slightly easier for the male species though, pilotage is a joke as is Port State Control... the only thing I really liked about it was good local beer and watching lizards on the quayside.

[HolyNougat]

I spent 40 days on a trip up the west africa coast earlier this year.
I think that is was as I suspected it would be really, dirty, poor, mind bending levels of corruption and complicated regulations designed to keep people employed, but some of the countries and people were pleasant enough and apart from having my shoes stolen in Sierra Leone it was an interesting experience.

[Pilot Chris]

West Africa - Dump (save your money) South America is fantastic, just be a bit careful in some parts of Peru and the Orient will be great too.

As everywhere just be careful not to "flash the cash" too much, especially if you have a few beers.