Gangway

[Rich]

Hello Fellow Seafarers. I'm just about coming to the end of my cadetship, and have pretty much spent the entire 12 months on the gangway. (container ships) Has anyone else had a similar/frustrating experience?

[gadget123]

Yeah its pretty standard practice to use the cadet as an extra OS in port. Saves having to actually teach you anything about the cargo.

[Rich]

Yeah its pretty standard practice to use the cadet as an extra OS in port. Saves having to actually teach you anything about the cargo.

It's good to know it's not just with my company.

It just doesn't make sense to me that if they employ me after, I'll be going straight from gangway to duty officer. Surely it's in their interest to give me at least some cargo experience?

[gadget123]

It's good to know it's not just with my company.

It just doesn't make sense to me that if they employ me after, I'll be going straight from gangway to duty officer. Surely it's in their interest to give me at least some cargo experience?

Are they going to employ you afterwards? Have they definatly said that?

Also even if they do employ you and its a big company it is unlikely that the officers on board with you now will sail with you again, so does it really matter to them if you are any good?

[Rich]

They haven't officially offered me a contract afterwards, but they have told me they're very keen to keep on more British cadets afterwards. Yeah it is unlikely I will sail with the same officers again so I guess that doesn't matter. The most important thing is for me to get my ticket! Gangway or no gangway, it makes no difference in the end. Its just mind numbingly boring that's all doing it for 12 months. 

[Pilot Chris]

Rich

If you have genuinely spent your entire time in port on Gangway duty then you need to really let the company training officer know right away, additionally you need to consider telling the college as you will have holes in your knowledge that may not be picked up during your orals and your TRB will be lacking and you may need more sea time to make this up.

I despair that some officers at sea do this and it goes against what most of us strive for (good quality training for cadets)

Chris

[Rich]

Hi Chris.

I've spent all my time officially on gangway duty, however I had one officer who let me go on deck the occasional time for an hour or so when it wasn't so busy. So I have at least some experience. I've brought this matter up a few times with my company training officer and he told me they can only ask the captain to not put me on gangway. It's ultimately the captain's decision as to what my duties are. The captain told me that it's wasted money for the company to have to replace me on the gangway with either the Bosun or deck fitter, and that he has no other choice and apologised. I really don't want to have to go back to sea again as a cadet. Who's to say they won't just put me on gangway again? This is my 3rd ship now and it has always been this same story. I'll be honest, it's not really making me want to pursue a career on the container ships. Thanks for your advice.

[Pilot Chris]

Rich

This is wrong! You will need to do the cargo aspect of your TRB and this needs to be explained, you really need to start saying that you will end up jeopardising your cadetship if you don't do more deck time, it's fair enough to do the occasional gangway watch but every port (to the detriment of your studies is wrong). Politely say that it's a case of I need now every port to be involved with the cargo as per my TRB.

I will add as a caveat to my above that if your TRB is almost complete and your happy with how the cargo ops are performed then its a different story and you may just wish to consider who you work with in the future if your not happy.

Good Luck!

[YoungMariner]

Unbelievable. Yes, as a cadet I recall spending a bit of time on the gangway, but not excessively so. The cadet is additional to the crew compliment and should be given opportunities to train. Now in some cultures a cadet is someone who will eventually become an OS, AB and then perhaps eventually a 3/O so the training is completely different. The company training officer SHOULD be talking to the Captain and ensuring that cadets are getting the proper training. You also need to speak to the Captain and make sure that you get the training.

[GuinnessMan]

Hi Chris.

I've spent all my time officially on gangway duty, however I had one officer who let me go on deck the occasional time for an hour or so when it wasn't so busy. So I have at least some experience. I've brought this matter up a few times with my company training officer and he told me they can only ask the captain to not put me on gangway. It's ultimately the captain's decision as to what my duties are. The captain told me that it's wasted money for the company to have to replace me on the gangway with either the Bosun or deck fitter, and that he has no other choice and apologised. I really don't want to have to go back to sea again as a cadet. Who's to say they won't just put me on gangway again? This is my 3rd ship now and it has always been this same story. I'll be honest, it's not really making me want to pursue a career on the container ships. Thanks for your advice.

Utter faarking bollocks.

The company is not "wasting money" by having an AB or OS on the gangway as the cadet is just an additional crew and the vessel should be able to operate normally without having a cadet on board at all! The Master does have a choice and should be putting you into the cargo operations side of things, not just plonking you on the gangway.

[laura]

It might be bollocks but it was pretty normal in my company too to use a cadet as the gangway watch/ night lookout to free up the ABs or 'more useful crew' for deck work. You might be missing a few bits and pieces but you'll just need to jump in the deep end a bit when you get your first ship as a mate- take a bit of time off watch to understudy the Chief Mate... I know how it is to be doing menial tasks for months and the company/ training officer ashore are like 'there's nothing we can do'... not ideal... don't let it get you down, nothing wrong with asking for help when you get started for real!

[Lewisscott22]

Good News!

Well, for some...

Currently, I am speaking to a cadet who is on-board a ship in the same company as myself. The matter is being addressed.

We must complete a separate company booklet (as well as the TRB), some comments mentioned was that there was not enough time to do these booklets as cadets were working in other areas (Gangway popped up as an example!).

An email was sent out to all Captains to emphasis that training tasks were priority in order to maximize training efficiency.

Someone must have said something and now the entire fleet knows. If you speak up about it, it will eventually get sorted.

Hope this helped.

[Pilot Chris]

That's great to hear

Dont forget that as a cadet you have to take control of your cadetship (it's up to you only to finish your TRB) and if you think it's not heading in the right direction speak up! (respectfully!)

[GuinnessMan]

Good stuff!

[Lewis]

Just because you been given times to be on watch or day work doesn't mean out side these times you should just rest. Go up to the bridge in your off time: ask officers questions, borrow books etc. Talk to the crew find out what interesting things are happening then just show up and observe if opportunity comes get stuck in. If you show an interest they will usually make more of an effort too. But if you just do your gangway watch then go to bed, watch dvds etc they wont feel inclined to make any more effort to aid your training than you will.