Questions about clyde

[Guest]

i just got a letter from clyde marine. I was looking for some help with some questions
thanks in advance

1, My place doesn't start until september if i acept it will and apply for other companies. Will i be fined for droping out?

2, I have been researching the companies but there is only so much truth companies will put on there website. For example i have hear horror stories about people being placed on ships with non english officer and not getting any real experience need for course work etc. Also as a smoker are there any companies that have extreme non smoking policies where i could be at sea for months without bieng able to get a cigarette. for example i have heard good things about chevron but if any ships were not to allow smoking on board i would imagine it would be a tanker.

sorry for going on to much thanks again

[Brimbo]

Re: Questions about clyde

1. If you sign your contract with Clyde Marine and still apply to other companies, you wont be fined but it may be frowned upon if you drop Clyde Marine and join say, P&O. Though when you begin your college course it is best to stay with one company!

2. Everybodies sea experiences are completely different, dont get your hopes up with being a full english crew as this is isn't the most common thing nowadays (unless you are contracted with a small english company). You can smoke on pretty much any ships, companies enforce laws strongly but the crew often have there own policies

P.S except to come home with heavy smoking addicitons if you liek the odd tab now! some places will have 200 tabs for as cheap as $7

[Guest]

Re: Questions about clyde

Thanks

was only going to change as i have until september before i start so thought i could spend that time looking to see who else makes me an offer from the other companies I have applied too.

Didnt expect to be an all english crew. but as i said have heard some horror stories just wondering if there is anyone i should avoid or on the flip side anyone who has a particularly good reputation when it comes to treatment and onboard facilities.

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Questions about clyde

Full English crew? Whats one of those?

The way I (and few others) saw things, your first trip was make or break. Some folks went away and loved it, some didnt bother coming back for 3rd Phase. The international shipping language is English, and is a requirement in most companies (it is with mine). The deck officers will definitely have to speak English as they have to use the radio to talk to other ships and ports.

When it comes to smoking, it is allowed on Tankers but naturally there are restrictions. When sailing, Smoke anywhere but outside (especially when the vessel has no cargo), although this is dependent on your Captain. When cargo ops are going on then it will be limited to two or three rooms (normally Officers smoking room, crew smoking room and cargo control room). If you are caught anywhere else smoking then the terminal has the right to stop loading and boot you out the port (just going alongside a berth can cost around $16,000). Also, don't take any lighters on board. Only safety matches are allowed on tankers. I know folks tend to ignore this, but some companies dont (we certainly dont!).

[Guest]

Re: Questions about clyde

Maybe I should phrase it another way. What sponsering company are you with and what has your experience been like so far?

[alistairuk]

Re: Questions about clyde

You will have good and bad reports from cadets with every company, it's very much down to the individual and how you cope with life at sea and the job - something you will not find out until you go to sea. I was a cadet with Viking Recruitment - of the Viking cadets that started the same time as me at Warsash, 1 didn't even make it past the first week at college, and the only other that quit, lasted 5 weeks at sea before quitting.

Within the other companies, it varied - most people who quit, left during or after their first sea phase (didn't return for phase 3), a handful left during phase 3 at college and very few left during the second sea phase.

I had a brilliant time - there was obviously bad days / weeks that sucked but overall I enjoyed it.

Now I am qualified it is pretty much the same, only the newness has gone, but I still enjoy it.

While it might not be the 'best' thing to do, there is nothing to stop you accepting the Clyde offer while waiting on other companies getting back to you - it's not like your starting next week!

Also, I have never been on a ship with a 'british' deck/engine officer (excluding a few of the captains & other cadets), my current ship I am the only british officer onboard and the others english capabilities range from non-existant to reasonable (and its a cruise ship - so don't think they will have british officers just because you have british passengers).

As far as I am aware smoking is permitted in at least one place on all ships - although slightly more seriously for me anyway, alcohol policies vary by company.

[Guest]

Re: Questions about clyde

cheers alistar

wow I thought almost all ships were dry theses days, although i wasn't thinking go cruise ships.

[Chiefy]

Re: Questions about clyde

Do'nt stray to the darkside, dry ships are good too

[Guest]

Re: Questions about clyde

so is it only cruise ships that aren't dry?

[Chiefy]

Re: Questions about clyde

Lol no

Cruise are damp, Tankers are damp or Dry depending on company, Off Shore (Supply Side) are dry, Containers are either wet or dry depending on company...
can you see a theme developing?

Also Even on cruises there is potential for them to become dry for cadets... use it, abuse it...loose it.......as the Meerkat say...."Simples" :0

[Steve]

Re: Questions about clyde

Full English crew? Whats one of those?

One without any Scots or Irish?

[Guest]

Re: Questions about clyde

hope not am scottish

[oldman]

Re: Questions about clyde

Oh dear Oh dear
I maybe a hypocrit - I know, but never mind, so be it.
A SMOKER - oooooooohhh - thats bad.
I'm old, and smoked all my life - they were cheap at sea and about the only little pleasure we had, apart from the occassional can of tennents and wee tot of the magic water.
BUT you really should stop - kick the habit - it will get you sooner or later.
Trouble is, nowadays you are likely to continue living "in the aftermath" - and believe me - it's not "living" at all.
A pretty miserable existence in fact.
Kick the habit - give yourself a life P-C.
I mean it.

[Guest]

Re: Questions about clyde

was only going to change as i have until september before i start so thought i could spend that time looking to see who else makes me an offer from the other companies I have applied too.

Does the offer from Clyde not have a time limit on it? Even if it does they'll probably let it slip, after all they stand to make alot of money out of you!

Didnt expect to be an all english crew. but as i said have heard some horror stories just wondering if there is anyone i should avoid or on the flip side anyone who has a particularly good reputation when it comes to treatment and onboard facilities.

Most of the moans and serious complaints seem to be related to Clyde itself. Of the sponsors Zodiac is the one that seems to attract the most horror stories, but then again some people have had a wonderful time with them, it has such a wide variety of ships I suppose that's to be excepted.

I know people that speak quite highly of P&O Ferries. They generally have all British and Irish officers and on many ships British AB's and motormen, but if you want to go with them do it through SSTG, they pay your accommodation, Clyde won't. Wilhelmsen also seem to have satisfied cadets.

[Just Ben]

Re: Questions about clyde

I would wait as long as you can, it's nice to keep your options open. Although if you want to work on a cruise ship then you're better of applying directly to cruise companies.
With clyde you're more likely to get (what i call) a dirty ship, they do have cruise companies but you can only select one cruise company out of your preffered 3. Also other than your 3 preffered companies you don't really have any say in what comapny you get.

You're not set in stone (even after signing the sponsorship agreement) until you actually start college, however you shouldn't sign the agreement unless you're deffinately gonna go with Clyde (somebody else might want the spot more).
If you wish to drop out after you have started college you will have to pay anything up to ?4,000 (i think, maybe ?3,000)

Note: I rushed this so it hasn't been spell checked, will do it later =]
EDIT: Changed some wording and corrected some spellings, same content though.