Help - ENG1 Failure

[Unregistered]

Hi everyone, I wish to remain anonymous for obvious reasons. I have been made offers from a few reputable companies, one recently from a big company, and I went for my ENG1 on Friday. I have been made offers for Deck Officer Cadetships, however I was informed at the ENG that my eyesight only makes me able to work as an engineer (my eyesight is 6/15 in worse eye when it needs to be 6/12 for deck, 6/18 for engine).
This is a definite ruling, now I am wondering if anybody else knew of a situation like this and if their sponsoring companies would allow them to change discipline just like that due to an eng1 fail.
Will my company just disregard me do you think?

[alistairuk]

Personally if I was looking at the application I would be highly sceptical and inclined to turn it down - purely on the basis that I would perceive it as you are only settling with engineering due to not being able to obtain an ENG-1 to allow you to be a deck officer.

However, there's no harm in enquiring, if it's truly what you want to do - they are obviously all going to want to know a good reason why and honestly "I couldn't be a deckie" isn't going to be a particularly valid one.

As you've already applied to them all you'll have to advise them of your ENG-1 (they'd want a copy anyway & they all already know you originally applied to be a deckie, so theres no point hiding it).

[HolyNougat]

Or get laser surgery, correct your vision and go and get another ENG 1....
If you get laser next week, you can get a ENG in a month or so and the Dr won't even be able to say you have had it done.

[YoungMariner]

To be honest, this unaided vision requirement is a load of bollox, it should all be based on aided vision (if you should be 20:20 with glasses/contacts), but the requirement is unaided to see the top line of the chart (the single letter). Ironically for a commercial pilot Class 1 Medical (which I also hold along with a pilots license) the requirement is actually a lot less strict and barely of any consequence what you can or cannot see unaided, its all about what you can see aided. The MCA doesn't have anyone full time in the medical section, so nobody is interested in changing the rules. The MCA also have more strict rules on the waiting period after laser eye surgery then the Civil Aviation Authority, who after 3 months will allow a pilot to fly a commercial airliner again...
Well, if you did the test again (at your own cost) and somehow during the unaided eyesight test you managed to read the top line or the top two, you would suddenly be fit for lookout duties. Not saying you should do that but....

[Inland Pirate]

What happens when glasses break then, or get lost in an emergency?

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[MrStealth]

You're "supposed" to have a spare pair aboard. The same goes for contact lenses.

[Inland Pirate]

Spare pair is no good if the ship is sinking or there's a fire in the accommodation block though

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[saltydog]

Well its funny this thread should come up! I applied to be a deckie but failed my ENG1 due to colour deficiency (I did the ENG the day before my interview). When I got there the woman asked me the standard questions etc and said so Deck cadetship and I just said "Well, I will be honest. I applied for a deck cadetship, however, having recently failed it due to colour deficiency I wish to change to engine. My reasons for this is because I always wanted a career at sea but I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, however, this has pointed me in a direction that I will follow as it has made my mind up". She simply smiled, said thank you, crossed out the box that said Deck Cadet and ticked Engine Cadet. I did the same in another interview justifying my reasons and no problems. I had 3 offers from the 3 companies I applied for. Be honest, justify yourself and make them really see that you want it. PM me if you need anymore info...good luck!