Hello

[RedWhiteAndBlue]

Hello everyone, I am an engineering cadet at Glasgow studying the professional diploma course. I am in my third phase and so have a little bit of knowledge regarding the course and first trip to sea so will be happy to help anyone thinking of joining the merchant navy. Look forward to speaking to you all

[weerossi]

Re: Hello

I am starting Engineering course this September got a few questions i hope u dont mind answering?

What does Phase 1 consist off and how long does it last?

What company are you sponsored by? What was your first time at sea like, where you go and wht did u do as a Engineer Cadet?

Cheers

Ross.

[RedWhiteAndBlue]

Re: Hello

No bother mate. Phase 1 consists of lots of different things including your first aid, fire fighting and sea survival to get you ready to join your ship. In class you will be doing a lot of maths based subjects like thermofluids, material selection, dynamics, single phase AC electrics and maths obviously. You will also be in the workshop one day a week where you will learn some basic engineering skills.
My first phase was from September until March, im sure it is still the same now. As far as what you will be doing on the ship I found that it depends a lot on who you are working with and how busy the engineers are. Some engineers I worked with weren't overly interested in helping me learn while others couldn't have been more helpful. So my advice is to take advantage of the good engineers on board and ask as much questions as you can. You might just be following the third or fourth engineer around some days doing nothing and as boring as it seems at times it is useful to take notes if they are doing something you think is important, especially for filling in the dreaded purple book.
I ended up going to a few places in Australia and to the far East, so I was lucky in that respect. I would advise you to go ashore as much as you can, no point joining the merchant navy if your not going to enjoy the benefits! (i know some cadets who hardly went ashore, morons). My first trip to sea was difficult at times and really enjoyable at times, there is a lot to take in. When you get back to college for third phase though you can start to understand more what you have being doing on board the ship.
Any more questions give me a shout.

[weerossi]

Re: Hello

Cheers for that mate, reli helpfull.