Starting out with Merchant Navy - Caledonian MacBrayne

[7htas]

I'm with British Marine. It's called British Marine but it might as well be called Mumbai marine. 95% of the crew/officers are Indian.

I'm working on a very long term goal of living aboard a yacht in the Med! That side of things are planned to the max! I see the merchant navy as my ticket to that. Professionally though; I am not sure. I'd guess that like to get my masters ticket and be a captain; first things first though- get my ticket. I am going to try and get with a bulk carrier company though; if that's not possible, then I'll consider offshore stuff.

 

[Matt 82]

Like a millionaire's yacht type thing? Probably worse ways to spend your days. I take it it's be a motoryacht, or do you know how to sail?

 

[7htas]

No! God no! I want something which is small enough for me to sail single-handedly, and big enough to live on. I have a few yachts in mind; all around 30ft; between 15 and 35k.

 

[Matt 82]

Ah I get you haha. I've always fancied doing something similar tbh. Won't ever happen though unless the missus and I split up. Quite like the look of the Westerley Renown. Maybe one day.

 

[7htas]

I want a Sadler 32; which is similar to a Contessa 32.

I think that was one of the main reasons why things went wrong with my missus. I'm hell bent on living on a boat in the Med; she's hell bent on moving to Australia, and having kids! You've got to follow your dreams!

 

[Matt 82]

That you do. At the moment, being a liveaboard for me is more of a 'would be cool' thing rather than a dream so it's not causing strife. A job with CalMac would have us (hopefully) moving to a nicer area so we'd both be happy with that.

I would love to have a boat though. Exploring the country by motorbike and the coast by boat just sounds like bliss to me.

Having just looked it up, I really like the layout in the Sadler 32 (I'm just going to go ahead and assume they're all the same). Hope you get one.

 

[penfold]

I'm with British Marine. It's called British Marine but it might as well be called Mumbai marine. 95% of the crew/officers are Indian.

I'm working on a very long term goal of living aboard a yacht in the Med! That side of things are planned to the max! I see the merchant navy as my ticket to that. Professionally though; I am not sure. I'd guess that like to get my masters ticket and be a captain; first things first though- get my ticket. I am going to try and get with a bulk carrier company though; if that's not possible, then I'll consider offshore stuff.

Perfectly feasible, but by far the biggest employer of UK officers is the offshore sector so don't get too attached to a specific type of ship; it's more important to be working! I wanted to go deepsea when I qualified 3 years ago, but the only job offers I got were for the North Sea; I'm still there although once I get my class 2 I will be giving serious consideration to a move.

 

[cryan]

Personally I would stay clear of Clyde Marine. In my day they were known as the Govan Cowboys. They are more a factory for Cadets than a company that gives a toss about your training. They do have by far the biggest number of cadets though. I think Cal Mac train through Clyde Marine? I would probably stay away from the RFA aswell unless you have an affinity for sitting alongside in the UK paying tax.
Tips: 1) make sure you want the lifestyle and not just want to muck about on boats.
2) Approach the companies direct, P&O cruises for example usually have a lot of cadets as they have a lot of spare bunks. ( When I sailed with them we sometimes had a cadet on each watch where as cargo ships might carry one cadet in total-if your lucky), Maersk would be another one.
3) No one will have a problem with your age these days (you used to have to be under 20) but trust me, when you get to a ship make sure your keen to learn, and keen to join the team. NOTHING will piss the lads off more than a mature cadet thinking he knows it all (which is all to common I'm afraid).

Offshore AHTS, and cruises are probably the most fun although offshore are usually dry these days. You should also accept that you won't get rich at sea but that you will never be in a better club. If you don't like it get out before seven years. If you stay at sea for over seven years you'll get bitten and will struggle to adjust to life ashore.

Once you get your ticket you can suit yourself and try different types of ships. Cruises are good for lifestyle and family can join you as they can on most cargo ships except the nightlife is not as good. AHTS or Offshore project work is probably the most interesting and towage is by far the most challenging.
Deck Officers spend most of their lives looking out of windows and colouring charts in with colouring pencils. Engineering Officers are sent to Earth by God to help poor deckies get from A to B and Leckys are mainly witch doctors.

 

[cryan]

Also re colleges. It may have changed in the last five years or so but basically Warsash Cadets spend a bit too much time checking their hair in the mirror, South Shields Cadets are constantly in danger of being captured by wild Shields women and trapped to life of baby making and Glasgow cadets do some serious damage to their livers. Can't really speak for Fleetwood and Fylde as in my day they only served the tiny stand-by boat companies.

 

[7htas]

Fleetwood is a pleasing mix of all that you mentioned. *


*not really that pleasing.