Bit of advice re endorsements & careers??

[martini]

OK so I've got:
an advanced PB pre '05 course completion cert,
A YM theory cert
and hopefully in the future a YM offshore practical cert.

My next planned steps are to get a commercial endorsement for the advanced powerboat and if/when I get the YM offshore, an endorsement for that too.

So I now need to do first aid and sea survival etc to get the endorsement. But reading up on the RYA site has thrown up a few questions.

Can I use the STCW basics to endorse my powerboat cert.? If so, is there any point, as opposed to doing the RYA first aid and sea survival? Which of the 2 options am I better off with?

I guess the first question you'll ask is what do I want to do with it? Trouble is I don't really know, the type of work I want to do is probably most influenced by what type of work I can get.

I suppose what I'm trying to ask is, will having the STCW endorsement open more doors and give me more options than the RYA endorsement?

According to the RYA, the STCW tickets are only required if you want to work overseas but maybe it's a qualification that UK companies look for as well?

In an ideal world I would get a job locally (Jersey) either crewing on the Jersey Harbours vessels (pilot boat, tug etc) or charter skippering a mobo. Trouble is there's such a limited job market here, I may well have to look further afield but that's kind of the areas I'd like to get into. There's probably more RYA instructors over here than there are students so I can't see me going down that career path.

Apologies for repeatedly harping on about he same old stuff but the whole working at sea qualifications thing is bl**dy complicated to the uninitiated

Thanks for your help

[biffer]

Best to look at what type of job you want and see what they want you to have. Frankly every job I've done that needed you to jump through hoops. I've just said try me out if you're not happy I'll go. If you are happy I want a contract. Slightly more difficult when it's overseas. But the companies come over here shopping for good guys at the end of the day you could be the best guy in the world on paper. But if you're a crash test dummy you still won't get far. I know I'd rather have a dead handy bloke who knew what he was doing than someone who cries when it gets tough. Sadly I'm in the minority I think

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[martini]

Originally Posted by biffer

Best to look at what type of job you want and see what they want you to have.

I don't even know where to start to be honest.

Originally Posted by biffer

at the end of the day you could be the best guy in the world on paper. But if you're a crash test dummy you still won't get far. I know I'd rather have a dead handy bloke who knew what he was doing than someone who cries when it gets tough. Sadly I'm in the minority I think

Trouble is if you walk into an interview room, how do you prove you're any good? Unless you've built a good reputation over a period of years, you can't. Next best thing? Have a bunch of tickets in your hand I guess. If 2 random unknown guys go for a job, one with a Yachtmaster ticket and the other without, the one without is probably going to get filed in the bin before the interview stage.

It's the same in any industry though, I've got welding quals coming out of my ears but no ones ever asked to see them. They just chuck 2 bits of metal at you and tell you to stick them together. Either you can or you can't.

[biffer]

Well it's not strictly true. You do know where to start. We can assume it will be in the marine trade and probaly not on the island. Now are we talking frabrication. Driving. Engineering. Offshore. Are you looking at relocating. Have to laugh had this conversation with my nipper about 20 years ago

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[wavelength]

STCW tickets sadly. The industry wants those letters, even though the course may have been crap and run by a muppet. 4 days of medical first aid onboard ship...and we would have taught more, and more relevant stuff, in a one day rya course. Boy did we drink some tea though! Just a prob with the particular venue though-others did allegedly the same course elsewhere and are now ready to do major surgery Gonna have DNR tatooed on me if they crew on my boat!

[Alan Priddy]

My personal view on the RYA is that they have lost the plot and do everything for money abandoning all sense of reality or responsibility to powerboat owners. I have just upgraded my YM Ocean to YM Ocean Power with over 300,000 logged miles and they are still insisting that we all have full "RYA Racing Licence" costing a fortune ( not to mention everyone onboard the boat)to take Goodheart around the world. They are even insisting that we have to pass a dunk test because it has got a cabin. Its completly mad and we are refusing to do it. I have every RYA MCA qualification going and they want me to prove that I can drive a poxy race boat around in circles 1/2 mile off the shore. Tossers!!! Wheres the RPBA (Royal Power boat Association?) Alan P

[martini]

Originally Posted by biffer

Well it's not strictly true. You do know where to start. We can assume it will be in the marine trade and probaly not on the island. Now are we talking frabrication. Driving. Engineering. Offshore. Are you looking at relocating. Have to laugh had this conversation with my nipper about 20 years ago

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I'm trying to get away from the metal trades but if I need to use those skills and work on the deck of a working vessel, salvage, buoy maintenance etc then so be it. Don't really want to be offshore, I'd rather have a life if possible. I don't want to move from jersey either but needs must, can't see a way round it. Hopefully something will come up locally one day and I'll have the skills and experience to be in the running for it.

I wouldn't mind moving to the south or south west coast too much, I can quite see myself cruising up and down the Solent in a 40' Nelson yeh I know, I can dream though!

Alan, I don't blame you for ranting, being in your situation must be extremely frustrating. But why do you need any quals if it's a private vessel with no fee paying passengers?

[biffer]

They're priceless Alan. So they want you to jump through hoops for the first and the last 12 miles of your round the world attempt or am I getting that wrong

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[biffer]

Martini. Have a word with trinity house. I'll see if I can dig up a name for ya

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[Anchorhandler]

Matt, go the STCW route as further down the line if you chose to take your sea going career further and enter the commercial sector then you will undoubtable be confronted by an employer who will require STCW fire fighting, Sea survival, first aid and that other load of boll&@#s personal hygene and anti-anti social behaviour (or whatever its called these days).

STCW stands for Standards for Training and Certification of Watchkeepers so once you start applying for commercial jobs where your going to be in charge of a watch or any kind of watchkeeping for that matter, your gonna want those certificates under your belt to even get a looking by any employer.

To give you an idea, we employ about 24 AB's (able bodied seemen) who, under their job description must be competent boat handlers as they have to 'drive' the smaller tugs based at the refinery. These tugs are all around the 40 tonne Dwt mark, 900ish HP and have 9-12 tonne bollard pull. they are litterally captains of their own little ships as they assume responsibility for the operation and upkeep of each small tug. Now when we look to recruit AB's we stipulate a minimum of PB 2 with a commercial endorsement BUT I/we will only look at CV's from people holding the aforementioned STCW tickets.

If you pop over to Cowes next week, give me call and i will arrange for one of our launches to pick you up and bring you over for a look around/chat and you will see first hand what kind of job you can get with the right ticket......(the AB's working for us start on a basic salary of 32K per annum but only work 6months of the year as they do 2 weeks on followed by 2weeks holiday) We also have a regular training program
where we send them to college to obtain their officer of the watch ticket (unlimited). Once they have completed the conversion program they are re-employd as 2nd officers. From there they can choose to go all the way through the system finishing up with qualifications that can (eventually) allow them to captain a cruise ship or super tanker or any vessel they choose.

PM me for my phone number if your inerested.

Simon

[Alan Priddy]

Your right Biff, it's all a load of crap. AP

[Rogue Wave]

As nchorHandler company is a.good company to workfor Beutifly Kept boats. ! and he's right about STCW Plenty of work for multicat drivers get your YM and then bump it up to StCW 200 ton master by taking the Oral exam.

P and O are looking for YMs at the moment

AH do you work with Roy And Russel Spencer fFeet perchance ?

[elliott0446]

I have just started doing the STCW 95 courses here in Ireland And the first one last week was the PSSR ( Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities) it was mmmm.. yes crap.
But it's needed to get the job.

If any one has a job please feel free to PM me..

[tim griffin]

Ok lets try and put the RYA stuff into some form of context .
RYA Awards
Commercial endorsements for PB2 Advanced Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster (Power or Sail) and Advanced Powerboat Instructor
Ideal if you want to work for a charter company offer rib rib rides mile builders , corporate work teach.

STCW 95 ideal for those wanting to enter the commercial world to work offshore, or on ferries, windfarm support vessels, tanker and superyachts, tugs and so on as crew or for those who wish to work up to Master Mariner or Officer of the watch.
Tim

[Anchorhandler]

AH do you work with Roy And Russel Spencer fFeet perchance ?

Hi Rogue wave

Yes indeed, we have AB's that work for us that can drive the tugs and then we have a handfull of lads that can do things with them that make you rub your eyes in disbeleif!...Roy is one of those drivers! I've seen Roy perform some maneuvers that just dont seem possible until all of a sudden....he's done it! and the best bit is that he manages to do it without thrashing the engines

Russel has nearly completed his training and we expect him to be 'signed off' in the next few months.

Loose Moose, got your PM and will reply to it shortly.

Simon

[martini]

Originally Posted by biffer

Martini. Have a word with trinity house. I'll see if I can dig up a name for ya

Thanks Biff, I'm already signed up for email alerts to their vacancies. I know they offer cadetships sometimes but prob not to 37 year olds. Would be a brilliant place to go though, working on Patricia. I've had work experience doing offshore buoy maintenance a long time ago, really enjoyed it.

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

If you pop over to Cowes next week, give me call and i will arrange for one of our launches to pick you up and bring you over for a look around/chat and you will see first hand what kind of job you can get with the right ticket

That's a fantastically generous offer Simon, thank you. I will pm you shortly

Originally Posted by tim griffin

.

Thanks Tim, will pm you shortly as well.

Thanks everyone else for the advice & comments so far too

[4grc007]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Matt, go the STCW route as further down the line if you chose to take your sea going career further and enter the commercial sector then you will undoubtable be confronted by an employer who will require STCW fire fighting, Sea survival, first aid and that other load of boll&@#s personal hygene and anti-anti social behaviour (or whatever its called these days).

STCW stands for Standards for Training and Certification of Watchkeepers so once you start applying for commercial jobs where your going to be in charge of a watch or any kind of watchkeeping for that matter, your gonna want those certificates under your belt to even get a looking by any employer.

To give you an idea, we employ about 24 AB's (able bodied seemen) who, under their job description must be competent boat handlers as they have to 'drive' the smaller tugs based at the refinery. These tugs are all around the 40 tonne Dwt mark, 900ish HP and have 9-12 tonne bollard pull. they are litterally captains of their own little ships as they assume responsibility for the operation and upkeep of each small tug. Now when we look to recruit AB's we stipulate a minimum of PB 2 with a commercial endorsement BUT I/we will only look at CV's from people holding the aforementioned STCW tickets.

If you pop over to Cowes next week, give me call and i will arrange for one of our launches to pick you up and bring you over for a look around/chat and you will see first hand what kind of job you can get with the right ticket......(the AB's working for us start on a basic salary of 32K per annum but only work 6months of the year as they do 2 weeks on followed by 2weeks holiday) We also have a regular training program
where we send them to college to obtain their officer of the watch ticket (unlimited). Once they have completed the conversion program they are re-employd as 2nd officers. From there they can choose to go all the way through the system finishing up with qualifications that can (eventually) allow them to captain a cruise ship or super tanker or any vessel they choose.

PM me for my phone number if your inerested.

Simon

Hello Simon

Just joined Ribs....looking for employment in the commercial boating industry and came across your reply to another member. I see that it was from 2010 but wondered if you still operate the tugs and would welcome advise as to the correct tickets to hold in order to gain employement.

Many Thanks

Grahame Richardson 07544 139899

[Anchorhandler]

Originally Posted by 4grc007

Hello Simon

Just joined Ribs....looking for employment in the commercial boating industry and came across your reply to another member. I see that it was from 2010 but wondered if you still operate the tugs and would welcome advise as to the correct tickets to hold in order to gain employement.

Many Thanks

Grahame Richardson 07544 139899

Hi Grahame

Yes, Still running the tugs.

I think the advise I gave to Martini is pretty much what you need to be aiming for as a minimum to gain entry in the commercial sector.

You have to understand that nowadays, for a company to win a contract it has to prove that its employees are both competent and safety conscious in the job they will be performing.
Major contract givers like the oil industry, offshore or even windfarm work companies cannot afford to have LTI's (Lost Time Icidents) on their hands. An LTI is time that an employees 'loses' due to having an accident himself or causes someone else to have. This looks bad on their statistics which in turn males them sem like irresponsible employers. (not to mention any possible sick pay or compensation payout etc...which no employer wants) LTI's may also cause all or part of the company's operation to shut-down which obviously costs money.
What im getting at is that the standards are continually increasing for both the companies that employ and the employees who seek to work with them.
You may be able to find work as a trainee with only basic qualifications but most employers will require STCW courses and some kind of commercial endorsment on an RYA ticket.

Martini recently spent 10 days makey-learny with us getting the hang of damaging driving the tugs.....

Im sure he will give you some advice if you PM him.

Right, Off to pump the bilges of my Inbox as it seems to be overflowing

Simon

[4grc007]

Hello Simon

Thanks for your reply and advice...I already have PBL 2 Commercially Endorsed an STCW95 a VHF/DSC Licence and at the moment I am doing the Day Skipper with a Tidal Endorsement, so when I complete this I will look at doing the Advanced PB.

Thanks again Grahame

[stew]

Hi AH

I was wondering if you would be able to PM me with some detail about how to gain a position with the company you are with?

Regards
Stew