MCA Master Code Vessel >200gt Unlimited Area STCW95

[severncoxswain]

Originally Posted by tugandtow

Doesnt have to be a dream, there are a few routes you can go the rya way and just pay for courses as you go and hope to get work or you can join the merchant navy as a trainee officer, where you will get paid http://www.careersatsea.org/, follow a 3 year course which is a mix of seatime and college time and come out an Officer of the watch which you can use anywhere or you can go the mega yacht route via Leisure Industry Nautical Cadet Scheme at UKSA http://www.uk-sail.org.uk/career/y_cadet.asp.

as someone who has been in the merchant navy for 12 years as a AB deck rating and is now working towards becoming an offcer I would say start as a cadet!!!

I've thought about going down that route....and have a few friends that have been in the merchant navy but I don't know if I can be bothered studing for more years after leaving school...I would probably rather work weekends of vessels and at nights but other times be a graphic designer or something along those lines....

[J S]

Originally Posted by severncoxswain

I've thought about going down that route....and have a few friends that have been in the merchant navy but I don't know if I can be bothered studing for more years after leaving school...I would probably rather work weekends of vessels and at nights but other times be a graphic designer or something along those lines....

Thats a good idea, but you will never get to a professional level within the industry. It will always be more of a hobby. You just wont have enough time and knowledge to build up time and sea/miles to get any high level professional qualifications. Things like Commercial Yachtmaster are achievable but you won't go much further without turning it into a career. But if thats the level you want to be at, great there are loads of career opportunities at that level. The reason why it takes a few more years studying to join the MN is because there is a vast amount of knowledge needed. You can start training from 16 in the MN

James

[severncoxswain]

Originally Posted by J S

Thats a good idea, but you will never get to a professional level within the industry. It will always be more of a hobby. You just wont have enough time and knowledge to build up time and sea/miles to get any high level professional qualifications. Things like Commercial Yachtmaster are achievable but you won't go much further without turning it into a career. But if thats the level you want to be at, great there are loads of career opportunities at that level. The reason why it takes a few more years studying to join the MN is because there is a vast amount of knowledge needed. You can start training from 16 in the MN

James

I remember watching a program on STV, called The Merchant Navy.....it was about the Merchant Navy and a couple of Cadets training to be in the Merchant Navy...Sponsered by Careers at Sea.....It was quite good....
But I'm thinking about it....it's either the merchant navy for a couple of years or a graphic designer am not sure which though....what do use think???? (probably be MN though)

[Heart-trouble]

what are your reasons for wanting to join the merchant navy?

[Zubenelgenubi]

Be a graphic designer mate...
Join the merchant navy & see.... not much!

[tugandtow]

Originally Posted by Zubenelgenubi

Be a graphic designer mate...
Join the merchant navy & see.... not much!

Lol sit in an office with your thumb up your bum counting down the days till retirement or try a job that will challenge and test, with a reasonable wage and most companies are on for a 1 for 1 rota.

forget seeing the world, but you can do that as I did!, but focus on a highly professional and technical job that involves elements that haven’t changed in 100s of years as well as cutting edge technology.

That STV program was good and showed the MN training routes in a good light,

what I would say is to be a 'skipper' of a small boat like a RIB involves a 2 day powerboat course, I am a RYA PB instructor and the course is S**T, or to become a Master of a MN ship several years of training and sea time!

Look at the recruitment agencies

http://www.genesis-personnel.co.uk/J...ciesMarine.htm
http://www.nuwavepersonnel.com/ etc

And look at the leave and wages and Google the type of ships

Also look at

http://www.clydemarinetraining.com/
http://www.sstg.org/

Who are cadet training companies, you can get a HND or Degree fees paid and on a wage!!

Give it a go, it you like being on boats may as well work on the big stuff!!
If you don’t like it you can leave, it’s not the RN!!

Also if you like yachts etc there is a cadet scheme for that as well!!

[Zubenelgenubi]

I wouldnt recommend that anyone join the Merchant Navy, unfortunately the money isnt very good at all. It is an enjoyable career at the outset, however, the wages earned in comparison to available shoreside (even relatively unskilled ones) jobs quickly becomes apparent.
It is untrue to say that most companies offer a 1:1 work:leave ratio, this ratio is generally only found in the ferry & standby sector, to attain a ferry job one usually needs as a Deck Officer a Chief Mate CoC & it is very difficult to get into this sector with a lesser CoC than this, thus consigning an OOW certificated Officer to longer trips at sea, speaking generally of course. More usual ratios on offer are 3/4 months on:2 months off with a consolidated pay rate, ie no pay while you are on leave.
Regarding payment, it is a common misconception that there is big money to be made in the Merchant Mavy, the exceptions to this are far & few between unless one is in a very specialised field.
If you have a yearning to go to sea then research it fully & go in with your eyes opened!
Good luck :-)

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Zubenelgenubi

I wouldnt recommend that anyone join the Merchant Navy, unfortunately the money isnt very good at all. It is an enjoyable career at the outset, however, the wages earned in comparison to available shoreside (even relatively unskilled ones) jobs quickly becomes apparent.
It is untrue to say that most companies offer a 1:1 work:leave ratio, this ratio is generally only found in the ferry & standby sector, to attain a ferry job one usually needs as a Deck Officer a Chief Mate CoC & it is very difficult to get into this sector with a lesser CoC than this, thus consigning an OOW certificated Officer to longer trips at sea, speaking generally of course. More usual ratios on offer are 3/4 months on:2 months off with a consolidated pay rate, ie no pay while you are on leave.
Regarding payment, it is a common misconception that there is big money to be made in the Merchant Mavy, the exceptions to this are far & few between unless one is in a very specialised field.
If you have a yearning to go to sea then research it fully & go in with your eyes opened!
Good luck :-)

Apart from the details which are obviously MN specific - that post could be about almost any career choice. Tell a teacher that you are thinking of going into teaching and most seem determined to tell you how bad teaching is, how they don't really get all those holidays, marking to do etc, children are horrible, paperwork etc. Tell a policeman you are considering joining the force and you'll get a similar story about pay, conditions, hours, etc. Even if you say to people in jobs we often consider to be "cushy" highly respected, well paid numbers like dentists, GPs or lawyers then life is not all peachy. My conclusion is, we all like to moan about how bad our job is. We all believe that if we had just made slightly different career choices at some point we would earn twice as much, work half as hard and be four times as happy (if this applies to you - you probably wouldn't - your glass is always half empty, you'd just have a bigger empty glass!).

This is obviously full of generalisation so don't tell me you are a teacher/dentist/gp etc who loves your job feels rewarded and respected for it. I know you exist, its hugely refreshing to meet you (like tugandtow's post) perhaps you could share some of the "our lots not so bad" karma with your colleagues!

Personally I have no experience of the MN, so can't comment on the specifics. The one obvious downside is the long periods away from home, which I imagine (if I can remember that far back) seem like no big hassle/fun at 18 but at say 28 leaving a family behind are not so attractive, unless of course your JSP in which case 2 months at sea would probably be welcome peace! The total rewards package has to offset that otherwise market forces would mean that everyone left for shore jobs! I am increasingly convinced that people only measure their "compensation" package on headline salary. The wise 18 yr old will probably pay more attention to his pension...

[severncoxswain]

Originally Posted by Polwart

The ''wise'' 18 yr old will probably pay more attention to his pension...

I've never fully understood a pension and I don't think ''wise'' 18 yr olds do either well me being 14 I obv don't.......The MN is tax free aswell so I suppose you would notice the diffrence in the wages than if you were shore based having to pay taxes.....Leave in home for 2month sounds like a great idea....wouldn't mind that....but leavin my close friends behind that would be harder....or your girlfriend as well that would probs be the hardest thing to do.....

[Poly]

Originally Posted by severncoxswain

I've never fully understood a pension and I don't think ''wise'' 18 yr olds do either well me being 14 I obv don't...

aye - I've never met one that did. But the questions to ask yourself are: when do you want to retire? what lifestyle would you like when your do? But even then if I offered you 20K a year plus a fantastic persion at 60 or 25k a year and no pension - i'll bet I can guess which you would opt for!

[Zubenelgenubi]

Hi Severncoxswain,

If you want to be a MN Officer then you go for it! Dont be put off by the negatives that I have pointed out, there are + & - sides to every job. A pension while important shouldnt be paramount in your thoughts at this stage & at your age. Which RIB you are going to get & if itll be a Scooby, an Evo X or an S3 to drive were my priorities!
I Would advise going down the cruise ship route, it is as good as it gets if you are to go away to sea. Being away from home is ok while you are young but when you reach your late twenties priorities will change & you will probably find going away more difficult. Also, be aware that the notion of not paying tax is not entirely true, depending on where your ship goes, its flag & where your are paid from & to are factors, there is no such thing as a free lunch! Anyway, best of luck, you have plenty of time on your side to decide where your future will take you.....

[severncoxswain]

Originally Posted by Polwart

if I offered you 20K a year plus a fantastic pension at 60 or 25k a year and no pension - i'll bet I can guess which you would opt for!

Don't ever play poker with me then....I would go for the first one....better pension....that you offering me a job :P lol
I guess it depends on wat the job involved if it was skippering a boat everyday and I got a good pension I probs would take it.....But if it was sitting in a office but the pay was higher and better pension I would have to def go for the first one....Told u never to play poker with me :P haha

[tugandtow]

severncoxswain have a look at

http://www.deck-officer.info/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

this forum is used by deck cadets so plenty of info and advice about the MN and becoming a cadet.

as for pensions, in the MN they are a bit hit and miss as some companies do not have a scheme but just take out your own personal plan and pay in at least 5% of your wage!

It is interesting on people’s views; I would never recommend cruse ships etc, 4 month trips and having to deal with 80 year old Americans!! No thanks!!
I recommend offshore, dredging, small tankers, tugs and workboats.

I have been working on wind farms and coastal construction over the past few years, get all the boat stuff as well and the high tech/complex construction

Just finished this project

http://www.alpha-ventus.de/index.php?id=80

[severncoxswain]

Originally Posted by tugandtow

Just finished this project
http://www.alpha-ventus.de/index.php?id=80

That looks cool mate...Did u get ur own photo's???
I wouldn't mind doing something like that at all...but cruise ships I think I would quite like that as well...just to be at sea to be honest...If I can fall back on a degree in Graphic Design wen I come out of the MN would be good likes but just to come out of high school and then go to Glasgow Nautical College of Studies would be great, and do a degree in graphic design on one of those open college things sounds like a plan do you agree???

[chewy]

Now try and buy a house on £20K a year.

I work away alot and it isn't easy, some lads can't hack it.
I personally find working away is better for me as I appreciate the things at home more when I do get home.

[tugandtow]

OOW working as 2nd mate would be getting between 26 and 32 grand a year! not bad for a 19 year old straight out of college!!! add 6 months leave a year and a tax rebate its not that bad!

being away from home can be hard if got stuff going on but sometimes is great to get away!!

you can do both, most ships have broadband etc and with your time off you can do freelance design work

I have some photos but hard to take when working but loads on this site, http://bildarchiv.alpha-ventus.de its all in german but good pics of how the wind farm was built

[severncoxswain]

Originally Posted by tugandtow

OOW working as 2nd mate would be getting between 26 and 32 grand a year! not bad for a 19 year old straight out of college!!!

That would amasing to become 2nd mate straight out of college at 19.....Yeah freelance work would be great likes because it means that I can also fall back on something that I enjoy doing after coming out of the thing that I love the most boats/vessels ect.....

[tugandtow]

you can start a cadetship at 16, 3 year course split into sea time and college time, study for a HND and then sit your OOW Oral exam, pass and away you go!

you get a training wage, £500 ish a month and all fees etc paid!

[severncoxswain]

[QUOTE=tugandtow;320965you get a training wage, £500 ish a month and all fees etc paid! [/QUOTE]

do the fees include drink??? please say it does free drinks would be great likes

[vg279]

A great place for Master 200gt orals prep. Check the link below

Glasgow Maritime Academy | New Nautical College of Glasgow | Just Nautical

We have CLASS TILL YOU PASS POLICY.

No other college will give you that.

Glasgow Maritime Academy www.glasgowmaritimeacademy.com - YouTube

Originally Posted by tugandtow

Hi I just had my oral for MCA Master Code Vessel >200gt Unlimited Area STCW95 today and passed so for any of you wishing to do it here are the questions I was asked,

Aberdeen MCA office
Capt. W Bennett (from Belfast)
0900-1000 18/09/09

Started with small take about type of vessels etc etc and then straight into it;
Passage planning, gave me a coastal passage from Aberdeen to Great Yarmouth, APEM etc publications blah blah
Tides, how you know if enough water at destination, neaps and springs, tidal diamonds
Fixing vessel position, GPS and asked to take bearing using Az ring on a compass in the room, (arrow down!!!!)
Convert compass to true, asked me to write down
Correcting charts
A lot of Meteorogy stuff, sources of WX data how would the forecast effect my passage plan
Masters standing orders, forming bridge watch keeping team and night orders
Navtex
Calling the master- fire in engine room my actions as master
Radar potting, and rule 19!!
Crossing, head on and overtaking all PDV
Smartie board , everything!! Day signal and fog signal
Buoys IALA B preferred channel markers, cardinal and isolated danger, top marks and lights
Distress signals
MoB, my actions as Master
Working the vessel, safety ie ISM risk assessments
Crane and LOLER regs, safe lifts and inclining the vessel, why can be dangerous
Stability, ballasting bilges and FSE
Code vessel surveys, who does and what looking for
Ships paperwork
Opening a crew agreement
Drills
Salvage requirements, i.e. vessel must be in distress, an imminent peril to ship life and environment must exist, master can negotiate with lloyds open form, only get paid is vessel delivered into safety

The end, a further bit of chat then told I had passed