Merchant Navy

[TwoLeadFeet]

Gaspowered said:

As for the "bonkers hot temperatures and the noise in the engine room, and the boiler suit will be soaked" part you described. It's true. My last trip I spent on top of a diesel engine, while sat off Dubai in temperatures pushing 50

As a first trip cadet coming into Djibouti in August I was so relieved to be told by the 2nd it was time to go and turn on the hand rail cooling pump....

[Gorilla Boy]

Gaspowered said:

Gorilla Boy said:

Gaspowered said:

Popeyed said:

I would advise you forget the engineers on here slagging off the Deck Officer path; they forget to mention the bonkers hot temperatures and the noise in the engine room, and that your bolier suit will be soaked in sweat at the end of each watch.

I've re-read the thread and I can't see anyone slagging off the deck department. Maybe some light ribbing but certainly not slagging off. As far as I can see, there is no wrong choice. The only bad decision you can make is to follow a path that doesn't interest you. Anyone who chooses a life at sea should be applauded, whether as a career or a stepping stone to other things.

As for the "bonkers hot temperatures and the noise in the engine room, and the boiler suit will be soaked" part you described. It's true. My last trip I spent on top of a diesel engine, while sat off Dubai in temperatures pushing 50, and do you know what, I loved it. Why? Because I enjoy being an engineer. But it's not everyones cup of tea, which is fine. Not everyone wants to be an engineer, not everyone wants to be a deck officer.

To echo the above comments, my first trip at sea was 3 months spent in and around the red sea/persian gulf, between april and august, 50c everyday and soaked in sweat all day. Loved it, hence im continuing my training

I'm in the Gulf right now. A much nicer place to be in Winter.

I'd imagine, i do like the heat for dirty beers after a hard days work however

[Gaspowered]

Gorilla Boy said:

I'd imagine, i do like the heat for dirty beers after a hard days work however

Ahh, happy days with a couple of sundowners. Sadly, we went dry a couple of years ago.

[Gorilla Boy]

Gaspowered said:

Gorilla Boy said:

I'd imagine, i do like the heat for dirty beers after a hard days work however

Ahh, happy days with a couple of sundowners. Sadly, we went dry a couple of years ago.

Id be happier dry to be honest, less temptation, still if the MOD want us to drink beer ill oblige

[MercuryRises]

Popeyed said:

I would advise you forget the engineers on here slagging off the Deck Officer path; they forget to mention the bonkers hot temperatures and the noise in the engine room, and that your bolier suit will be soaked in sweat at the end of each watch.

Depends where you are, I'm in the north sea, my Engineroom is a comfortable 22 degrees at the moment, and my boilersuit hasn't been wringing with sweat since the last time I was posted to Singapore.

Yeah, it's noisy, that's why Ear Defenders were invented.

But there's no way I'd change to the Deck department in a million years, I couldn't spend all day looking out the window and doing chart corrections

[iacabu]

MercuryRises said:

But there's no way I'd change to the Deck department in a million years, I couldn't spend all day looking out the window and doing chart corrections

Can anybody actually describe a days work on deck? Obviously looking where you're going is a big part but what are the day to day tasks?

[Gorilla Boy]

iacabu said:

MercuryRises said:

But there's no way I'd change to the Deck department in a million years, I couldn't spend all day looking out the window and doing chart corrections

Can anybody actually describe a days work on deck? Obviously looking where you're going is a big part but what are the day to day tasks?

3rd mate does the safety shizz when off the bridge and the 2nd mate does passage plans. Chief mate is normally leading the deck crew doing some rustibussing/painting (normally painting anything that shouldnt be painted on the deck machinery)

[hidetheelephants]

iacabu said:

MercuryRises said:

But there's no way I'd change to the Deck department in a million years, I couldn't spend all day looking out the window and doing chart corrections

Can anybody actually describe a days work on deck? Obviously looking where you're going is a big part but what are the day to day tasks?

As a bilge-dweller I can't give you chapter and verse, but some of the highlights are; driving the ship, making passage plans(drawing lines on charts to avoid the brown bits), annoying the engineers by moving the power lever unnecessarily, speaking on radios to other folk, hitting bridge equipment when it doesn't work, updating charts and pilot books, reading Notices To Mariners, dealing with interminable and contradictory emails from some wonks back at head office who have no grasp of time and space, checking container lashings, checking and recording reefer box temperatures, checking dangerous cargos aren't going on fire, ballast and cargo tank inspection, telling the boatswain what needs painting, maintenance of deck equipment(inspecting and greasing crane wires, greasing moving things, painting fixed things), firefighting drills, lifeboat drills, drafting loading plans(or using software that does it for you) that won't break the ship's back or cause it to capsize, recording drafts, trim and list angles, dealing with a paper mountain of crap from every organisation that can legally demand your attention(your head office, the charterer, any number of surveyors, Port States, the IMO, the MCA, the HSE, the USCG, uncle tom cobbleigh and all). All routine activities will come with a checklist just in case you get amnesia and forget what it is you do for a living, or have a really bad hangover. There presumably is some fun stuff that they get to do, but they rarely moan about the fun stuff while drinking your beer and bemoaning their career choice.

Deck officers work watches(generally 4 hours on 8 off, although small vessels sometimes use 6 on 6 off which is a killer), although you will inevitably have things that carry over into rest time due to manoeuvring for ports, loading etc.

[DJFish]

Gorilla Boy said:

3rd mate does the safety shizz when off the bridge and the 2nd mate does passage plans. Chief mate is normally leading the deck crew doing some rustibussing/painting (normally painting anything that shouldnt be painted on the deck machinery)

It depends on what sort of ship it is and whether the skipper takes a watch, pretty much as above though, Capt. usually does movements and any fancy stuff and goes to Ambassador's receptions & eats Ferrero Rocher.
1st deals with cargo ops, mooring, liases with crew re painting etc & wishes he was skipper.
2nd & 3rd share charts and life saving gear plus cargo work, mooring, dazzle the trainees with their knowledge of the world, agonise over whether they should've done engineering.
They all also stare out of the window for a bit, do tonnes of paperwork and drink copious amounts of coffee.
At some point they all might see a nice sunrise/sunset, or see a dolphin, or a mermaid, only other difference to engineers is that if they open a window, water doesn't come in.
All depends on the ships trade & routine.

[TTwiggy]

Just remember it's green to red when sea's ahead, and green to green when going upstream

[happygoron]

TTwiggy said:

Just remember it's green to red when sea's ahead, and green to green when going upstream

Depends where in the world you are!

[iacabu]

The Ferrero Rocher bit sounds good at least

Thanks for the the detailed info...as much as some of it sounds like you're taking the ps, I'm sure it's all true!

Edit: censored just in case

Edited by iacabu on Friday 29th November 16:11

[DJFish]

Oh by the way, as a trainee you'll be expected to learn all of that whilst working your nuts off on deck, cleaning, scaling, painting carrying heavy things to & fro etc.....

Don't expect to be up on the bridge wings with a sextant & a martini for a good few years.

My honest advice, do every job you're given to the best of your ability, no matter how stty, crack on, grin & bear it & you'll be fine.
You may not get on with everyone but you can learn something from everyone.

[Kenty]

I was in the Merchant Navy for 11 years, a few years ago now though. I loved every minute ( except getting up for watches! ) I joined as Junior Engineer and finished as Second.
I worked for a big company, Shell, and was treated really well by fellow shipmates and the company. Dealing with long times from home can be hard but don' t wish your time away, accept your going for 5-6 months and when payoff arrives earlier enjoy the fact your off home early!
Go ashore as much as possible, see as much as you can, learn from old hands and don't bagoff anywhere.
I still hanker after the life but it wasn't for me when my first child was due, keeps eyes out for alternative jobs to settle down once kids on the way. Pilot work is best option so I'm told for deckies .

[iacabu]

DJFish said:

Oh by the way, as a trainee you'll be expected to learn all of that whilst working your nuts off on deck, cleaning, scaling, painting carrying heavy things to & fro etc.....

Don't expect to be up on the bridge wings with a sextant & a martini for a good few years.

My honest advice, do every job you're given to the best of your ability, no matter how stty, crack on, grin & bear it & you'll be fine.
You may not get on with everyone but you can learn something from everyone.

After 3 years bored out of my mind in an office (coming from delivery job) I'll be quite happy doing some manual work for a while. I have read that they like you to experience the crap jobs before you go ordering others to do them.

Kenty said:

I was in the Merchant Navy for 11 years, a few years ago now though. I loved every minute ( except getting up for watches! ) I joined as Junior Engineer and finished as Second.
I worked for a big company, Shell, and was treated really well by fellow shipmates and the company. Dealing with long times from home can be hard but don' t wish your time away, accept your going for 5-6 months and when payoff arrives earlier enjoy the fact your off home early!
Go ashore as much as possible, see as much as you can, learn from old hands and don't bagoff anywhere.
I still hanker after the life but it wasn't for me when my first child was due, keeps eyes out for alternative jobs to settle down once kids on the way. Pilot work is best option so I'm told for deckies .

I hope to get time ashore but I'm not expecting it after reading up, it seems officers get less time ashore as processes speed up.

I'm a bit concerned about having a child in this job myself (few years yet I hope) but we'll sail under that bridge when we come to it

[iacabu]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

iacabu said:

DJFish said:

Oh by the way, as a trainee you'll be expected to learn all of that whilst working your nuts off on deck, cleaning, scaling, painting carrying heavy things to & fro etc.....

Don't expect to be up on the bridge wings with a sextant & a martini for a good few years.

My honest advice, do every job you're given to the best of your ability, no matter how stty, crack on, grin & bear it & you'll be fine.
You may not get on with everyone but you can learn something from everyone.

After 3 years bored out of my mind in an office (coming from delivery job) I'll be quite happy doing some manual work for a while. I have read that they like you to experience the crap jobs before you go ordering others to do them.

Trust me, after 4 months of scaling paint off a rusty deck, you will take back that comment

haha probably...I'll make sure to update

[TTwiggy]

iacabu said:

we'll sail under that bridge when we come to it

Check your tides and airdraft first though

[iacabu]

ENG 1 on Wednesday afternoon, following which I'll be in a position to hand my notice in

Just need to figure out how to pay £440 per month accommodation for 5 months, on top of my current debt, while I get paid £650! A call to student finance will be made shortly I think.

[Gorilla Boy]

iacabu said:

ENG 1 on Wednesday afternoon, following which I'll be in a position to hand my notice in

Just need to figure out how to pay £440 per month accommodation for 5 months, on top of my current debt, while I get paid £650! A call to student finance will be made shortly I think.

Its been raised to £500 at fleetwood very recently, id check again.

[ArtVandelay]

It's a piss take making you live at the halls of residence which cost a fortune for what they are. Supposed to get you ready for a life at sea but accommodation at sea is usually of a good standard!

I'd tell them to fk off personally.