Marine Engineering?
Discussion
I've posted this elsewhere on the site but I know good advice is always forthcoming on our own "regional" forum 
Hi all,
Looking for some advice/information on two interrelated points.
Firstly - I’d like to know if it is possible to get started in marine engineering without going down the 3 year HND/officer cadet route?
As much as I would like to do the above a combination of family and financial commitments probably rule that out – age probably does not help my chances there either.
I served my time as a mechanic in the motor trade but left the trade and have been working in forestry for a number of years.
Secondly - I volunteered with the RNLI for a few years and while there, I completed the MCA 30 hr AEC. The instructed had remarked that this course can be used as a “first rung” onto the MCA Engineering Training Scheme which I believe relates to smaller vessels but I’ve struggled to find out much about it, hence this post.
Thanks in advance for any advice/insights
Hi all,
Looking for some advice/information on two interrelated points.
Firstly - I’d like to know if it is possible to get started in marine engineering without going down the 3 year HND/officer cadet route?
As much as I would like to do the above a combination of family and financial commitments probably rule that out – age probably does not help my chances there either.
I served my time as a mechanic in the motor trade but left the trade and have been working in forestry for a number of years.
Secondly - I volunteered with the RNLI for a few years and while there, I completed the MCA 30 hr AEC. The instructed had remarked that this course can be used as a “first rung” onto the MCA Engineering Training Scheme which I believe relates to smaller vessels but I’ve struggled to find out much about it, hence this post.
Thanks in advance for any advice/insights
I'm currently serving in the Royal Navy as an Electrical/Electronic engineer and am Looking to work in the marine/yacht industry. The AEC is a start but it is unlikely to get you a job on it's own.
Unfortunately, as I've found out the required courses to get you into the trade are expensive and are not run
in Scotland, the 2 places I've found are Liverpool as Hoylake college and southampton warsash college.
There are 3 courses plus the AEC that you need as a minimum, but there is a course that covers
all the entry level first aid, fire fighting stuff which they won't even look at you unless you have
it. Don't expect much change back from £4000, as you said you have done the AEC, that's saved you £900.
The courses are only run about 3 times a year in conjunction with the MCA Y4 exams.
Luckily, I get some assistance for resettlement which is helping, very slightly.
You need to look at were you want to work, are you happy to work abroad with 30-40 days holiday a year.
Most importantly how much money do you need to earn to basically get by on.
The industry does pay well but it can take a few years to get to that point.
Cruise ships are similar but the money isn't as good.
Hope this helps, but there is a big out lay so make sure it's for you.
Jason
Unfortunately, as I've found out the required courses to get you into the trade are expensive and are not run
in Scotland, the 2 places I've found are Liverpool as Hoylake college and southampton warsash college.
There are 3 courses plus the AEC that you need as a minimum, but there is a course that covers
all the entry level first aid, fire fighting stuff which they won't even look at you unless you have
it. Don't expect much change back from £4000, as you said you have done the AEC, that's saved you £900.
The courses are only run about 3 times a year in conjunction with the MCA Y4 exams.
Luckily, I get some assistance for resettlement which is helping, very slightly.
You need to look at were you want to work, are you happy to work abroad with 30-40 days holiday a year.
Most importantly how much money do you need to earn to basically get by on.
The industry does pay well but it can take a few years to get to that point.
Cruise ships are similar but the money isn't as good.
Hope this helps, but there is a big out lay so make sure it's for you.
Jason
Many thanks Jason,
Your reference to MCA Y4 helped me to navigate to more of the sort of information I was looking for. I'd established which STCW courses I would need to complete as a starter and I've no problem with those - done parts of them with RNLI but not enough for the tickets! However, it is getting the start to obtain the seatime for MEOL and beyond that may prove trickier. I was also thinking more about uk based commercial vessels rather than the yacht sector but that said, super yachts would get you to some nicer locations!
Sticking with the bigger stuff, the other option that was suggested to me was to get a start as an engine room rating and work my way up but I'm not sure how realisitc an option that is these days and I'm advised that promotion options are generally more abundant on the deck side than the engineering one.
Oh well, I'll keep looking into it
Your reference to MCA Y4 helped me to navigate to more of the sort of information I was looking for. I'd established which STCW courses I would need to complete as a starter and I've no problem with those - done parts of them with RNLI but not enough for the tickets! However, it is getting the start to obtain the seatime for MEOL and beyond that may prove trickier. I was also thinking more about uk based commercial vessels rather than the yacht sector but that said, super yachts would get you to some nicer locations!
Sticking with the bigger stuff, the other option that was suggested to me was to get a start as an engine room rating and work my way up but I'm not sure how realisitc an option that is these days and I'm advised that promotion options are generally more abundant on the deck side than the engineering one.
Oh well, I'll keep looking into it
Been out the game a while now, do you have any of the valid certs and medicals?
If not maybe get them and contact shipping companies and try to get in as GP or Motorman?
Try to get in via an agency even and might lead to the Chief seeing value in you and keeping you on.
You could do your ticket distance learning and maybe get help from the Slater fund, I got around 10k from them as assitance, believe it's upto 16k now
If not maybe get them and contact shipping companies and try to get in as GP or Motorman?
Try to get in via an agency even and might lead to the Chief seeing value in you and keeping you on.
You could do your ticket distance learning and maybe get help from the Slater fund, I got around 10k from them as assitance, believe it's upto 16k now
k all and you will end up with a very worth while piece of paper at the end of it and an HNDHi, I deal with the chap who owns this business, if it's any use to you I could pass your details on.
http://www.silversmarine.co.uk/
Regards
A.
http://www.silversmarine.co.uk/
Regards
A.
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