Looks like the lack of training is starting to hit.
Discussion
Everyone in the industry will have watched with interest as successive cut backs in training cadets for the merchant navy were implemented with little regard for the future. In recent years cadets who finish their apprenticeships have not been offered positions and have been lost to the industry.
I now think that we have a major problem. I consider myself lucky to be reasonably well paid, have a good working environment and my company are very considerate to my needs. We are constantly looking for chief officers with a minimum entry of OOW cert. but there arent many about. Dont know what is going to happen in the future but cant see things getting any better.
Glad I have had a great life at sea and really feel sorry for anyone wanting to get into the industry now. Last one off turn out the nav. lights.
I now think that we have a major problem. I consider myself lucky to be reasonably well paid, have a good working environment and my company are very considerate to my needs. We are constantly looking for chief officers with a minimum entry of OOW cert. but there arent many about. Dont know what is going to happen in the future but cant see things getting any better.
Glad I have had a great life at sea and really feel sorry for anyone wanting to get into the industry now. Last one off turn out the nav. lights.
Have to agree and as a result it gets harder each year to find qualified officers. I'm in the sail training industry and whilst we can accept lower qualifications, we do prefer unlimited OOWs. Only being able to pay charity pay and leave rates, makes my job even harder.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. I've just recruited 3 recently qualified OOWs and I think our entry level 3rd Officer pay is not too bad for Brits as many ships now employ much cheaper OOWs from abroad in the lower ranks (hence why newly qualified Brit officers can't find the jobs).
I still think a Merchany Navy cadetship is good career choice for youngsters as it provides a good job, with great future prospects for life ashore. It only costs the shipping companies about 6k per year after the training grants. I should be starting my own cadet scheme in September.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. I've just recruited 3 recently qualified OOWs and I think our entry level 3rd Officer pay is not too bad for Brits as many ships now employ much cheaper OOWs from abroad in the lower ranks (hence why newly qualified Brit officers can't find the jobs).
I still think a Merchany Navy cadetship is good career choice for youngsters as it provides a good job, with great future prospects for life ashore. It only costs the shipping companies about 6k per year after the training grants. I should be starting my own cadet scheme in September.
There are currently 117 newbuilds on order worldwide in the LNG sector alone and there's been a skills shortage since long before I was a cadet.
I think what the ship operators are going to have to get their heads around in the very near future is how they can persuade a newly qualified officer to work for them when they could be poncing around the Med on Abramovich's latest toy, surrounded by topless WAGs.
In this day and age of having your cake and eating it, perhaps the sort of people willing to spend a great deal of their working life away from home in less than ideal conditions are not necessarily the sort of people you'd want on the bridge anyway.
A dilemma for sure.
I think what the ship operators are going to have to get their heads around in the very near future is how they can persuade a newly qualified officer to work for them when they could be poncing around the Med on Abramovich's latest toy, surrounded by topless WAGs.
In this day and age of having your cake and eating it, perhaps the sort of people willing to spend a great deal of their working life away from home in less than ideal conditions are not necessarily the sort of people you'd want on the bridge anyway.
A dilemma for sure.
I'm surprised to hear there are qualified UK junior offices not getting jobs. I came ashore a few years ago now and work in the City in a heavily related industry, and the level of ineptitude I have to deal with in regard to ships crew is dispiriting. All I hear is the desperate need for suitably qualified officers, and some of the salaries I hear being paid for guys on, for example LNG tankers make me want to go back to sea! The key is to specialise and make yourself more attractive; total idiots manage to get handysized bulk carriers from a to b without too many aspects....go offshore (where I was most recently), chemical tankers, LNG, you cannot get your average cornflake packet CoC handling any of those.
martinmac said:
I would have thought that 33k for a watchkeeping ticket working two weeks on/off, albeit taxable, but in the uk was a pretty good offer. Seems not. That is as mate with immediate ship handling pactice in a fast growing sector with great prospects.
Must be me.
I was Chief Officer on a container feeder ship earning about 32K 10 years ago, admittedly it was 4 on and 2 off. But you can do better, and it was better for me as the salary was tax and NI free. A lot of shipowners take the p*ss, and it will only get worse, the shortage that is.Must be me.
Good thread, and nice to see others in the industry. I was a cadet 3 years ago now with one of the major oil companies. When we started there must have been over 300 cadets in one intake and by the time we qualified there was less than 90. Since then i have kept in contact with alot and i'd say at least 20% of those have now come ashore to do other things!
Junior officer positions in large companies are still available but they are substituting the lack with eastern european officers.
I still feel that many companies are looking for British officers but in most cases it is for more senior positions.
I left last August due to health and safety becoming too severe it was getting to the stage where work was not starting before half nine because of all the paperwork that was having to be filled in.
I chose to try my hand in the leisure industry and am now working on a 80metre super-yacht. Everyone on here is ex-commercial. Paper trails are reduced and standard of living is improved. Salary wise i'm 2x better off than with a major oil company...and i'll be back in college in January to do my Chief Mates unlimited-which my current employer will pay for.
It seems that there are jobs out there for us all and i feel with the way this industry is changing we will have a very long future...we just need to find a way to get those cadets interested again!
Junior officer positions in large companies are still available but they are substituting the lack with eastern european officers.
I still feel that many companies are looking for British officers but in most cases it is for more senior positions.
I left last August due to health and safety becoming too severe it was getting to the stage where work was not starting before half nine because of all the paperwork that was having to be filled in.
I chose to try my hand in the leisure industry and am now working on a 80metre super-yacht. Everyone on here is ex-commercial. Paper trails are reduced and standard of living is improved. Salary wise i'm 2x better off than with a major oil company...and i'll be back in college in January to do my Chief Mates unlimited-which my current employer will pay for.
It seems that there are jobs out there for us all and i feel with the way this industry is changing we will have a very long future...we just need to find a way to get those cadets interested again!
Having recently attended a SMarT Funding (Gov't funding for seafarer training) meeting for training providers, the MCA reported that in the 07/08 year there was an increase of nearly 200 cadets starting their training in the UK.
Unusual in this day and age but the Gov't has actually raised the funding pot from 9.6 to 12.9 million to meet the additional demand.
However, whilst cadet numbers are currently up, the lack of cadet recruitment in the past makes rather gloomy reading.
Unusual in this day and age but the Gov't has actually raised the funding pot from 9.6 to 12.9 million to meet the additional demand.
However, whilst cadet numbers are currently up, the lack of cadet recruitment in the past makes rather gloomy reading.
calvert86 said:
Good thread, and nice to see others in the industry. I was a cadet 3 years ago now with one of the major oil companies. When we started there must have been over 300 cadets in one intake and by the time we qualified there was less than 90. Since then i have kept in contact with alot and i'd say at least 20% of those have now come ashore to do other things!
Junior officer positions in large companies are still available but they are substituting the lack with eastern european officers.
I still feel that many companies are looking for British officers but in most cases it is for more senior positions.
I left last August due to health and safety becoming too severe it was getting to the stage where work was not starting before half nine because of all the paperwork that was having to be filled in.
I chose to try my hand in the leisure industry and am now working on a 80metre super-yacht. Everyone on here is ex-commercial. Paper trails are reduced and standard of living is improved. Salary wise i'm 2x better off than with a major oil company...and i'll be back in college in January to do my Chief Mates unlimited-which my current employer will pay for.
It seems that there are jobs out there for us all and i feel with the way this industry is changing we will have a very long future...we just need to find a way to get those cadets interested again!
Seems more and more people are crossing over to the superyachts. I don't blame them because as you said, better money etc. But a good few I have bumped in to have not understood how different of a job it is. You know when you got guests on etc. But a few have adapted well. I guess it just depends on the person.Junior officer positions in large companies are still available but they are substituting the lack with eastern european officers.
I still feel that many companies are looking for British officers but in most cases it is for more senior positions.
I left last August due to health and safety becoming too severe it was getting to the stage where work was not starting before half nine because of all the paperwork that was having to be filled in.
I chose to try my hand in the leisure industry and am now working on a 80metre super-yacht. Everyone on here is ex-commercial. Paper trails are reduced and standard of living is improved. Salary wise i'm 2x better off than with a major oil company...and i'll be back in college in January to do my Chief Mates unlimited-which my current employer will pay for.
It seems that there are jobs out there for us all and i feel with the way this industry is changing we will have a very long future...we just need to find a way to get those cadets interested again!
I tried a motor yacht for about 6 months in the 80s. Absolute nightmare. Based in the middle east and the owner was a real pain, arguments every month to get my wages, no shore accom and car which were promised. His guests were pretty awful too. Kept my sanity by driving other owners boats during the week.
I feel the yachting industry has changed alot in recent years and legislation is more controlled.
It definately isn't for everyone and when guests are onboard it is alot of hard work. Maybe i'm just lucky but great owner who's no hassle and we don't do charter work. Good people onboard and exposed to a lifestyle very few people can even imagine!
Anyone here ever thought about DP work...supposed to be very dull but good rotation and very good money! I looked into it last year but there seemed to be a bit of a catch-ie. need a DP ticket to get work but to get a DP ticket need time working on a DP boat??? Just wondered if anyone had experience in this!?!
It definately isn't for everyone and when guests are onboard it is alot of hard work. Maybe i'm just lucky but great owner who's no hassle and we don't do charter work. Good people onboard and exposed to a lifestyle very few people can even imagine!
Anyone here ever thought about DP work...supposed to be very dull but good rotation and very good money! I looked into it last year but there seemed to be a bit of a catch-ie. need a DP ticket to get work but to get a DP ticket need time working on a DP boat??? Just wondered if anyone had experience in this!?!
Hello
I would be really happy if you would know anything regarding my case.
Well i am a Syrian guy who is studying in the UK.Last year i got my gcses and currently i am studying access to higher education Business level 3.
However iam interested in nautical science degree or HND in Nautical science.i have talked to too many companies non of them takes foreign students who are not EUROPEAN OR UK residents.I have got my residents permit to STAY IN THE UK for 5 years.i am not eligible for UK SMarT funding because i am not as i said EU OR UK citizen.
Do you know any company who would take me onto their Cadetship program ?or is there anycompany who would train me for free or in return to work for them once i finish from studying and training with them?
I appreciate every little help you will offer.
Thank you in advance
Mo
I would be really happy if you would know anything regarding my case.
Well i am a Syrian guy who is studying in the UK.Last year i got my gcses and currently i am studying access to higher education Business level 3.
However iam interested in nautical science degree or HND in Nautical science.i have talked to too many companies non of them takes foreign students who are not EUROPEAN OR UK residents.I have got my residents permit to STAY IN THE UK for 5 years.i am not eligible for UK SMarT funding because i am not as i said EU OR UK citizen.
Do you know any company who would take me onto their Cadetship program ?or is there anycompany who would train me for free or in return to work for them once i finish from studying and training with them?
I appreciate every little help you will offer.
Thank you in advance
Mo
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