How / Where do I start?

[Stephen Beard]

Stephen if you find the words depressing, are you sure you have the right temprement for the sea, the words that depress you, should challenge you and spur you on.

That's not the case at all, "depressing" was mostly hyperbole - It's not like I slipped into existential angst at the news capitalism exists.

I absolutely know I would love a life at sea, I don't want a family, I don't care about a permanent residence (until I'm retired, that is) and I don't mind being away for extended periods of time. I love being part of a small group of people, and how your world shrinks to the size of the ship against the backdrop of an endless horizon. I don't mind the bad weather, cramped conditions or watch patterns and I'm not averse to hard graft.

I know life at sea is a vocation, It's not just a job it literally becomes your life and that's exactly what I want. The money doesn't matter either - I just said that as a way of separating the Rating/Officer experience in one minor aspect (And to explain why someone who wants a career at sea and not just wanting to "get by for a while" may rather go in as an officer - It just makes sense).

I want the whole thing. As I said, I've already been to sea, and I felt at home there. There is nothing like it.

Thanks all for the leads - I have put in a few applications to those I am eligible for.

[Captain Kong]

I just said that as a way of separating the Rating/Officer experience in one minor aspect (And to explain why someone who wants a career at sea and not just wanting to "get by for a while" may rather go in as an officer).
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Hi Stephen I went to sea at 16 as a deck boy, was an AB for many years , loved the job, but young 21 year old "officers" were telling me what and how to do a job when I was at sea before they were born,. Didnt like that, clobbered one, So the Captain said, `if you do not like it, go and get yourself a ticket , if you can`, So I did and at 39 I went to college and did it. So you can start anywhere and you can do anything you want to,
You do not need to start as an Officer, BUT you need to have Experience as a Seaman first,
When I started at sea I wanted to go to Conway for two years to be a Cadet and then an Officer, it cost £200 a year in 1950, My dear old Dad said. "Officers are Made Not Bought." he could not afford the fees then and he was Right. I am glad I did it his way.
Cheers
Brian

[Stephen Beard]

Hi Stephen I went to sea at 16--Cheers
Brian

Yeah you're right.

I think that's more the ineptitude of the officer in question. Leadership isn't about telling someone what and how to do something - That's micromanaging. Leadership is about influencing people to do what needs to be done in a positive and productive way.

[John Albert Evans]

Stephen,

I have read your requests for advice and your comments on the advice given. A lot of advice has been given to you by a good number of ex seamen from the deck, engine room, catering and officers departments. The majority of people on here started at sea when they left school , around 16 or 17 and started as one says 'At the bottom' a number of men who started as deck boys worked their way through to the top and became ships masters. That is no mean achievement I can assure you. Liverpool and The Sea to me are synonymous as you are 23 years of age why have you left it from leaving school presumably at 16 years till now , where you at University or working elsewhere. AsI said I've read your remarks and your visions are very different to what it is really like. You have to adapt and adapt quickly believe me. To me and this is my opinion only,your thread No13 in reply to Brians(Captain Kong) advice would soon have taught you what man management is all about. I have read your Thread 11 and what are you trying to say in your first line. Sorry but its gobbledegook. I wish you all the luck in trying to achieve your goal but I think you wil have to seriously consider your way forward.
John Albert Evans

[Stephen Beard]

Stephen,

--your way forward.
John Albert Evans

I probably am wrong - but I'm willing to learn. Until I try, and am given the chance - I won't know.

I left school at 18 by the way. I have A levels, just poor ones (C and E). I have left it so long because its not as easy as it may have been when you were my age, there is endless bureaucracy and "requirements" now. I had personal circumstances that set my plans awry too. Besides that, Liverpool has a history as a port - but all the headquarters are down south now. When I was 19 I traveled all the way to Southampton and booked into a hotel to attend an interview and Assessment for Princess Cruises as a deck officer cadet. It wasn't cheap. I missed the maths by 4 points and apparently "Didn't express enough interest". I was gutted, and in a rut anyway - so I just carried on and hoped to gain experience in what I'm doing now. I'm currently a care worker for the elderly, I've done it for 4 years. 2 Years I was on the community attending to service users needs in their own homes and now I am currently the night warden of a 48 resident sheltered accommodation on my own responding to emergency calls through the night. I have been first response to heart attack and stroke victims in this period.

I'm not an idiot, and I know what I'm getting in to. My past circumstances or how long I've "waited" are irrelevant - some people join the merchant navy at 30+. It just feels like a very difficult thing to get your foot in the door to.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Stephen,

. I have read your Thread 11 and what are you trying to say in your first line. Sorry but its gobbledegook.
John Albert Evans

To me John, it was a smart ass answer, telling an old man he'd got it wrong. Where-as he didn't read it properly, it was advice well intentioned to advise a not so young man to think about a sea career from someone who started at sea at 13 years old, worked at sea and was working with maritime connections until he was 73. The time to have made a move was after the two week trip at 17 years old, now aged 23 and still considering options to me doesn't smell of a 'desire' to go to sea. Stephen if I've read your flippant remarks incorrectly then I apologise, but a remark like that to the bosun, or any elder in our day would have got you a clip around the ear and the dirtiest jobs for the next month; going to sea is also having respect for your shipmates regardless of their rank, and we'd never heard of micro-managing whatever it may be, which is something you can only probably do once you've reached a position to do it. Whatever you decide I wish you luck in your future endeavours

[Stephen Beard]

To me John,--in your future endeavours

I'm not trying to be a smart ass or flippant in any way. I have respect for all of you and I appreciate every bit of advice I've been given here, but am I not free to respond to remarks about myself ?

If I'm wrong about something then you can correct me and I'll listen.. I do have a lot to learn, and I want to learn.

But you're wrong about my desire to go to sea. Respectfully.

[robpage]

I don't think the comments here are hyperbole at all , most are based on experience . The shipping experience her spans over seventy years in all jobs from pantry and deck boy to captain . If you seriously want a seagoing career then I would suggest unless you specialise in the offshore industries rating positions are non existent , catering jobs are long gone too except on cruise liners and then the seamen from the Philippines are predominant mainly due to the fact that they work for wages that are dire . Your only true choices are a cadetship , if you want to go to sea , and have no technical desires this leaves a cadetship as a navigating officer , and I would surmise that is about the limited choice that you have . That opens up all shipping to you . The Merchant fleet under the UK Flag is 10% of what it was in the 1950's , a good site to look at is http://www.maritimeuk.org/2012/01/ma...oyment-skills/ , a lot of modern deck officers have degrees in Nautical science see http://www.maritimeskills.org/career...uals.htm#cadet . It maybe that you need to consider taking that degree .

[Stephen Beard]

I don't think the comments here are hyperbole at all , most are based on experience .

I didn't call anyone else's comments hyperbole. I called my own reference to the job prospects for British Ratings as being depressing hyperbole - i.e I wasn't really disheartened by it. Why are so many on the defensive here? How exactly am I supposed to have this prior knowledge about the current state of the industry without asking?

I am considering all my options. A degree is definitely an option but all I really want is to get my foot in the door and go from there. It's a long term commitment - as long as I'm working on ships and getting the experience I need to develop my skills I'll be happy.

[Keith at Tregenna]

I'm not trying to be a smart ass or flippant in any way. I have respect for all of you and I appreciate every bit of advice I've been given here, but am I not free to respond to remarks about myself ?

If I'm wrong about something then you can correct me and I'll listen.. I do have a lot to learn, and I want to learn.

But you're wrong about my desire to go to sea. Respectfully.

In reality, no one is going to do it for you, take all best advice, follow your course with some best knowledge, you appear able enough to decide for yourself, appreciate your looking in to all and more first. Keep us posted, Value your contribution and commitment. K

---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 PM ----------

I chose my own career, against what seemed like better advice, never looked back much. Been a long haul and varied, in some ways still saving lives. What I do was my call and will be as ever, listened to many, did things my way. STILL DO: K.

Must say, my nephew earlier on a future topic, told: He would become a trainee Millionaire ? He is ten, will encourage him all the way and hope his dream is his destiny. K.