Newly Qualified Deck Officer

[Graham Baines]

I am a newly qualified British deck OOW. Having worked as a cadet on several different ship types, I am now trying to decide which ship type to go for. Does anyone have any advice or pros and cons about the ships that you work on, or general tips for first trip OOW's?

Thanks in advance.

[j.sabourn]

Graham, what type of ships have you already been on. Welcome as well to the site. John S

[Ivan Cloherty]

Graham a lot would depend on whether or not you want to keep your hands clean, or don't mind mucking in, it may be better to say what type of ships you have served on, so that you may get further advice, as it's no use anyone giving advise on types you have served on. Also do you mind being away from home or do you want to be near home (for family reasons etc) in our day we really didn't have a choice, it was 'sign on' and 'stay on' anything up to 27 months.

Welcome aboard and we look forward to hearing from you, nice to have someone young aboard, as well as the ladies who are already with us and who of course are eternally young

[John Arton]

Graham
Having already spent some time at sea during your cadet time, you will no doubt be aware that the average view of the seafarer held by those who have never been to sea, is far different from the reality. The idea that seamen spend days in exotic ports around the world sampling the delights of the local cuisine, alcohol and the fair sex, are long gone. Replaced by short turn around, long hours and long sea passages.
However, which ever trade you decide upon, it can still give you great job satisfaction, open your eyes to different cultures and provide you with a good salary. I assume you are ambitious and wish to end up as master in command, so this could influence your choice. Certain trades are suffering a dire shortage of skilled officers and so in these trades, promotion may be more rapid.
Again there are very few true shipowners left who directly employ their own people, most seafarers are employed through management companies who tend to specialised trades, i.e. the tanker, container or passenger liner trade.
All I can say is that after 40 yrs plus at sea my greatest job satisfaction came as master on small chemical tankers {5-7000 t dwt} trading around the U.K. and N. Europe where the small crew size meant that as master you were very hands on doing not only the administrative side but also being involved in cargo operations and loads of ship handling.
As mate on deep sea ships I found that chemical tankers in the vegetable oil and molasses trade meant we spent time in many small ports loading around the Philippines an Malaysia which were very eye opening.
Also as mate I spent considerable time on geared, open hatch, handy sized bulk carriers {25,000 tdwt} where one trip it could be grain, next timber and timber products, the next general cargo. So they were very interesting and we visited a number of smaller ports that the larger container ships or bulk carriers could not reach.
Each and every type of vessel presents new challenges, be it loading to the grain or timber regulations or even learning how to stow and secure the myriad cargoes of general goods we carried from pipes, to medical cold stores through trucks and road bridge sections.
Should you choose supply ships, then in which ever region you work in, the work will be dangerous, hard and involve loads of ship handling.
Cruise ships may give you the opportunity to at least see some very pleasant parts of the world whilst carrying the most difficult cargo of all, that is Passengers, who can be the most stupid, difficult cargo you ever carry and require you to maintain your temper when being constantly asked the most stupid questions you will ever have put to you.
As 2nd mate my favourite ships were dedicated forest product ships loading in and around one of the best places in the world, namely British Columbia in Canada.
Which ever trade you choose I wish you well in your chosen career and as said in other threads, it would be great if you could stay in touch with this site and update us all on your travels.
rgds
JA

[Graham Baines]

Wow thanks very much for the response.

I worked as a cadet on a chemical tanker, survey vessel, lighthouse/buoy tender, cruise ship and a reefer. I must say that I had a great time on all of them, though I don't think cruise ships are for me. Cargo of any description would satisfy I think, except that the cargo watches on the chem tanker were very dull indeed!

As an alternative to cruise ships I have been looking at expedition yachts. Having a smaller crew but still seeing some amazing places is very appealing. Does anyone have any experience on these?

My other preference at the moment would be to go back onto survey ships. The work can be varied and interesting. I worked on Cefas Endeavour around the UK so didn't get very far afield which is off putting. Does anyone have any recommendations for this type of work elsewhere in the world?

Thanks again,
Graham

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Graham
First welcome to the site. It is over fifty years since I went to sea but I still try to keep up. For adventure I think that the Antarctic survey ships might be your go, they sail from Aus taking passengers sometimes, survey teams and supplies on others. I don't know who exactly runs them, but John in West Aus might know . anyway good luck with what ever you choose.
Cheers Des

[j.sabourn]

I am in the process at moment of struggling through a book about the life of Flinders, at the moment am half way through it and has just reached the rank of Lieutenant in His Majestys Navy. He along with Cook and him that had the mutiny Bligh are probably along with Bass the 4 most accountable persons for charting the coast of Australia, a lot of which still remain uncharted, I was once asked to go into such an area however on sighting the bottom through clear water got cold feet and backed out. These people didn't have that advantage. I would imagine any survey vessels as such still charting the Australian coastline would be government vessels as such. Your best bet would be to approach AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the main office being in Canberra. They are the equivilant to your old BOT, MOT, DTI. and now The Coastguard. Best of Luck. John Sabourn

[Ivan Cloherty]

Thanks for responding Graham, it makes a pleasant change, as so many ask for our help, we respond and never hear from them again, so your response is doubly appreciated. Unfortunately the days have gone where-in you could join a tramper and sail off into the unknown, circumnavigate the world twice and still not touch the UK to sign off, my longest trip was 22 months, but I still enjoyed it. Life on the superyachts can be very rewarding, once you've reached the top! I have neighbours whose son is a Master on one, and I have met others, you still need today's equivalent of Masters Foreign Going to get a decent job. Those not at the top are living in a goldfish bowl and the slightest deviation from the rules sees you walking down the gangway, these vessels also spend a lot of time tied up in a marina, probably a lot more than actually spent at sea, is that what you really want, but it may be worth a try, unless you try you'll never really know, but go in with your eyes wide open and again you may be lucky and find that you have found the right vessel and the right niche. Will your time spent on them be counted towards your 'seatime' required for your next ticket, or does this not apply any more, just a thought that others may be able to answer.

[j.sabourn]

Graham when you say survey you aren't referring to seismic stuff are you, that can be very boring and repeticious, even other types of survey using side scanners is really nothing to write home about as all involves qualified surveyors with the necessary electronic equipment. Actual navigational surveying for the good of shipping in general is what I assume you are talking about. The other stuff can be accomplished by approaching any offshore operator in the gas and oil industry. Regardless of what people think of todays technology and how easy it is to determine a ships position, I have had occasion to go by a line of soundings, which someone and at sometime had to find, and being very thankful they had. Areas of magnetic anomaly all over the world I would also imagine have further investigation to do on. Around the Northern part of Australia have worked up there a few times and is not properly surveyed yet. Most of Australians would be surprised if visited as would be like a trip into the past for many, and would be like stepping out of a time machine. There are areas still not open to the public as still contain minefields from the last war (ashore). Burnt out wreckage of aircraft and such like. Pity the inquisitive press didn't do a survey on their own backyard before exposing everyones awareness to the dangers elsewhere in the world. The area off the NW coast of Australia where the Atomic bomb tests which were done shortly after the war, was closed off to the public and think , might be wrong but were only re-opened in the 90"s, there are others on this site who know more about this than me, as a relatively new comer to Australia and others been here much longer. The world still has many places to explore before we all depart for Mars. There is enough work in the maritime field left for many generations yet in the field of discovery. The world can still be your oyster. Cheers JWS

[j.sabourn]

Further to Ivans post Graham, job satisfaction is everything especially at sea. If you don't enjoy doing it at sea you will not stay. You will say to yourself I could be miserable ashore and at least go for a pint at night or take your girlfriend out, or boyfriend whatever your inclination is these days. Give it a couple of years on different vessels if you can and make the decision which will effect the rest of your life. Cheers once again.