Non UK student in a UK nautical college?

[Jimjim]

Is this possible? I am interested in getting into a UK nautical college and train to become a Captain for the merchant/commercial navy. I am European.

[Jimjim]

Could anyone help me please?

[Captain Kong]

Hi JIM JIM
A LITTLE QUIET ON HERE TODAY, EVERYONE HAS BEEN WATCHING THE RUGBY, Australia V New Zealand.
they will all be back by Monday. Weekends are always quiet.
There is a Nautical College in Fleetwood , Lancashire, that is the one I went to. and has a good reputation.
I am not too sure what the procedures are at this time as I am retired for near twenty years. Look in later in a couple of days.
You should find the Fleetwood Nautical College on google or there is one in Liverpool.
They will advise you how to go on.
good luck
Brian

[Braid Anderson]

I see no reason why not, after all Admiral Yamamoto was trained in the UK. Captain, I'm surprised at you not asking JimJim's nationality!

[j.sabourn]

European Braid. Anyone can attend a UK Nautical establishment. No national barriers. Don't think there ever was. Last time I attended one in 1963 there were Indian, Pakistanees, Maltese, and various other nationalaties. The only stipulation that I can remember was that the master and Chief engineer of a British ship had to hold British Citizenship. This is not applicable today. Could have a St. Bernard in those positions. Braid as an aside to this , on my sojourns last night was sitting opposite to a bloke I bump into at various functions who lived up in PNG for a number of years and as table conversation above the hubbub that was going on around us at the time asked if he knew you when living in your neck of the woods. As he is also getting on in years and just recently lost his wife he didn't concentrate for too long. However his name is Richard Knox and he has a winery down at Donnybrook in WA, as this was also flowing freely didn't do too much for the concentration. What he did in PNG am not sure but imagine was either oil related or government related. He was awarded a BEM ( British Empire Medal) along the line somewhere so could have well been Government. I mentioned a wartime cemetery that you once mentioned, he well knew the one at Port Moresby, but I couldn't remember the one you mentioned. Just idle chat anyhow. Cheers JS

[Braid Anderson]

Lae War Cemetery is the one I'm still the official Maintenance contractor for John. This is a link.

CWGC - Cemetery Details

[John Arton]

JIMJIM
There is no barrier to you attending a U.K. Nautical college what so ever. Problem would be who would pay for it?. If you are looking to start your sea going career then you would have to find a shipping company to sponsor you as a deck or engine cadet throughout your cadetship. This will mean that throughout your training (around 3 years) you would attend the college in the U.K. of your employers choice and gain the necessary sea time on board that companies ships to allow you to sit the U.K. STCW certificates (STCW --is the international standards and stands for Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeepers). The STCW requirements for sea time and the contents of the examinations to be passed in order to gain an STCW certificate can be obtained by searching either the IMO or the U.K. MCA website.
If you all ready have the required sea time then there is nothing to stop you enrolling in any U.K. Nautical College in order to be taught the required courses that would enable you to sit the exams but this would have to be at your own expense which is around £2000 plus living expenses for the basic Officer of the Watch certificate.
All the U.K. Nautical Schools (South Tyneside, Southampton etc.) have their own websites so just search them using google and you will find all the information necessary.
Marine School | South Tyneside College
Warsash Maritime Academy | Warsash Maritime Academy | Southampton Solent University
The above are a couple of links to get you started but there are other Nautical Colleges.
I lectured for a while at South Tyneside and amongst the students I lectured to were one American and one Australian who were paying their own way through college after having gained their sea time as ratings on super yachts.
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

Up until 2002 and probably still is unless anyone knows otherwise, under US shipping regulations there had to be a US presence on board a US flagged ship. I was master on such the Dickerson Tide in the 90"s. The US master signed on as second mate and the Ch. Eng. as 3rd.Eng. She was a converted supply vessel, to single bottom seismic shallow water survey vessel, which meant laying the seismic cable on the bottom and sitting on DP on the end while the technicians and surveyors took their readings. The US master come 2nd mate had to go home for a death in the family and the only way the US coastguard would release him was my being given a special dispensation from the US coastguard. The US has retained a lot of the old world as we once new it in our shipping, also in their tonnage and measurement systems and the best of luck to them. Whilst at one time every second ship one saw was flying the red ensign, this is now history and are on a level playing field with all the flags of convenience which at one time the British Shipowner mocked. JS

[Jimjim]

First of all i would like to thank everyone for your will to help.

I have few questions to ask.

1) What qualifications i may need for my entry into a UK nautical college?

2) I am confused. First i attend a college and while on college i do the intership as a deck officer in a ship,or first i have to find someone to gain experience in order to enter the college?
3) How long is the intership in order to be able to work at the big oil/tank ships?

4) What are the upgrades of a deck officer who has competed the intership and graduated,after the college?

5) Last and most important,will i have a hard time finding someone to sponsor me for the intership and later for a job if i am not British?

Once again,thank you,i highly appreciate your help.

[j.sabourn]

1 2 3 4 . Information I would imagine will be available as advised and Email addresses already given you. As regards 5 your nationality is irrelevent as explained. Cheers JS