My son certainly experienced a different life to what Ivan and John describe whilst serving their time I'm not saying he didn't have to work hard or it was'nt cheap labour but the system was completely different.I had to sign his indentures to say that if he did not complete I would have to pay the company the sum of £2.000 that is the amount the company reckon it cost to train a cadet.I don't know how many sandwich courses that he did but I'm sure that it was a least four.He would do maybe six months at sea then come ashore I think it was for three months.Attending Riversdale college with his own flat and three meals a day.He stayed at Riversdale whilst taking his secon mates all paid for.On his final day when I went to pick him up his cabin consisted of a dayroom,bedroom and bathroom.His phone went it was the mate inviting him up to his cabin for a beer,he said my dads here ,that's ok bring your dad up as well.It was a great company the cadets were treated very well as far as I could see,John said it was up to the captain if the cadet could go ashore,I know my son was taken ashore by the captain and if a captain had his daughter with him on the trip my son would go ashore with the captain and his daughter.
Regards.
Jim.B.
