A Career For My Son?

Craig, John Arton has given you invaluable advice, as in all trades high positions are not reached without a commitment to study your subject, so this has got to be the prime mover for your son-study. Without that commitment then the ladder will never be reached never mind getting on the rungs of the ladder. As others have said passenger ships may not be the way to go if you want a hands-on experience and take what his cousin says with a pinch of salt, no disrespect to the cousin but perhaps a rosier picture may be made in the telling when relating his seaborne experiences. As for becoming a navigator you will learn more about navigation and seamanship on coastal or short sea trades than you will on passenger ships, you will learn more about ship handling on oil rig service vessels than you will on passenger ships, you will become a man much quicker on these vessels than you will on passenger ships, you will earn more respect for teamwork and your fellow men on these ships than you will on passenger ships, you will certainly work harder on these ships than you will on passenger ships, you will never become bored on these ships as you may well be on passenger ships, you will achieve your ambition as a navigator 'with responsibility' on these ships much quicker than on passenger ships. If you want to experience 'life at sea' rather than 'promenade at sea' than leave passenger ships until later in your career after you have gained experience for a 'feel of the sea' on smaller vessels. Going to sea is a 'calling' it is not just a job, you really have to want to go to sea to enjoy it and get the best out of it, if it's just another job opportunity then it can be a cruel life, there is no knocking off at 5 pm and having a night out, you're stuck with it 24/7 whether you like it or not. I am not trying to put you off just being brutally honest and I would venture to say that perhaps all on here would go back tomorrow if we had our time over again. There are on here some members on here with current and recent sea experience of modern times who may be able to give more up to date scenarios when their duties allow them time to log in, but if all the above comments in this and other various posts haven't put your son off, then he is half way there.

Craig
check out
Careers At Sea - Merchant Navy Career Opportunities - www.careersatsea.org
It list all the companies offering a career at sea and also the colleges.
World wide the marine industry is suffering a severe shortage of skilled officers and in the U.K. the situation is pretty dire with barely enough seafarers coming through the system to fulfil the requirements for shore based marine personnel.
Get your son to keep knocking on the training companies doors. There new intakes generally start in September as the Marine Colleges work to the same educational calendar as universities and higher education colleges.
If the link given above does not work just type "job opportunities at sea" into your search engine at it will come up with a good list of informative websites and even some companies that sponsor cadets.
The thing that you will have to impress on your son is that it is up to him to apply himself in order to follow his chosen career. Should he be granted an opportunity to attend an interview with any of the sponsoring companies he has to present himself to those companies as a person who is unafraid of hard work and someone who is willing to study hard in order to gain the necessary qualifications. These companies are going to in vesting something in the region of £70000 in training there cadets so they look very closely at all possible candidates.
It is no longer a case of, like I did, presenting yourself at the Shipping Federation on a Monday and joining my first ship on Thursday having had 4 interviews on the Monday with companies that were hiring. These days the companies taking on new entrants have quite strict entry requirements and tend to look at the person themselves as much as their academic qualifications. I had the pleasure of lecturing to one guy, a more mature student of 25yrs old, who had just scraped through the minimum academic standards, was still taken on by a very large container outfit because he presented himself so well at the interview with them. He was on a pre-sea course that the college I was working at had started at a number of shipping companies had requested the college to run in order to try and weed out the no-hopers. Although not particularly academically bright he was totally committed to his career and studied far harder than any more academic students on the course. Shortly after finishing my course he flew out to New York to join a ship that featured in a Tom Hanks film recently. So it just goes to show that enthusiasm and willingness to work and study hard can bring you your just rewards.
rgds
JA

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Originally Posted by Craig Smith

. One of my concerns is wether our lad will even get considered without having any previous experience or knowledge.

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I joined up as a boy rating without any qualifications (left school at 15), I worked my way up the ladder until I convinced ExxonMobil (was Esso then) I was capable of a 3rd Mates job, they gave me the chance to prove myself and I went on from there. Joining as a rating may well be an option providing your boy is 100% commited. There used to be a sea school at Gravesend where the basics are taught, not sure if it's still there though? food for thought perhaps?

Gravesend sea school which most of us Deck or Catering attended is now a police training school as far as I am aware with the demise of the Merchant Navy we all learnt the ropes aboard both the sea schools and the ships are long gone. Personally if I was your lad I would take John Artons advice. I think it is his only chance of a career at sea. But as a father I admire your approach at least you are helping the lad as much as you can. I wish both of you well in your quest Regards Terry. EX Able Seaman. ;)