Merchant Navy as a British citizen, is it worth it?

[Paul Elmont]

Roger, I hate to say this but I think you have asked a question to which there is no answer.
As with all things, we all had fond memories from our past lives and careers. Mine was no exception. I loved most of my time at sea and the bonds I made with those I worked alongside. Our times were different then and that is how we remember them. Would I go back now; “not a chance in hell”. I don’t like what I see or hear, but then I’m old and miserable. You are a different generation. Embrace it.
You are young enough to change careers several times. Go and make your own memories and to hell with the negativity that us old bastards see from the outside looking in. What we see now isn’t what we want or want our old jobs to be now.
Try it, if you don’t like it, then quit and go and do something else. What do you have to lose? What do you have to gain? Make your own memories and live your own life.
I have lived and worked with almost every Nationality I can think of and most of them are just like Brits. Some are really nice, some are complete arseholes.
Paul

[happy daze john in oz]

All you have to do is find a shipping company of choice, sign up and off you go.
Good luck.

[j.sabourn]

Can even now hear the full orchestra playing “ wish me luck as you wave me goodbye” . Then suddenly breaking in to that well known one at the time “ well I’ve been to Hiroshima Nagasaki too, what I did to them Babe , I can do to you , cos I’m a Yokohama baby ………….
……” . Before being thrown out of the out of bounds to American troops bar , in Osaka. Those were the days once seen never forgotten. Cheers JS.

[Roger Penny]

Thanks for you patience chaps. I enjoyed all reading your formative and amusing comments.

I recently just sailed from Liverpool to the Isle of man on a ferry and still felt quite exhilarated at seeing all the merchant vessels, so i think the fresh sea breeze gave me my answer. I've started applying to companies, after all i don't have anything to lose. Being sponsored to go to maritime college almost feels like Britain's best kept secret.

I have already travelled and worked over the world in the last 7 years, so i feel fortunate enough to know my desire to become a deck officer isn't solely about travelling.

I'm still getting used to working this forum so I hope everyone who made a comment can see it.

Many thanks to everyone.

PS Geordie does count as being english...just.

Roger

[j.sabourn]

Roger ,weren’t over there looking for one of these elusive Discharge Books discussed sometime ago were you? Cheers JS.

[John Swan]

I,m afraid that sitting in the taxi taking me to the airport to fly to Rotterdam to join a ship, and seeing my wife in tears on the doorstep, holding our newborn son in 1960 was the last straw for me. I resolved then that it would be my last trip, and it was. Once you are away you are “all in the same boat”, it,s the wife who is left alone. It,s a tough decision.

[Tony Taylor]

Can even now hear the full orchestra playing “ wish me luck as you wave me goodbye” . Then suddenly breaking in to that well known one at the time “ well I’ve been to Hiroshima Nagasaki too, what I did to them Babe , I can do to you , cos I’m a Yokohama baby ………….
……” . Before being thrown out of the out of bounds to American troops bar , in Osaka. Those were the days once seen never forgotten. Cheers JS.

I was quite roughly manhandled by American shore patrol in a bar (off limits to US forces) in Cristobal, while suspended off the ground by this gorilla I managed to fish my British seamans card out of my pocket and wave it in his face. He just dropped me on the deck walked off without a word.
Conversley, while in drydock in Sasebo, where half the town was off limits , I got a couple of lifts across town in their shore patrol paddy wagon, very friendly they were too.

[j.sabourn]

Prudence is the better part of valour Tony ? As said once a long time ago was sitting in a bar in Milwaukee when this US coast bluejacket attached to a brief case came up and sat on the next bar stool to me and wanted to be talkative , I said to him jokingly in my mind “ Is that right one has to be over 6 feet to join the US coastguard ? “ Nawww he said who told you that and why ?”, “ so if the ship sinks you can walk ashore I replied” , his friendly demeanour suddenly changed , so excused myself to go to the toilet and went out the back door and went to another bar which sold the beer that made Milwaukee famous. As you know the US coastguard had also a similar job as the British BOT so kept my eye open for any future boarding officers. Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

John.
You were lucky he didn't hit you with his brief case then take you for a walk , under water Lol
Des

[j.sabourn]

That’s why I made the excuse to go to the toilet Des, to get rid of the ballast to be able to keep afloat. Cheers JS.