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

[Roger Penny]

Hello Chaps

28, male, relevant GCSEs.


I'm in the process of applying for a deck officer cadetship here in the UK, my father gave me the idea a long time ago and thought now i'm ready for a career change. I'm aware of sea life, work/life ratio and absolutely love the idea.

However, after doing some research I've seen a lot of negativity with regards to companies just hiring indians, russians, ukranians etc for much cheaper the industry is becoming unforgivable.

Anyone British deck officers out there who can give any insight into the reality? Bulk carriers and tankers are my first option and cruises my last option (less people, less problems).

Also are you based in the UK or somewhere around the world?

Many Thanks

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Roger
Thanks for the Question, i hope that some on here may be able to give you advice on what you seek!
All i can add is that yes unfortunately these days not like old, most all Positions on Board Ships now are being taken up by Foreigners.

But i think that thee would still be quite a few Positions open for UK. Citizens ?
Cheers
Good Luck

Give these a try looks very promising!
Cheers

Discover a career at sea | Becoming an officer cadet | Warsash Maritime (solent.ac.uk)

Applying for a cadetship | Becoming an officer cadet | Warsash Maritime (solent.ac.uk)

HMC_prospectus_2023_Deck_web.pdf (humbermaritimecollege.ac.uk)

Merchant-Navy-Deck-Officer | Explore careers | National Careers Service

Cadet careers with Cunard – Cunard Careers

Deck Officer Cadetship | Trinity House

[happy daze john in oz]

Life at sea is no longer as it was.
On occasions I go to the Mission in Port Melbourne.
All of the seamen I have seen there are non English, most from Mid Europe or Asia.
Similar on cruise ships, some British officers and a few in areas such as entertainment and photography.
But again the majority including officers are either Italian officers with a few British or USA, deck appear to be all Asian and hospitality either Philippino, Croation, or mid EU.

[Tony Taylor]

Life at sea is no longer as it was.
On occasions I go to the Mission in Port Melbourne.
All of the seamen I have seen there are non English, most from Mid Europe or Asia.
Similar on cruise ships, some British officers and a few in areas such as entertainment and photography.
But again the majority including officers are either Italian officers with a few British or USA, deck appear to be all Asian and hospitality either Philippino, Croation, or mid EU.

does non English include Scots, Welsh, Irish, Geordies?

[j.sabourn]

Probably means English is not their first language Tony. Used to be that one had to be conversant in the spoken word to be a member of a British ship, and British.nationality to be master or chief engineer, not so today is mixture of liquorice all sorts. JS
PS there was even an English paper in the certificate for 2 mate, it was also a failing paper. How times have changed , and not for the better. JS

[j.sabourn]

#1. Your father isn’t or was Derick Penny was he ? Served his time in Runcimans and finished up offshore in the North Sea. ? Cheers JS.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

John.
The mates ticket's may have changed to include languages LoL,
Ds

[j.sabourn]

#7 The English paper was usually a business letter one had to write out to show the Canddate was proficient in the English language. There used to be a joke going round where the examiner says to the candidate “ You Speekee English ? “ , and the candidates reply “ yes Sahib , my Daddy was a Geordie he cum to South Shiely for further education”. JS

[Tony Taylor]

#7 The English paper was usually a business letter one had to write out to show the Canddate was proficient in the English language. There used to be a joke going round where the examiner says to the candidate “ You Speekee English ? “ , and the candidates reply “ yes Sahib , my Daddy was a Geordie he cum to South Shiely for further education”. JS

He decided to take a holiday back home so he went to the railway station in S. Shields and asked for a ticket to Dacca, ticket man says dont know any Dacca, heres a ticket to Newcastle, ask them. Guy travels to Newcastle and requests a ticket to Dacca, i dont know any Dacca, heres a ticket to Kings Cross ask them when you get there. This poor guy eventually makes it back home and after a month decides to go back so he goes to Dacca central station and asks for a ticket to Shields, North or South? the ticket guy asks.

[j.sabourn]

#1 Roger the majority of members on this site cannot really give you advice, as most left the sea a lot of years ago. Maybe the younger members still at sea would be the best to advise you. The last time I saw my son who is closer to 60 than he is to 55 he said to me “ Dad why didn’t you talk to me when I was young about your life at sea “ I found it extremely hard to talk my way out of the situation as thought I was doing him and his mother a good turn thought when he saw the situation his mother was in with long periods without her husband he would realize his mother would not want to loose both men in her life ,and would know he would have to accept the same if he married and had a family. Leaving a family with a woman to bring up on her lonesome is not the ideal way of life and only a certain type of lady will accept it. I was extremely lucky, many weren’t. Today if you are fortuanate enough to get a berth on a civilised vessel things are decidedly different , but even so I would give long and deliberate thought if it was worth it. The only way you will get a truthful reply to your quest is from somebody still employed in the industry. Best of luck in whatever action you may take. Cheers JS.