Any tips on choosing a sponsor for a cadetship?

[Roger Penny]

Hello Chaps

Happy to announce I've been offered sponsorship to become a deck officer at my local college in the UK!

I have 3 preferences of who i would like to work with. I'm well aware that i may or may not get them, but still very excited about the whole process.

Any tips or insider knowledge of companies to avoid or signs of a good companies?

Also another query, Has anyone ever settled abroad due to work or have any similar experience? I understand visas, residency status etc play a part.

Many thanks

Roger

[j.sabourn]

Congratulations Roger , you’re on your first step of the ladder. Unfortuanetley like a lot of the mainstream on this site my first step was in 1952 some 72 years ago and things were slightly different then. Today my perspective on the British Merchant Navy is not in line with what you want to hear. However if you want a job to last your lifetime or the longest career wise before it disappears to cheaper labour sources , I would suggest you concentrate on Companys with specialised vessels working offshore , and not be coerced into Hornblower stories put out by the few remaining genuine British Owners. I beleive I asked you once before are you any relation to Derek Penny ? You may have replied but if did so have forgotten. Anyhow once again congratulations on your being accepted into what can one say hopefully is still a band of brothers. Once seen never forgotten, if Derek was or is a relation he would have been the best person for advice . Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Roger.
I was jut an AB but would like to give you my best for your future, wont be the same obviously but good luck mate, and keep in touch with the site.
Des

[John Arton]

Roger
Look at the prospectus of each of the companies and see what vessels they manage. This will give you a good idea of the trading areas and cargo types that you will get experience in, also the class of certification you will receive. Your first certificate will be officer of the watch and you want that to have the unlimited caveat to it. This will allow you to sail on any sized vessel worldwide, subject to any endorsement required for specific vessel types, e,g oil and chemicals etc.
Rgds
JA

[Roger Penny]

Hello JS

I've read many stories of how better things used to be British seafarers regarding runs ashore for longer periods etc. It hasn't put me off. I realise many countries and attitudes have changed recently but it still won't affect my attitude, life's what you make it after all. Maritime cadetship seems like Britain's best kept secret in my opinion. And no, i have no knowledge or family with the name of Derek Penny.

I'll take what you said into account.

Thanks your message, it won't be the last time i post on here.

[j.sabourn]

#1. Looking back on your post Roger perhaps should have answered your query about settling abroad. My circumstances were a bit different , also the year was different and the industry itself is much different than what it is today. My preference at first was to get a bit more time at home and I applied to various in different parts of the world. I was 29 when got this urge for more of a family life and about your age at present. I had 13 years at sea behind me and applied first to the cable ships stationed in different parts of the world , I was knocked back as being too old at 29 as their cut off age was 28 , I wrote back I had all the required certification and heard no more at the time. I then tried for a teaching job in Newfoundland at the College of Fisheries, and was put on the short list ,but my wife did not want to go , maybe the Titanic put her off. I tried the sludge vessels on the Thames but was not disabled enough to suit the Greater London Inner Council. All this was in 1966 after the seaman’s strike. So like long John Silver it was back to sea and carry on regardless and took a job working for an American shipowner working out of Canada.
As soon as got ensconced and signed up for a year , the cable ships came back and said would waive the age restriction and gave me a list world wide where I had to choose to settle. Too late was my cry . The same with the Newfoundland job ,Too late was the second cry. I stayed in foreign flagged ships getting home when I could . The
Shipping industry went from bad to worse and coming back 5 years later it was obvious the only path was oil related and the North Sea beckoned. Even there , were ups and downs , so decided to emigrate to Australia and found they were the best 11 years out of the 50 spent at sea. The only thing I could advise anyone at that time and era with similar ideas was to be sure you would be eligible to get into the Maritime Union. That was in 1991. I retired in 2002 .,Today however is not the same out here as it was in 1991. But shipping as I saw it Australia was the place to be at that time and era. Cheers JS.

[Roger Penny]

Thanks for your comment JS.

I worked in Australia (not maritime) related for a number of years, so I understand how tedious and long applying for visas are in the modern day. Australia is certainly under my radar. For now it's all speculation on my part. I've found at least in my life, plans always change regarding where you're going, who you meet etc. Only time will tell.

Got my ENG1 medical this week, due to start studying come Jan/Feb 2025.

Roger

[j.sabourn]

Best of luck . JS