Cadet Life
Dominique is sponsored by Navalmar through SSTG. She is 23 and from Goodmayes in Essex. Dominique is currently a Phase 3 Deck Cadet studying the foundation degree in Marine Operations.
“A friend recommended a career in the Merchant Navy to me after I said I was interested in working on Superyachts after completing a day skippers course. I heard about my company on the MCA website.
The sea time was amazing; I got a full day off in most locations, then had additional evenings or mornings off when not on shift to go shopping etc. I boarded in Egypt then travelled to the Ukraine, Russia, Durban and Capetown, various Brazilian ports and disembarked in Lisbon 4.5 months later.
I was on Bio Bio, a 35 year old bulk carrier so there was plenty of chipping and painting to be done, but it was built in a time where accommodation was designed to be pleasant and spacious. I had a large double bedroom with a reasonable size en-suite shower room and our ship had a small swimming pool which was lovely on our Sundays off.
All 4 of us cadets went together on a Cairo day trip part-organised by the ship's agent and saw the Cairo, Papyrus and perfume museums and had a camel / horse ride to the Pyramids & Sphinx, stopping at McDonalds on our return to ship.
In Capetown I went up Table Mountain, had a glass of Champagne at the top and descended to a beachfront dinner (a birthday present from some of the crew!). We had to avoid pirates off Somalia and saw Dolphins, Whales, Seals, Flying Fish, Bats, birds and sunsets and stars unmarred by anything. We also caught a 19kg Tuna that we ate at a barbeque party after our crossing the equator ceremony - Neptune favoured us, it was the only big one we caught that trip.
E-mail contact was via the Captains computer and limited to text only and internet connection speeds in cafes or Seamans missions abroad are not to be shouted about. Satellite phone calls are too expensive to justify on a regular basis; I had a travel sim-card that was a lot cheaper when in range, but to be honest you get into your work, take lots of pictures and wait until you're home to communicate properly.
Most people not on a cruise ship have some issue with the food, ranging from simply being fed up with Chinese food every day to trying boiled liver; cold garlic soup; tongue; boiled oxtail then Tripe and cabbage soup.
When I am explaining my job to friends or family, I tell them I'm in commercial shipping, learning to navigate ships like ferries, oil tankers or container ships. Which normally gets a response of "Wow, I bet you get to see a lot of the world" rather than “I'm a Merchant Navy Cadet” which generally elicits "Oh the Navy, cool, do you shoot at things?"
I am considering doing the top up year for the full degree, but will probably wait for a year or so after I'm qualified to better choose a subject for the dissertation. I chose the foundation degree over the HND simply because I prefer the way it's taught and the arrangement of sea and college phases.
Within 7 years time I hope to be Captain on either commercial ships or Superyachts. I'm waiting to get a bit more experience before I decide which.
I love this job and everyone has enjoyed it whether they were on a tanker, ferry or cruise ship. If you enjoy being independent, I recommend it, but consider your options carefully:
Deep sea (see the world) vs Ferries (Telephone signal)
Cruise Liners (Good Food) vs Car carriers/Bulkers (Decent Rooms)
English Officers (can explain the work) vs Variety of cultures and experiences
Containers/Cruise Liners (short stay, but lots of port & mooring experience) vs Bulkers (longer stays & cargo-work experience)”
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Some ship maintenance
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Me and the rest of the crew
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