Katie is 25 and from Yeovil, Somerset. Katie is studying the HND Marine Engineering course at Warsash Maritime Academy and is in Phase 3 of her study, sponsored by The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Katie was in the Royal Navy for 5 years before she decided to join the Merchant Navy.
"I first worked at sea with the Royal Navy for 5 years. During that time we frequently worked alongside the RFA, whose primary role is to replenish the Royal Navy ships whilst at sea. I think that was the reason I applied to the RFA when looking to return to sea. I didn’t apply to any other companies at all and I have to admit, I didn’t really know much about the Merchant Navy at all until I came to join Warsash Academy, to start my training.
In the Royal Navy my role was engineering based, although it was more electrical than mechanical. I knew it would be quite a change doing Marine Engineering but I still applied because it is the nature of engineering I enjoy so much; it doesn’t matter what I’m taking to bits!
When people ask me what I like about my job, I say I love meeting new people. The atmosphere onboard is fantastic, and you get to meet people from all walks of life.I also love travel and you can’t beat travelling by sea. There is something very calming about the open ocean.
I have only spent one 4-month trip at sea with the RFA so far, but it was a good one. I travelled to Norfolk, Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral in the United States and also spent a week alongside in Halifax, Canada. I have to say the best part of the trip was Halifax; Canada is a really beautiful place and the locals are great.
The trip I have just finished was onboard RFA Fort George. She is one of two sister ships which are nicknamed “one-stop shops”. This is because she carries fuel, water, ammunition and dry/food stores to replenish other vessels. She is approx. 203 meters in length and has a gross tonnage of approx. 29,000 tonnes.
The most impressive thing I experienced at sea was our ship replenishing other vessels within the task group.
From the engineering side of things, I love the diversity of it; there is always something to keep you busy and you’re learning all the time. I especially like getting my hands dirty, taking things apart and seeing how they work. There is a great sense of achievement when you fix something too.
I found the college time a struggle at first. Most of the people in my intake were fresh from school or college, and they were used to sitting in a classroom all day and learning! It had been 8 years since I’d asked my brain to work that way and I had to put in a lot of hours teaching and re-teaching myself things, to make them stick. It was most definitely worth it though and now I’m much more settled into it. I find the subjects really interesting and I think that’s what kept me going!
The best part about the Engineering course is the workshop time, without a doubt. The lecturers that take the various activities there are fantastic, it’s well equipped and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed too.
As strange as it sounds, I enjoy being away from home, for short lengths of time. The only way to describe it is like you’re leaving reality behind. When you get alongside it can sometimes feel like you’re crashing back to Earth! The people that you go to sea with become your temporary family and you find you get very close in a short space of time. I think that is needed when working in close proximity though.
Of course you miss your loved ones. My fiancé has a sea-going career too, so we often don’t see each other for long periods of time. Onboard there are ways and means to keep in touch though. It can vary from company to company in my experience. Some will have satellite phones for general use and others will have Internet. In the worst cases though, you can write home the old fashioned way!
Food and accommodation can vary greatly from vessel to vessel as well. I’ve never had bad experiences of either though. I think you have to be forgiving with the food and bear in mind that, if you’re deep sea, the food will begin to run out! Sometimes they have to scrape the barrel a bit! Be assured though, everyone makes up for it when the ship gets alongside!
Its really hard to say what my best moment so far has been..there's been too many good moments to choose any one of them. One of the best is the first time I walked down into the ship’s engine room and saw the main engines. I was so excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.
In 5 years time I would like to be a fully qualified 3rd officer! I would also like to be on my way to achieving my 2nd officers ticket. I don’t think I will be in a 2nd officers post by then, but I’m aiming to have as many qualifications as I can in a relatively short space of time, while I’m still in the “college” frame of mind. Then I can focus on gaining experience.
In 10 years time I hope to have started a family at home with my fiancé. By that time his sea-going career will have come to an end, and he will be ready for a shore-based job. That will enable me to carry on going to sea and continue with my engineering career.
It can be quite tricky to explain my job to friends and family because I’m the first in my family to choose a career at sea. I’m lucky in that they all take quite an interest. They often ask me lots of questions and they enjoy hearing all about my time at sea; sometimes I think they’re slightly in awe of it all. They tell me they’re proud of me and that’s the most important thing to me.
I think this is a fabulous career, and not just for young people either. As mentioned before, there are people from all walks of life at sea; and some come to it quite late in their lives. The college work is laborious and I would say you have to have a lot of determination but once you have been to sea you will discover what it is that you’re working towards, and it all becomes completely worthwhile.
The qualification at the end of training is internationally recognised and can be used in a multitude of fields, not only at sea, but shore side too; so it is very worthwhile having. Often people believe they would be sacrificing a lot to go to sea; but in my opinion, that’s not the case at all."