as above im lookin at a career change wondering if any one is or has been in the merchant navy lookin at the maintanace side of things as im a hgv technician atm

You dont get many Lorrys on battle ships LOL :tongue:

lol merchant navy aint battle ships its cargo ships tankers etc but thought the experience with big engines an industrial stuff might help like

Mate from Uni works for Stenna now out of Fishguard Harbour. He worked for several tug firms up there and down in Milford Haven/pembroke before that. He did some course up in a merchent navy college in Glasgow for a bit, but then he had a 2 year stint with Maersk shipping where he was off on container ships for 3-6 months at a time before he earned his officer stripes which means he can work as 2nd mate. I could ask him for some details if you like fella, but its more about seamanship and safety at sea/Helicopter survival courses etc that cost the money if you enter in later life....Drop me a PM and i'll pass you his details.

Just seen your only 27 so plenty of time yet!

Yes, I've done my officer training. You'd be doing engineering officer training whereas I did deck officer training. What you need to do is apply for sponsorship through a shipping company such as CMA CGM or something as you need to be supported through college, both with equipment and sea-time You then need to apply to nautical college. Warsash down on the solent would be the closest one to you.

 

Although you've already got a lot of experience in what you've got, you'll need to do the full course which is about 3 years. About 40% college, 60% seatime.

 

Lot of hard work involved, very little in the way of pay and long long stints away from home. Might sound appealing, but until you do it, you don't realise who you'll live with the new lifestyle as you'll live/breath work 24/7.

 

Give it a go though. First thing to do is to get in contact with the Warsash campus and get them to send you some course information. There's probably info on the net too.

 

It's a very tough life and nothing can really prepare you for doing it until you actually do it. Some people can get into the life, others won't last 5 minutes. Drop out rate in the first year of the course is about 50%.

Just seen your only 27 so plenty of time yet!

 

Not really I'm afraid. Not all companies take on mature trainees.

im 21!!!! lol cheeky you have my pm

thanks for the replys guys. its not some thing ive just thought id have a go an see ive been thinkin of it for over a year now an workin in avonmouth an being in an out of the docks an not gettin on well where i work any more has made me think do it now so im not to old!!!

21 is fine. That's when I did mine. Get in contact with Warsash, they'll also give you a list of shipping companies you can apply for sponsorship through. NB, steer clear of Zodiac Maritime Agencies!

thanks for the replys guys. its not some thing ive just thought id have a go an see ive been thinkin of it for over a year now an workin in avonmouth an being in an out of the docks an not gettin on well where i work any more has made me think do it now so im not to old!!!

 

Warsash have open days, might be worth going to one of those first. There are two enrolment days in the year, one in September and one in February iirc. So they might be holding an open day soon for next year's intake.

lol ok mate i apreciate the info found it pretty hard to get decent info any where!!

Join the army instead lol I done a modern apprenticeship with REME

im qualified as a hgv technican so no point doing that