Alasdair

Student Stories

I am in phase 3 (2nd year) of my training as a Deck Officer through the Merchant Navy Officer Cadet programme at the NAFC Marine Centre UHI in Shetland.

Why did you choose this career?

The Merchant Navy appealed to me because I wanted a career that didn’t involve being stuck behind a desk, but that still provided a challenge, was rewarding and carried with it some responsibility. I came into it later than some after having already gone down the university route which didn’t work for me. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to university, so the cadetship was the perfect mix of studying at College and learning on the job at sea.

Did you have any reservations about your career choice?

Not at all! I really enjoyed my first trip at sea and knew instantly that this was the right career choice for me.

What kind of ships have you worked on, and where?

I was on a 'handy-max' sized dry bulk carrier. We had 5 holds, 4 cranes and carried a wide variety of cargoes such as coal, iron ore, clinker and even grain! I joined the ship in Singapore and 6 months later signed off in Rosario, Argentina, having been one of the helmsmen of the ship as we went up the Paraná River under Pilotage, a very different experience to helming the ship at sea! Along the way we crossed the equator three times, went through the Suez Canal and stopped off in many different ports and anchorage areas along the way.

How do you feel you have been treated as a cadet in the working environment?

I was treated very well on-board ship. Initially the prospect of joining a ship was very daunting, however I quickly settled into the role of Cadet with help from the crew. My time was split between doing deck work with the deck crew who were happy to show me how things were done on-board when I was unsure about anything. By the end of the trip I was able to go out and do jobs alone thanks to the guidance I had received. The rest of my time was spent on the Bridge where I acted as a lookout, initially on the Chief Officer’s watch from 4am to 8am and then on the Third Officer’s watch from 8pm to midnight. Although the language barrier could be an issue at times, they were always keen to show me how things worked or giving me tasks to do to help me understand the role of a Watchkeeping Officer further. The work on-board is undeniably hard at times, but very rewarding when you can carry a job through to completion.

What advice would you give to others considering a career at sea?

Research the job and the different companies well. They all offer different experiences, whether it’s the offshore industry, deep sea, cruise ships etc. Open days at the colleges are a great way of meeting current cadets and speaking to the training officers of the different companies.

Work hard! You’ll get out what you put in, both at college and on the ship. If you are respectful and put the work in, then it is really appreciated, both by the lecturers at the college, all of whom have a background in the industry, and by the Officers and Crew on-board. If you do this and go in with the right attitude, then they will make time for you and do all they can to help you succeed.

Would you make the same career choice again?

Absolutely, my only wish is that I made it earlier!

 

Alsadair is sponsored by DAO shipping through Anglo Eastern.

The Merchant Navy Officer Cadet Programme trains Deck and Engineer Officers for the Merchant Navy.