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which route is best?

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 10:38 am
by sopuck
My name is J Sopuck, and I am trying to make a career as a marine engineer. When I started working for BC Ferries at the age of 19 as a wiper, my grandpa told me to get the hell out of the marine industry while I had the chance. He had joined the merchant navy at 15, and was at sea for a large portion of his life.

I am now 22. I have been in and out of school including courses in mechanical and civil engineering. After my 14 months at BCF, I took off and traveled the world with my savings. After exploring around 15 countries I have discovered how great the world is. So I started thinking, career in an international environment would also be great. Why not do marine engineering?

After working with guys who have been deep sea for many years, I have heard many negative things about working in this industry. At the same time, I have heard many positive things especially when it comes to near future job opportunities due to the aging maritime workers.

What I don’t understand is why TC makes it so ridiculously hard to get your tickets?

I could try and get into BCIT Marine for their 4-year cadet program. Spend over $50,000 on education and living costs, work for peanuts in the co-op terms, and write the TC exams. All this only to leave the program with a 4th class ticket. And since anyone with sea time can write the exam in a few hours, I don’t see the point in spending $50,000, which I don’t have, when one could just pass the TC exams. There should be a happy medium to this situation.

Apparently doing everything on your own is harder. But say I take a MEOL type course, get a job on some ship, rack up sea time, and make money. I can earn the sea time, experience and money. Then write and pass my TC exams and acquire my engineering 4th class. If I can do this in 4 years or less, would it not be the smarter route? Or am I missing something huge here?

What do you guys suggest?



Cheers,

J Sopuck

Re: which route is best?

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 6:04 am
by JK
Give the CG College a try. They will pay you, feed you and house you and give you the sea time.
There are a lot of people who seem to look down at the CG, but why starve while you are trying to get your ticket, if you are really serious about it.


https://psjobs-emploisfp.psc-cfp.gc.ca/ ... ckBtn=true

You may graduate with a 4th, but the assumption has been you will be a Chief and all the training and education is geared to that. When you are examined, you will be tested acadamically to a Chiefs level. It is up to you to get the sea time and write the papers for TC.

Re: which route is best?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 4:40 pm
by Sébastien
Hello Jeff,
One way or another you have to spend the time: study time and sea time. There is no escaping this fact and there is no easy route. Both methods of acquiring your tickets will require the same amount of effort and time, the only difference is in the details and the timing.

Re: which route is best?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:44 am
by JK
It is good that you are clear that you want to do this. It is several years to get the sea time for a Chiefs ticket and if you go ashore before then, a 4th or a 3rds are not much good to you.
A Chiefs ticket with the experience behind it opens doors ashore, but you won't make the same salary as sea-going. They want the knowledge,but don't want to pay...