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ex-brit marine engineer investigating cdn education options

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:09 am
by getsmart
Hello All

This is my first post.

I've been using this site as a resource whilst investigating my own interests regarding canadian certification.

First off.

Martin, this is an excellent resource and I congratulate you on your efforts into putting this website together. I spent the better part of ten years in web development as a designer, founder, project manager and project director for various web development companies in Vancouver so I know what it takes. Good effort!

So here's my story to put things into context and I'll try to be brief ; )
After spending twenty years living and working in Vancouver, I decided to investigate local options regarding my very first career which was as a marine engineer.

I was an engineering cadet in the mid-seventies and continued to work as a marine engineer(3rd) until 1987 when I moved to Canada. It wasn't a great time for the industry when I was in it, as I ended up working for seven shipping companies in 13 years. I was eventually forced to go foreign flag as the number of British based companies rapidly disappeared. However, I really did enjoy my early years at sea, but the future was pretty grim, no job security, less pay, no paid leave, consequently working longer at sea etc etc. I eventually got out of the business before I completed my Second's ticket, and pursued other career interests in Canada.

A couple of years ago, I went to Transport Canada and showed them my british testimonials and certificates and I was eventually granted permission to sit my Canadian Second's ticket though with no exemptions.

I've had to wait until now to really look at going to school. I've been out of the marine engineering field for twenty years. I've read a bunch of information via the forums regarding the local industry and the requirement for skilled workers but their seems to be conflicting information regarding supply( qualified employee's) and demand(employer's). I'm not interested in going deep sea anymore.

Going to school is a big commitment, there are other work options that I could pursue. Therefore, what is it like to work in the local Vancouver lower mainland area? Anyone have any good experiences to share with me?



thx
Martyn Hurst (ex-brit eng)

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:39 pm
by D Winsor
My Best advice for you is to get out your Reid's, Southern's Verbal Notes & Shetches, McGibbon's and other such books you may have and start studying them.
Where as Marine engineering has progressed over the years the Transport Canada exam questions have not.
Check out Martin's site for the posted questions to practice with and you should not have much trouble.
Good Luck

Work options

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:41 pm
by Dieseldame
Hey getsmart, thanks for joining in the conversation. You seem to be looking for work options if I read your email right. I'm less familiar with the west coast but here in the east one option is going on the part time list with the Coast Guard. If you are interested in some yachting sites and contacts let me know and I will compile something for you...for starters you could google "just4engineers", great site. I guess the question really is...what type of work do you really want??

DD

ex brit

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:07 pm
by conrod
Martyn, who were you with in the UK. I did my cadetship with Blue Flue / Elder Gangsters.........probably the same time as you did yours.

time to get some more books

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:17 pm
by getsmart
response to D windsor

thanks for the onus on getting the books out. I do have a bunch from my early days though not Reeds. Thanks for the input. Just trying to balance things regarding working right now, studying and life as we know it! I'm in the planning stages right at the moment. Applied to take some courses and I'm waiting to hear back from the college.

response to Dieseldame

Well I'm strictly looking locally for the moment, I'm based here and have commitments not a single guy anymore. Thank you for the google nod etc. I will look, But you never know down the road I might be interested in another type of job market. All input is gladly welcome.

response to conrod

I was a cadet with Cayzer Irvine Shipping (74 -78). Went to college in Plymouth and London. Cayzer Irvine aka British and Commonwealth Group, they owned Clan line, King line, Union Castle, and manned one of the OCL container ships.

Then I worked for Reardon Smith's for two years.

Then Silver line for two more years(tanker's)

Then I had to start working foreign flag though it was under the Hong Kong flag.

Scottish Ship management two more years then a small Irish tanker company and then I hit canadian terra firma: )

ex brit

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:05 pm
by conrod
Just a tad before me, I was 78 - 82, Birkenhead Tech. I guess in reality we were Ocean Fleets, but I did most of my time down West Africa on ED's boats. Did a couple on BF boats, not the OCL ones though.....I was strictly motor.

Like many, I was kicked out at the end of my 4 years, and walked into a job with Swire Pacific Offshore........then CNCo for a spell in the mid 80's.......but back to SPO after getting promoted to C/E.........been there ever since, just coming up on 26 years.

I too have started to think of work locally, had enough of flying round the world to some of the worst places imaginable........but I have been lucky the last 3, down in Trinidad, and just for a change, got dragged off leave early, the week before Christmas, to go to Singapore. Does not bode well for family relations. Anyway we digress......get back to the topics !!

digress not!

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:23 pm
by getsmart
Hey Conrod

Okay thanks for your little track record. At least you got into a stable work environment, I never really found that. Though If I had, then who knows I probably wouldn't be posting now: )

Job ops

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:26 am
by Dieseldame
Not in your local area...but thought I would send them along anyway.


Still have an overlog of engineer jobs - need to fill some of these! Please let me know if you are interested or even know someone who is?? Yacht experience required... Thanks for your referals! Please keep watch on our online Job List! Have a great day!

Darcy Narraway
Yacht Crew Register
www.yachtcrew.ca

MCA Class 1 Chief Engineer, 300' Yacht, Private, $10,000/month

USA Class 1 Chief Engineer, 300' Yacht, Private, $12,000/month

Class 1 Chief Engineer Rotation, 250' Yacht, Charters, 5000 euro/month on

Y2 Chief Engineer, 220' Lurssen, Caribbean Charters, $10,000/month


Y3 Engineer, 38m Private, Caribbean & Med, $7000/month



Greek Engineer, 33m New Build in the Med, $6000/month



Class 3 Canadian Engineer, 120' Dive Charters, Mexico, $6000/month


Engineer & Stew Team, 120' Feadship, Private, Caribbean & East Coast US, $6000/month

Y4 Engineer, 154' Perini Sailing, ROTATION (3x3), Sail experience, $6000/month

Y4 Engineer, 125' Motoryacht, Private in the Med, $6000/month

ETO (AV & Seatel) Engineer, 400' Yacht, Private Pacific, $6000/month

V-Sat Technician, Land based Florida or California, $6000/month

DD

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:54 am
by JK
Coast Guard is looking for engineers in Pacific Region.

You will need a simulator course

[url]https://psjobs-emploisfp.psc-cfp.gc.ca/ ... eerchoices;
jsessionid=2cjDHh7PgJc5qQN1WLGmJYVvQ0hNnVhgTHrqj4c2dF8wvMWvTDt6!1354609791?
lang=en&action=applicant.helpcareerchoices&psrsMode=1&poster=27177[\url]

Sorry about the ungodly url, you will probably have to paste it into your browser, I can't get the link to work

Ocean Fleets aka The Blue Flue!

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:56 am
by TxMarEng
Hey Conrod did you ever know or hear of an ex Blue Flue Chief Peter Kay? Great engineer worked with him in Holland in the late 70's in the yard where they built the Clytonius and Cyclops.

response to JK

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:25 pm
by getsmart
Thanks for the heads up JK

Am harassing fellow at Pacific Marine via email at the moment as yet I have not had a response, sent three emails and their voicemail system was not working the last time I tried to contact him by the belling phone. I may have to go down there in person or get ahold of his boss because it's all about communication: )

cheers

Peter Kay

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:11 am
by conrod
TxMarEng : The name does sound familiar.....but not sure if it is related to BF........I certainley have heard of the Clytonius and Cyclops though. I managed to stay away from the Doxfords though, and spent most of my time on the new S class boats.......except for the Lycaon, and Patroclus which were B & W and a very poorly Sulzer RD 90. The newest boat I was on back then, was the Barber Priam, which at the time was the largest RoRo afloat. She is now with the Military Sea Lift Command, called the Cape Henry I think. She was a great boat.......and the only one I have ever been on that had a proper bath tub in all the cabins. How times have changed........since then I have been on supply boats where I have had to share a bathroom with the Old Man !!

BARBER PRIAM

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:24 am
by TxMarEng
Know the PRIAM well. I was involbved with the survey and purchase of her for MSC and yes she is the CAPE HENRY At the time one of the finest in the RRF fleet. We bought a lot of RO/RO's in that period from Wilhlemsen starting with the smaller G-1 ScanCarrier vessels.

BC marine engineer outlook

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:37 pm
by The Dieselduck
So you want to work in the marine industry in BC hey.

Well, there is a reason that there is a stated "shortage" of experienced persons in this field. Most of it, you have already stated in your post, and most were quite valid on this coast, not just in the UK.

There is allot of talk of shortage, but I am not convince that companies with any real reputation are pressed to seriously deal with it this day. Perhaps in the near future, as from my experience I see 3 guys ready to pull the pin at my work, which with only a full time need of 6-7 engineers, could be a pretty serious dilemma for the future. But business is still pretty much as its been for the last 10 years I have been working professionally and experienced it. Companies don't seem to value their employees and don't do much to make them want to love them. As such, most engineers get frustrated with the marine industry and change companies with regularity, looking for something that no one seems to be offering. Being a commitment heavy job, most stay in the industry, but only because the huge investment of their time to get there.

In my opinion, if your are able to not depend on a steady paycheck for a good year, invest a considerable amount of time and energy to get re-licensed / upgrade to your seconds, then yes, there is work in this area without resorting to do "deep sea". Generally, I see it being easier now to get a reliable job as a marine engineer in BC, and will get more so, but it is still a considerable headache to do so. The next question will be, will you be happy and will it have been worth it, compare to the investment you made compared to a similar type of position of responsibility in another industry.

I would say, to start from scratch, and expect steady work as a marine engineer on this coast, with a "big flag" company (that's not to say that there is not better boats out there, but...), is not yet a possibility. But if you have a certain amount of experience and ability to gain your seconds in a more "compressed" fashion, then the odds, and rewards, improved considerably.

The reasons, and my opinions, for the situation are posted numerous times throughout the site.

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:52 pm
by getsmart
Thanks for the reply Martin

That was the kind of answer I was looking for from someone local that is an experienced engineer, and knows this job market better than I.

I am prepared to spend a year at college to gain as much of my Second's ticket as I can. Financially I can afford to do that.

I finally heard back from an instructor and basically all the courses that I require do not start until September. I know the school schedule but I'm not familiar with the inner college workings. However, this instructor did state that he might put on an evening simulator course for people such as myself.

I did contact BC Ferries and dropped off a resume seeing as they had a big post out there. And basically I need a 4th class motor min. I was even considering applying as an ERA just to get some practical time in but that's not going to happen with them.

Now I have to recontact Transport Canada and revalidate a few things as it's been a couple of years, since my initial inquiry with them.