Life At Sea
Hazel
Company: Anglo Eastern UK Ltd
College: Fleetwood Nautical Campus
Position: 2nd Officer
Age: 22
For me, joining the merchant navy was a very simple and fast process. After a family member recommended searching the careers at sea website I soon realised the opportunity that was available to me. Armed with previous job experience, (never been out of work since the age of 16) and my A levels; I didn’t struggle gaining sponsorship.
College consisted of 8 weeks basic training before joining my first ship. Despite the short time spent at college I feel very lucky that Fleetwood Nautical Campus (FNC) had prepared me very well for most of the things I would face at sea. Similarly my company also have a pre sea briefing with guidance on travel and protocol. Being prepared and open minded is a vital component for a successful cadetship and future career, coupled with dedication and motivation.
I joined the merchant navy seeking a challenge, and to experience the world. I have been fortunate to sail with multi-national crews on worldwide voyages on a range of ships. The challenge was adapting to each ship and living and working in a culturally diverse atmosphere. Once I had done the ‘nitty gritty’ and grafted my way on the ship it all started to make sense. I think to fulfil the true potential in a cadetship; one has to understand the working dynamic of a ship. It is a unique working environment that has its benefits and its downsides as does any job.
They say that you have to be a little crazy to go to sea but I’m not certain there’s anything crazy about being sponsored to gain an academic qualification and gaining life skills whilst seeing the world that result in decent jobs with opportunities to progress both at sea and ashore. I have had very positive and negative responses to being onboard different ships that I feel have made me stronger.
It comes down to the fact you have to understand the job before you can fully enjoy its benefits. It’s also important for family and friends to have an understanding of what it is we do to offer the support we need. I am fortunate enough to come from a seafaring background so I have a good network of support that helps makes pursuing a career at sea so much easier.
It is not without its difficulties though, I have faced a lot of challenges along the way and still continue to do so. The job is about “adapt and overcome”. The academic standards that have to be achieved are very demanding, however FNC offer a great support system throughout the cadetship to each of its students and then focuses more on pushing you to take responsibility for your own studies and learning as one progresses to the management level. The main thing at sea that I found most difficult is the lack of communication and the isolation from the outside world. Mainly loved ones back home, missing everything. It’s the sacrifice that goes along with the job, an occupational hazard. On the other hand camaraderie and friendship are things that I cherish the most, that and I never get sick of sunrises, sunsets or the stars. What I found most fascinating was each person’s little techniques to deal with solitude. I enjoyed having ‘my own space’. I decorated my cabin with pictures and posters to make the place brighter and feel like home from home. I also found exercise very valuable; it was a real luxury to have a running machine!
So what does the future hold? Well I am approximately 8 weeks away from gaining my Certificate of Competency (COC) then I am hoping to embark on exciting career. I would hopefully like to progress through the ranks to senior level.
I think of a career at sea; to be a vibrant and demanding opportunity that should be highlight more!