The Merchant Marine

[wmmk]

Have any of you ever been mariners of some sort? I'm interested in spending some time as a deck worker on a cargo ship someplace, but don't know what that would entail, or where to begin.

 

[dsgNYC]

Originally Posted by wmmk

Have any of you ever been mariners of some sort? I'm interested in spending some time as a deck worker on a cargo ship someplace, but don't know what that would entail, or where to begin.

You may want to start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language

 

[dfagdfsh]

Originally Posted by wmmk

Have any of you ever been mariners of some sort? I'm interested in spending some time as a deck worker on a cargo ship someplace, but don't know what that would entail, or where to begin.

just read this post aloud to yourself

yea, dumb idea

 

[Godot]

I'm not suggesting it as a career choice, but if you want to try it, the place to start would be with the Longshoremen's Union which in Chicago seems to have become part of the Teamsters Union. So call the Teamsters & take it from there. This does seem a rotten time of year to be on the water.

 

[nootje]

my father served 12 years in the dutch merchant marine.. Had great fun (and apparently lots of boredom as well, which manifested itself in the copious amounts of alcohol consumed), and these days allways has stories to tell.. Apparently job security is also quite good, allthough that might have changed....







Only thing is that I sometimes wonder if I have a brother or sister in some exotic place I dont know about

 

[unjung]

Sometimes I think about ******* off to be a tugboat captain in Vancouver (no ****).

 

[NorCal]

Well, google is your friend, but a direct way to find out about it would be to walk down to the harbour and ask the captain, first mate, ect. for a job at the very least they'll steer you in the right direction.
I know you need you seaman's papers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchan...r%27s_Document
and will start out as an ordinary sea man.
I know there are training programs you can sign up for that get you your various safety certifications and papers that you need to work on ships. Some obviously will be better than others and give you more comprehensive training. I had a friend stay with me for a week or so last year while he trained in the Bay, before heading down to San diego and than Seattle to finish. I think the program was about 1500 and he learned about engines and got all his certifications, Z-card, and so on.
The Maritime Academy is a full program and likely more than you are interested in:
http://www.csum.edu/

I don't think it sound terrible at all. My friend was sailing out to the Farallon Islands and doing research on a ship that was soon to be heading to Hawaii. There are worse ways to while away a few months of your youth than pissing about Hawaii on a boat.
On the other hand you open your self up to a life time of "*****" jokes.