It’s
always an exciting experience when you join your first ship. Usually a month or
so before; but have been known as short notice as 24 hours, your sponsoring company will give you your joining instructions, which
feels like your Hogwarts letter has arrived! You hastily open your emails to
find out which ship you’ll be joining, when and where will you be going. Who
knows where you’ll be starting off? South Africa? Australia? Vancouver? Jetting
off to join a worldwide cruise with Royal Caribbean, or island hop through the
Pacific Islands. Until it dawns on you that you’re sponsored by an offshore
company and will be spending four months in the North Sea over Christmas. (This
highlights the importance of researching your sponsoring company before
applying!) For someone who hasn't flown long haul or even at all, this can be quite daunting. The best way to have a smooth flight is to be organised and have back up plans.
The joining instructions will contain information on your joining port, details of flights and connections and details of your ship. Before you leave you should look up your ship and find out as much information as you can. You can even track them using AIS online and see their itinerary. This will give you information on what climates you will be working in and will dictate what you pack. (what to take will be discussed in a later post) Your flights will be the cheapest at the time of your company booking them, which may mean some bizarre flight times and several connections.
For my first ship, I joined in the
exotic city of Southampton, not 10 miles from my home. My expectation was a
port like on the film, Muppet Treasure Island. Bustling docks with cranes
loading goods, officials checking paperwork, or scores of crews walking around
to find their vessel. I was expecting layers and layers of security to get into
the port itself and then another type of screening or checks to get onto the
ship itself. My taxi pulled up, chucked me out and drove off, leaving me with
my suitcase at the bottom of the gangway. The place was deserted. No one on the
dock or at the top of the gangway, no bustling port activity, nobody around. So
there I was standing there like a lemon wondering what to do next. I could
wait, but that could have been a long wait. So, I left my bag and walked up the
gangway. I eventually found my way up to the bridge and found the captain,
boatswain and chief officer. I drew attention to myself by clearing my throat
and saying “Hi, I’m Chloe. The new cadet?” To which the chief officer replied
“ah. There you are. Where’s your bag? I’ll get the other cadet to show you to
your cabin.”
After being shown to my cabin and I
had settled in, I was now alone in my cabin, again wondering what I am supposed
to do, so up I went again to the bridge to find out. This turned out to be the
best thing to do. One of the first lessons I learnt on ship was to use your
initiative. As a cadet you will not be chased up and you will not be baby-sat.
The position of a cadet on a ship is “an officer in training,” however when you
join your first ship, the crew will be aware that you are not trained and
inexperienced which makes you a potential hazard, and extra element for them to
think about whilst doing their job. If you can show that you have your head
switched on from day one and be seen to be keen and willing to get involved and
learn, it will create a good first impression and set you up for a successful
first trip. Be bold!
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