Was reading the following job post from Noble and it got me wondering:
http://www.linkedin.com/jobs/jobs-Dynamic-Positioning-Operator-3162257
While a 3rd mate license was preferrered, it was not required. This got me thinking if I want to pursue this career path, Do I really need to be spending $20k/year and many late study nights at a State Maritime Academy? Can I hawsepipe my way into a DP career - with appropriate certifications - instead of investing years at an Academy?
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;99673]Was reading the following job post from Noble and it got me wondering:
http://www.linkedin.com/jobs/jobs-Dynamic-Positioning-Operator-3162257
While a 3rd mate license was preferred, it was not required. This got me thinking if I want to pursue this career path, Do I really need to be spending $20k/year and many late study nights at a State Maritime Academy? Can I hawsepipe my way into a DP career - with appropriate certifications - instead of investing years at an Academy?[/QUOTE]
Yes and no. Think long term. Academy life sucks, but see it through and graduate.
That position is for someone currently holding a DP certificate. People who held DPO certificates or started their DP training before 2012 were not required to hold STCW certificates. To qualify for a NI DP certificate now you must have at least a STCW certificate as II/1, II/2, II/3 (Deck) or III/1, III/2, III/3 (Engine). You can start the NI scheme while in training for a STCW certificate and do the Induction course and 30 days familiarization but you can not do the Advanced course or 180 days watch keeping time until you have your STCW. I was talking with a mate on a drill ship during a recent DP course and he said that all his Senior DPOs were ABs who qualified for the NI certificate years ago but that the company was requiring them to have mates licenses now anyways so they were having to get them. Stick it out and finish the academy.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;99676]. Academy life sucks,.[/QUOTE]
Yes it does…yes it does…
2 and a half more years to go…
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;99680]Yes it does…yes it does… 2 and a half more years to go…[/QUOTE]
Suck it up cupcake! You’ll get no sympathy here.
It is no worse nor any better than working for a screamer who won’t teach you anything and you have to teach yourself everything.
If you want something good in life you have to earn it or steal it and that makes you a thief. Since you are obviously the former not the latter you would be welcome on my boat. The latter can go to hell.
Stay in school young man…it will be worth it. Trust me on this one.
Man I just graduated from mass academy and I’m from Florida. It is a place close to hell in my book but I am sitting on a ship right now on dp and love it. The best way to explain the academies is they are a terrible place to be but the best place to be from. I almost quit too, don’t do it. When u graduate like I did you will look back and thank god. Cause you’ll be makin $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
My son is at Massachusetts Maritime now and likes it. He just got back from a winter training cruise. I believe it’s worthwhile going to an academy because looking good on paper will get you in the door of a good company and gaining experience through hard work will keep you there. If he should choose to work ashore one day, he will have a bachelor’s degree from a well known school, which is attractive to any company. I am a hawspiper and clawed my way to the top the hard way. However, I have no education to fall back on if I were to want to come ashore. So my advice. …stay the course and stay in school. A good education is priceless.
[QUOTE=Bigpuddie;102603]My son is at Massachusetts Maritime now and likes it. He just got back from a winter training cruise. I believe it’s worthwhile going to an academy because looking good on paper will get you in the door of a good company and gaining experience through hard work will keep you there. If he should choose to work ashore one day, he will have a bachelor’s degree from a well known school, which is attractive to any company. I am a hawspiper and clawed my way to the top the hard way. However, I have no education to fall back on if I were to want to come ashore. So my advice. …stay the course and stay in school. A good education is priceless.[/QUOTE]
I am sailing master deep-sea but came up a non-academy route. There are definitely advantages to this route, you get more respect from the unlicensed but there are disadvantages as well. It’s tough to network for example when the hiring is done almost 100% by the school guys. It’s like sailing against a 1/2 kt current your whole career. I think being an academy drop-out would be the worse of both worlds with no respect from either group.
Best to stay in school and get your ticket then go towing or anchor handling and learn some practical deck seamanship. If you go to school and then learn your profession you’ll have the best of both worlds.
Agreed^^^^^^
You’ll learn some boat handling and practic seamanship hands on, excellent advice. Also smaller vessels will provide more exposure to engineering which is essential for a good deck officer to understand and appreciate the engine crew and their needs; something applicable on any vessel.
how do I go about getting qualified/trained for a DP Certificate/endorsement if I already have a license and have been sailing on it (oil tankers)?
Just keep on opening up those Cracker Jack boxes until your shiny new DP Certificate drops out into your lap.
[QUOTE=onefuncapt;131250]how do I go about getting qualified/trained for a DP Certificate/endorsement if I already have a license and have been sailing on it (oil tankers)?[/QUOTE]
Here’s a good site to start exploring:
http://www.nautinst.org/en/dynamic-positioning/index.cfm
Since you already have an unlimited ticket (I assume), you could start knocking on doors and get picked up by a company that will give you the DP training. With all the larger vessels coming out, there is a good demand for unlimited tickets.