I want to take that course!!!
Married a Canadian, became a citizen not too long ago, from an investment standpoint it makes more sense to just get citizenship after you put in your time with a PR card since you have to renew your card every 5 years… although being American it was a little tough for me to swear allegiance to the queen lol
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It was wild, they had us get in raft when the pool was calm then they turned on the effects and we had to get out and do all the motions you do in the American BST it pretty instense but I feel fully prepared if sh** hit the fan. The lifeboatman course was pretty impressive as well.
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I’m sure the film industry could come up with a set that could parallel the excellent training experience offered in Canada. A studio not far from where I live had a set containing a pool twice the capacity of an Olympic pool for some movie. The mock up of the helicopter used was very similar to that shown in the course I did but we were only blindfolded to simulate a night ditching and that looks far more realistic.
More simulation capacity being available especially for cruise, ferry and super yacht crews has been established by Viking Maritime Group:
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/viking-maritime-group-opens-new-cutting-edge-simulator-centre/
Hey man, I’ll be graduating from Kings Point this year, and am trying to sail with the Canadian fleet after graduating. Just wondering if you had any insight on what U.S. credentials carry over to the Canadian system.
This has been answered before. Suggest you contact @granitestater if he is still around as he has done it. Do you have Canadian citizenship?
That sounds like a waste of your time at Kings Point.
Also, you’re required to sail on US flag ships after you graduate.
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I was thinking the same thing. Honor thy commitment. To Canada?
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Although Canadians are starving for mates and wheelsman their credentialing system is rather old school, best way is to contact the companies(CSL, Algoma or Mckeil) directly or the master, mates and pilots guild they could fast track you to PR, since I imagine your graduating with an OICNW which will transfer relatively easily, but Canadians don’t have a 3rd mates license they have a watchkeeping mate which covers 3rd and 2nd… more than likely a company will sail you as a wheelsman or a 3rd so you can get the hang of the lakes because it’s own monster up there. Due to you already having your OICNW you will be eligible for direct examination, the tests are brutal since I am about half way through, easiest test thus far has been chart work and pilotage to be honest I thought the 100 ton US chart plot was harder… it’s all running fixes anyways good luck man shoot me a message if you have anymore questions
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The CG won’t accept any certificate of training that’s not under CG approved schools. I had to take GMDSS 2x because of that. I don’t blame the CG by doing it. There are plenty of scheming out there.
COSCO is setting up it’s own Maritime University in Qingdao to ensure that they get and retain the best talents for their very large and diverse fleet:
Or indentured servitude. Whichever floats your boat…
I have been on many COSCO vessels over the last 15-20 years and didn’t see any oppressed “slaves” among the crew.
Not the height of luxury, but which merchant ships have that these days?
Maybe you have a different experience with Chinese seafarers?
A company I worked for started training Chinese apprentices. As soon as they got a decent standard of English they got a much better job shoreside.
A Training Centre in Aberdeen adds a second freefall lifeboat to increase their capacity to meet demand in these Corona times:
https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/trainingtechnology/266773/petrofac-splashes-200k-on-second-freefall-lifeboat-in-aberdeen/#:~:text=Oilfield%20service%20firm%20Petrofac%20has,it%20keep%20up%20with%20demand.
Sri Lanka wants to educate more of their mariners in Sri Lanka:
Maybe even foreign seafarers can be educated there in the future?
Stena Bulk and Admiral Makarov SUMIS has a long relationship and Stena employs a lot of officers from there:
Stena is also active supporter of maritime training institutes other places in the world to ensure that they have access to the brightest and best candidates to crew their ships.
Although it was over 20 years ago, I found that when I boarded Stena vessels (VLCCs, for the most part) for Class (and statutory) surveys, the crews were top notch, from top to bottom. It was also very interesting in that there were a multitude of nationalities and cultures onboard.
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Yeah, it’s ironic that STCW training obtained by a foreigner in a far away land is acceptable by the USCG for bringing massive ships carrying hazardous cargo into American waters, but not acceptable to allow an American with the same foreign training to leave Amercan waters on an American ship.
Then again, if our ships are going to be undermanned by historic standards and maintenance allowed to suffer from the shortage, despite the rigors of route and schedule, I guess we better know for sure the quality of thier training.
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