[QUOTE=SomalianRoadCorporation;104910]This is why I am strongly considering the Hawsepipe. I really only want to work in the GoM, and if I can do 4 years of paid training instead of paying for 4 years of training, I would opt for the first choice[/QUOTE]
Why not do the workboat academy? If you want to work the GOM it seems like a great way to go. Get your sea time on an OSV and the schooling is good to help you get ready for the USCG tests. The workboat Academy is a fraction of the price of going to any State Maritime Academy. If I could do it over this is the route I would have gone. However as many have posted a Bachelors degree is good to have in your “quiver” if you need it down the road.
[QUOTE=GLMASailor;105015]Why not do the workboat academy? If you want to work the GOM it seems like a great way to go. Get your sea time on an OSV and the schooling is good to help you get ready for the USCG tests. The workboat Academy is a fraction of the price of going to any State Maritime Academy. If I could do it over this is the route I would have gone. However as many have posted a Bachelors degree is good to have in your “quiver” if you need it down the road.
Good luck were ever you end up.[/QUOTE]
I was actually pretty excited as I skimmed through the Workboat brochure until I read that the minimum age requirement is 19.
[QUOTE=SomalianRoadCorporation;105019]I was actually pretty excited as I skimmed through the Workboat brochure until I read that the minimum age requirement is 19. :([/QUOTE]
Dang that sucks. Well it wouldn’t be a bad idea like others have mentioned to go give it a shot. After a year and a half you’ll have some good experience, probably enough time to get AB OSV possibly limited(28 &14 working 12 hour days), and can decide if it’s worth hawsepiping it. If you decide to do the Workboat Academy having the AB will help you make more $ during your time you have to do at sea. If you decide to go to a State Academy having an AB ticket will help you find some school break work. Your young give it shot.
Academies are what you make of them. Myself, I made sure that I got lots of hands on experience during my sea year. Some, maybe not so much. The big advantage of any academy program that is tied to a college is getting that degree. Say what you want, having one has always worked for me. You can’t predict where your life will lead you, but having a degree in the in the arsenal can be a huge value, especially since you never know when you may need to work ashore. That and you will always have to deal with HR departments and some of those folks like to see paper. . . .
Well thanks guys for all the advice. I think I’m going to take a few community college classes later this spring and see how I do. Math is definitely my worst subject, although I did get a B in Algebra II. If I cant do/pass “Business Math” then I’ll be door knocking soon. Thanks again everybody for the help.
Well, I can’t tell exactly yet how it is, but I jumped on a ship without any degree or education at all, started bottom-line, what I have is my wit, mind and what my father taught me (Former C/E). I am taking one year aboard, seeing how it is (so far, looking away from the incidents, I’ve found my spot, hopefully I can, after I finished two years in school) I am feeling quite comfortable. The ferry I am at is a good place to get the basics before moving on for the real deal.
When I start school, I just need two years of education then one year of apprenticeship (I am not even sure if apprenticeship is even the correct word, perhaps internship?) instead of the ordinary two (Norwegian schooling-system, might be confusing for some here). Then I take the certificate for “motorman” before I can move over to the academy…One year there to obtain the M3 certificate, out and sail one year with this certificate before you move back to school again to obtain the M2 certificate. At leas tin Norway it is like that, might even be that you do not even need the seatime, but I think it’s still mandatory. I think there was talk about 36 moons of effective seatime needed to redeem the certificates…
Again, if you want to reach the top, it’s back to the bench, Bachelor now, and after than, you can apply as C/E…I am talking about how the Norwegian system works.
However, I am trying to go for a mixed education of both experience and schoolbench. Perhaps its something for you as well? Split it somewhat?
I enjoyed the commentary in this thread, as I am debating the same question. The difference is, I have a lot of off-shore seatime already, and recently got my AB Unlimited. Shortly after was injured in a shipboard accident, and not sure whether years more climbing the hawsepipe is still the best route. I would like to get my 3rd mate’s license ASAP, and trying to sort which might be the preferable method. I’m 30 years old and already have a college degree, so the thought of several more years in a classroom is not entirely appealing. Anyone have thoughts on my version of this situation? Thanks!
