[quote=jan68;18337]To Steamer:
Great point. It did take 11 years and still happens to ask, figure things out, learn, make mistakes.
Since I will be entering a completely different industry, it might be very wise to walk the walk and build confidence/experience as I learn along the way. However long it takes, it is experience. I guess the my potential path would be something in those lines: get docs figured out and apply at SIU (Oakland) for Piney Point, then follow the route to Wiper/Oiler/QMED (trying to learn Electrical)/ then ETO or 3AE.
Questions about Electrician and ETO. I don’t quite understand, is an ETO a part of the 3/2/1AE hierarchy, or is it a self sustaining position? Can an ETO eventually become a Chief Eng? Who does an ETO report to? What position usually precedes the ETO, is it a QMED-Electrician? Final question about those positions, about their schedules: the Electrician and the ETO, do they only work days on the ship?
Thanks a lot,
Jan[/quote]
I don’t know how many US flag ships there are that still carry electricians. I do know that “back in the day”, I sailed on ships that would have electricians and assistant electricians; but those positions were some of the first to go when crew sizes started dropping. Long answer to the short question I know, and in my experience, the electricians were day workers, not watch standers.