[QUOTE=catherder;190106]Looks like I was one of the last hawsepipers to get in. And find an employer who pays for updates. Can you imagine trying to start now, from scratch? You’d need a bank loan. A big one. I’m talking at least 10k just to become employable. It’s a big barrier to entry.[/QUOTE]
With airfare, hotels, meals, and course fees, I have spent about $30,000 so far. Upgrades after the first of the year are going to cost another $30,000 for the new extra Stcw courses.
Yet I’m working for less money. At least wages will have to go up again eventually. I know a lot of guys who have not taken the gaps closing courses. It’s not going to be so easy for Jaux Boss to create new licenses with Stcw endorsements next time.
Increased training costs should be paid for by the owners, otherwise it’s a pay cut for mariners. Companies that don’t provide or support trainng facilities should reimburse mariners for training.
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;190099]I thought I remembered someone mentioning there was a reasonably priced (~$60) hotel near Delgado’s fire school. Does anyone have any more info on this?[/QUOTE]
Drive across the lake to Slidell to sleep. Just 20-25 min drive. Do Not stay in New Orleans East. You could always stay in NOLA proper if your’e looking for more night life. Still around a 20 min drive. Once again… DO NOT STAY IN NEW ORLEANS EAST.
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;190099]I thought I remembered someone mentioning there was a reasonably priced (~$60) hotel near Delgado’s fire school. Does anyone have any more info on this?[/QUOTE]
I stayed at Joe and Flo’s candlelight hostel. It is not a hotel, but it is some fun. It looks like a yard sale inside a post-apocalyptic trailer park that’s been worked over by your ex-brother-in-law who likes to kick out walls when he’s been drinking, but it’s clean, the people are vereh nice, and it’s in the coolest neighborhood in the crescent city. And cheap as chips.
[QUOTE=Bayrunner;190162]They should, but how many actually do? Mine did but not anymore.[/QUOTE]
I retired from the SIU 6 years ago. When all of the STCW requirements were implemented, the SIU was ahead of the curve on the courses. You either rotated through the school or the companies and union conducted extra courses to get all hands up to snuff. Worked well.
[QUOTE=NOGILLS2;188241]If you book a room through Houston/Falck, they arrange a room for $75 a night, a block away from the school, and are right by the airport, so you don’t have to rent a car. Their is a shuttle to the hotel from the airport. The class is four days now also.[/QUOTE]
There’s also a small bar in that hotel (used to be filled with crew-changing oil patch mariners) and a decent Mexican restaurant across the street. Took DP Basic there and thought it was hands-down the worst-taught and -resourced course I’ve taken anywhere. Hopefully their other stuff is better.
For crewing companies and unions that have to supply qualified mariners it’s likely cheaper to simply provide training. For companies, the smaller companies at least, that hire on their own it’s probably cheaper to have the mariner pay, especially if there is an excess of unemployed mariners.
[QUOTE=newman;190154]this may really sound STOOPID but ive often wondered if other countries actually go through this stcw training or are they just “rubber stamped”?[/QUOTE]
Yes it is a kind of STOOPID question.You should forget the notion that the rest of the world is full of cheats.
Foreign ships are NOT manned by unqualified “slave labourers” and are NOT less safe then US flag ships. This is a myth that appears to be prevalent among certain members of this forum and beyond, but it is not born up by the facts.
STCW is the MINIMUM standard of training for seafarers worldwide, as required by IMO: http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/HumanElement/TrainingCertification/Pages/STCW-Convention.aspx
That means it applies to all IMO member states, which means nearly 100% of the world fleet over 500 GT under any flag.
(Incl. vessels under US flag when operating outside USA territorial waters, with some exceptions)
Most countries apply this standard to all Maritime Training institutions and all vessels over a certain Gross Tonnage (GT). (GRT is not used outside USA)
This applies to all vessels that fall under the convention, whether in domestic trade, home trade, or international trade, incl. Fishing vessels and Yachts.
All Maritime “Certificates of Competence” (CoCs)are issued based on this standard by individual county’s Maritime Authorities. Most Flag States accept CoCs issued by other country’s Maritime Authorities, with one exception; USA
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;190099]I thought I remembered someone mentioning there was a reasonably priced (~$60) hotel near Delgado’s fire school. Does anyone have any more info on this?[/QUOTE]
Avalon Hotel, 10100 I-10 Service Road, New Orleans, LA 70127 US. They were willing to match the price offered through Priceline.com or similar on line booking site. That hotel has also gone by Clarion Hotel (not to be confused with the Clarion Inn and Suites located downtown.)
Took another class at Delgado and stayed in the Metairie area, which was great for being close to good restaurants. Not a bad drive to/from class. That room was around $75.
Just took the course a couple of weeks ago. Stayed at the LaQuinta in Slidell( I-10 service road) Decent price and the drive isn’t bad. Unless some idiot wrecks on the twin spans!
[QUOTE=ombugge;190177]Yes it is a kind of STOOPID question.You should forget the notion that the rest of the world is full of cheats.
Foreign ships are NOT manned by unqualified “slave labourers” and are NOT less safe then US flag ships. This is a myth that appears to be prevalent among certain members of this forum and beyond, but it is not born up by the facts.
STCW is the MINIMUM standard of training for seafarers worldwide, as required by IMO: http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/HumanElement/TrainingCertification/Pages/STCW-Convention.aspx
That means it applies to all IMO member states, which means nearly 100% of the world fleet over 500 GT under any flag.
(Incl. vessels under US flag when operating outside USA territorial waters, with some exceptions)
Most countries apply this standard to all Maritime Training institutions and all vessels over a certain Gross Tonnage (GT). (GRT is not used outside USA)
This applies to all vessels that fall under the convention, whether in domestic trade, home trade, or international trade, incl. Fishing vessels and Yachts.
All Maritime “Certificates of Competence” (CoCs)are issued based on this standard by individual county’s Maritime Authorities. Most Flag States accept CoCs issued by other country’s Maritime Authorities, with one exception; USA[/QUOTE]
not stupid at all. I know many instances of STCW certificates, various certificates, and even whole COC’s that were 100% pencil whipped. This is from Filipinos that I work with.
[QUOTE=edchuckBB;190265]not stupid at all. I know many instances of STCW certificates, various certificates, and even whole COC’s that were 100% pencil whipped. This is from Filipinos that I work with.[/QUOTE]
If you have any proof of this, not just hearsay, you should report to the relevant authorities, or directly to IMO: http://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/ContactUs.aspx
No serious shipping companies, or ship managers, are interested in hiring unqualified and uncertified Masters, Officers or Engineers. To do so can cost them dearly if an accident occurs, nor is it in the interest of any Flag State to approve of such persons to serve on vessels under their flag.
With the 2010 Manila addition coming into force 01. Jan. 2017 this problem should be much reduced.
It has also become much easier to verify the authenticity of CoCs electronically.
[QUOTE=Sailor24;190216]Just took the course a couple of weeks ago. Stayed at the LaQuinta in Slidell( I-10 service road) Decent price and the drive isn’t bad. Unless some idiot wrecks on the twin spans![/QUOTE]