Cruising Ahead On The Right Course
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At 14, Jenny Grove was lucky to go on a cruise with her family and loved every minute of it. Her father is an Electro Technical Officer (ETO) with P&O ferries and these have been the two major influences which encouraged Jenny to become a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy.
Jenny studies at South Tyneside College, Tyne & Wear, South Shields, the world renowned centre of vocational excellence for Marine Engineering and Nautical Science. She has been sponsored throughout her training by P&O Ferries, Dover.
Now, aged 19, Jenny’s training is drawing to a close. She will be a qualified Deck Officer and able to work for any number of shipping lines around the world.
“I am getting near the end of my training now. Before I joined I worried about so many things. Would I be the only female? Would I be able to do the work? What would it be like not living at home? The list was endless.” said Jenny.
“I look back at those days now and think how silly because this is such a great life and getting better all the time. Females are capable of any job at sea whether it is Engineering Officer, Electro Technical Officer or Deck Officer.
I started my training with a maritime training organisation called SSTG. They interviewed me, placed me with a sponsoring company, and made all the arrangements for me to attend college. SSTG managed the whole process. They visit me at college on a regular basis and are always at the end of the phone if I need advice.”
The course is phased between college “academics, underpinning knowledge and technical certificates” and sea time where you complete two NVQ portfolios. This all takes approximately three years. There’s no time to get bored. After that you become a qualified Officer of the Watch and can work on any ship anywhere in the world. The promotion opportunities are excellent.
My sponsorship agreement gives me a training allowance starting at about £4,500 which gradually rises to £7,000. My sponsorship company pays all of my tuition fees, accommodation and food, uniform allowance and travel expenses.
When I am qualified my salary will be between £20,000 and £25,000, so I will leave my training debt free and be on a reasonable salary from day one.
My sponsoring company operate ferries between Dover and Calais, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, so the training experience for me has been great. There’s always something going on, whether it be docking, loading or navigating from one port to another. All the people on the ship are professionals but enjoy a good laugh as well and nobody gets treated differently - its all about teamwork.
My ambition is to become the Master of a large cruise ship and travel the world. After that I will move ashore as the opportunities with my qualifications are incredible.
I would recommend this industry to any young person looking to travel, get a diploma or degree qualification debt free.
There is plenty of opportunity for early responsibility and promotion and be in a position of respect.
Remember 95% of our trade leaves or arrives through UK ports and although we are an island race, people here just don’t appreciate or realise what a great industry this is.
If you are interested in a career in the Merchant Navy contact:
Ship Safe Training Group Ltd
135 High Street
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1EW
T: 01634 820 820
F: 01634 820 821
web: www.sstg.org
email: recruitment@sstg.org
| Why not work here: | ||
| The Ship Safe Training Group - find out more Maersk - Careers at Sea - find out more The Royal Fleet Auxiliary - find out more |
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