rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
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Post by rt1commuter on Apr 11, 2009 15:28:38 GMT -8
Silly question, but just for curiosity sake, if I already have a degree in mechanical engineering, is there a fast track path one can take to be qualified as an officer?
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 11, 2009 22:44:03 GMT -8
For a quick path of becoming and Officer, I have to say I doubt it's possible. You would need to acquire the 3 most important MED's, A1 (Basic Safety), B1 (Survival Craft), and B2 (Advanced Fire Fighting). Along with those, you would need Marine Advanced First Aid, and ROC-MC. Once you have all of that, you'd need the Bridge Watch Rating certificate with the 6 months of seatime, and another year or three, plus a number of navigation simulator and ship stability courses, you might be able to pull it off to become an officer.
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Post by kerryssi on Apr 14, 2009 18:48:05 GMT -8
The quickest path to becoming an officer is fly to India and buy captains or chief engineers papers for about $ 500.00 ( price quoted by a reliable East Indian source). I understand the ferries will hire you no questions asked. The other route is to borrow a captains uniform, have a picture taken of you in it and send to a certain South American country for your captains papers as did one employee. He did it as a joke but he got the papers. Bless you if you are going to go the much more difficult route of actualy learning the job and all that goes with it. We need people like you but don't expect preferential treatment just because you actually know the job.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2009 20:02:06 GMT -8
The only way that I know to get a Canadian ticket is to obtain the required sea time for each level , take and pass all the courses then go sit in front of an examiner ( the majority of whom have foreign deep sea training ) who will ultimately decide if you are really qualified. After that, you must use your ticket for a certain number of sea days to allow you to renew it every five years. You have to be careful to check and see if the area that you are working in is acceptable as qualifying sea time for the level of ticket that you are attempting. High school graduation seems to be preferred for BCIT but a reasonable ability with math and physics ( trig.) will get you through it. BC Ferries is hungry for people with tickets and will use 'locals' but it seems much easier for them to accept foreign trained officers who can "qualify" for Canadian tickets. Some use the ferry jobs as a stepping stone to Transport Canada or Marine surveyor jobs. Many years ago, BCF had a training budget and would pay the full cost of getting a ticket ( tuition and text books included ) . I'm guessing that their training budget is infinitely higher now but it is directed to all the hundreds of certifications and fam. training required to allow the crews just to work on all the different ships and equipment that they have. If you are financially able to work your way through the maze and actually earn a ticket you quite likely won't have any trouble using it. The coastal marine industry is in a bit of a slump right now but using my own experience as an example, I started my marine career on the tugs, got a couple of tickets and later transferred to a ferry where I was able to upgrade my ticket and continue taking assorted courses .... all at my own expense. The company ( not BCF) was very good about allowing me the time to do the courses and exams as I needed them. If you don't necessarily want to work on the 'biggies' there are many jobs that are good jobs on the minor routes that will likely get you a Chief Officer or Master's job in a shorter time.
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Post by alex9822 on Sept 17, 2009 13:35:14 GMT -8
I have a question in regards to getting a canadian ticket...I'm currently working on getting my 500ton masters license with a towing endorsement. I will also have my GMDSS,tankerman PIC as well as Medical Person-in-charge endorsements...I currently hold a 100ton masters license with radar observer and a marine radio operator permit...I also have a ablebodied seaman endorsement with lifeboatman.....its all under US documents because I'm a US citizen and work on tugs in the US. However, I'm married to a Canadian and would like to eventually work in BC with either BCF or even Seaspan. What is the process to get a canadian ticket? Is it even possible? I'm working on my perm resident status right now so I haven't been able to really apply to any companies in Canada. Will I have to take classes all over again to work for BCF?
Thanks for any reply's!!
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Sept 17, 2009 13:54:41 GMT -8
I found this on Transport Canada's certification and training FAQ page. It can be found hereThere are a few links buried in there that didn't come through. Essentially, I think as a permanent resident you are able to get a lot of your time recognized and are certainly able to fast-track your training, if you can't get the tickets transferred over outright. I'd suggest wading through some of the bureaucratic gobbledegook on the Transport Canada website, and you might be able to get some of your questions answered. On the bottom of that page I linked to earlier is a list of all the examination offices. You might be able to get some questions answered by calling them.
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Post by alex9822 on Sept 17, 2009 14:21:05 GMT -8
Thanks for the advice...I will be calling Transport Canada to see what they say...
As far as working for BC Ferries are they looking for mates?
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Sept 17, 2009 16:01:03 GMT -8
BC Ferries' current job postings are here. They are currently looking for licensed deck officers (BC Ferries speak for mate)... particularly those with years of experience. They are also looking for licensed engineers. The job board linked above has 2 openings for officers, but I'm pretty sure they will hire more than that if the qualifications are right... it wasn't long ago they were advertising all over Europe for officers.
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Post by c15cat on Sept 17, 2009 21:09:19 GMT -8
Do you really want to work for BCF Nothing beats experience. There are alot of captains that have the by the book stuff but can't operate a vessel worth a d*mn. These regulations have made it so tough for anybody to get into the marine industry it turns people off. A guy that I know said he has spent well over 40 years on the water he said nothing beats hands on experience. The gov't wants all this paper work crap and he said it doesn't make a good seaman. BCIT has a monopoly on the certifications and they know it. I have been around the marine industry for most of my life I have no real interest in working on boats anymore. Some friends that have gone for their tickets and some are laid off because the lack of work. The tow boat industry is slow with forestry dead. I hope people know working for BCF doesn't guarantee them a job. Your on the on call list for quite a few years before you even have a chance of a full time job. Sorry but the guys that have been born and raised around the marine industry will always have the most experience. When your a young person that has worked on tugs or fishboats at 12 years old during the summer time like quite a few people I know you gain the experience at a young age. Experience counts the tickets just cover your azz if you screw up.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 18, 2009 8:36:04 GMT -8
Do you really want to work for BCF Nothing beats experience. There are alot of captains that have the by the book stuff but can't operate a vessel worth a d*mn. These regulations have made it so tough for anybody to get into the marine industry it turns people off. A guy that I know said he has spent well over 40 years on the water he said nothing beats hands on experience. The gov't wants all this paper work crap and he said it doesn't make a good seaman. BCIT has a monopoly on the certifications and they know it. I have been around the marine industry for most of my life I have no real interest in working on boats anymore. Some friends that have gone for their tickets and some are laid off because the lack of work. The tow boat industry is slow with forestry dead. I hope people know working for BCF doesn't guarantee them a job. Your on the on call list for quite a few years before you even have a chance of a full time job. Sorry but the guys that have been born and raised around the marine industry will always have the most experience. When your a young person that has worked on tugs or fishboats at 12 years old during the summer time like quite a few people I know you gain the experience at a young age. Experience counts the tickets just cover your azz if you screw up. C15... what you're describing is not just an issue with BCFerries, it's an issue with literally every industry these days. It's the flavor of the month of the corporate world, dupe the population by leaving them no alternative but to get a bunch of degrees and certificates. It makes places like BCIT happy with the revenues they get... it makes the industries happy because they don't have to pay for basic training, and I'm not sure how people going to school on student loans affect employment numbers, but I'm sure the stats there can be easily skewed as well so everything looks rosey. Then what do they do with all these hopefuls swimming in debt with a few degrees or certificates: they just tell them they don't have enough experience. Great way to make a savings in wages... just don't hire anybody. In the meantime, how do they expect people to pay off student loans and such? Someone once told me that it's a mechanism to keep us faithful to society, so that we will all be obligated to stay here and work off our debt, instead of getting free training for something and then leaving for greener pastures. If we are too believe that, then I think there is something wrong with that equation because why should we be faithful to the demands of someone else, if they won't remain faithful and hold up their end of the bargain?
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Post by c15cat on Sept 18, 2009 9:21:23 GMT -8
In my opinion I don't think being a BCF captain is a good job.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Sept 18, 2009 23:28:57 GMT -8
I am surprised that this hasn't shown up in this thread yet. So, on the lighter side...
WHY I WANT TO BE A SHIP CAPTAIN
Written by a 10 year old schoolboy and published in the newsletter of the Society of Marine Port Engineers of New York Inc.
"I want to be a Ship Captain when I grow up because it’s a fun job and easy to do. Captains don't need much school education; they just have to learn numbers so they can read instruments. I guess they should be able to read maps so they won't get lost.
Captains should be brave so they won't be scared if its foggy and they can't see; or if the propeller falls off they should stay calm so they know what to do. Captains have to have eyes to see through the clouds and they can't be afraid of thunder or lightning because they are closer to them than we are.
The salary that Captains make is another thing I like. They make more money than they can spend. This is because most people think captaining ships is dangerous, except captains, because they know how easy it is. There isn't much I don't like, except girls like captains and all the girls want to marry a captain so they always have to chase them away so they won't bother them.
I hope I don't get sea sick because I get car sick and if I get sea sick I could not be a Captain and then I would have to go out and work."
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 19, 2009 6:38:23 GMT -8
Hahahaha, that's a cute article.
Thanks for posting that, LeConte.
I think I can almost say I had that same perspective when I was a kid to of captaining a ship.
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Post by fargowolf on Sept 19, 2009 7:01:10 GMT -8
Interesting thread. I would say actual experience would certainly count, in addition to formal qualifications, but that's no guarantee, as I have discovered. I'd love to go to work for BC Ferries. I certainly have the minimum, or very close to it, actual experience. 3 Months from taking the Bridge Watchman course through BCIT and 6 months as defacto captain of the Shaftesbury Ferry. I can get to the interview stage, but that's as far as I go. I aim for the remoter routes(Skidegate/Alliford Bay, Alert Bay/ Port McNeil, Texada/Powell River routes) as I don't mind being off the beaten path.
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Post by electrotech on Sept 29, 2009 21:55:42 GMT -8
In spring/summer 2008, BCF hired for ship-board positions with minimal prerequisites.
Deckhand: Med A1/B1/B2 (aka Basic Safety Training, and Survival Craft)
Engine Room Assistant: Proven mechanical ability.
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Post by yak on Jul 20, 2010 12:20:46 GMT -8
Do you really want to work for BCF Nothing beats experience. There are alot of captains that have the by the book stuff but can't operate a vessel worth a d*mn. These regulations have made it so tough for anybody to get into the marine industry it turns people off. A guy that I know said he has spent well over 40 years on the water he said nothing beats hands on experience. The gov't wants all this paper work crap and he said it doesn't make a good seaman. BCIT has a monopoly on the certifications and they know it. I have been around the marine industry for most of my life I have no real interest in working on boats anymore. Some friends that have gone for their tickets and some are laid off because the lack of work. The tow boat industry is slow with forestry dead. I pretty much agree with what you are saying about the hoops we're made to jump through in order to get our qualifications. As a cadet with the BCIT program I can say that there is still some focus on getting practical experience since we are still required to get 12 months of sea service before attempting the Watchkeeping Mate's ticket (I'm currently on a freighter chipping away at that figure this summer). That still pales in comparison to what many people in the industry accumulate but it does provide some increased marketability of our "services" when we graduate. I can see an officer's job with BCF as a potential career for myself when all is said and done, but I also see myself spending some time outside the province earning more experience first. A benefit to the path of being a cadet is not only a reduced period working on a ticket but also the increased likelihood of being hired as an officer by the company I am doing my sea terms with.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Jul 20, 2010 21:02:48 GMT -8
Just for the record, the above quoted text was not written by me... it is a misquote: I'm not quite that bitter and cynical in my thinking (most of the time), and I've been making an effort to move away from thoughtless cynicism (well, some of the time, anyway, although it does affect the frequency of my posting :
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Post by blackshadow on Jan 26, 2011 7:57:46 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jan 26, 2011 17:34:30 GMT -8
On the surface that seems fairly damning of BC Ferries and how it treat its employees. However take a look at the first 32 ratings... all within less than two weeks, at the end of May 2008. Seems very suspicious that most of these 56 multiple complaints are on the same day or consecutive days. More recently, there seems to be some variety to the "complaints". Wouldn't put too much stock into this website since I wouldn't be surprised that one or two people are responsible for most of it.
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Post by uricanejack on Jan 27, 2011 1:52:06 GMT -8
Had a quick look at site. 60 posts over 3 years for 5000 employees is not very many. I expect they are all diferent posters but post after some specific issue has anoyed them. perhaps the no posts are relative to contract time or other issues such as excluding all the engineers. unhappy engineers equal negative posts. I think if you talk to a fery worker when travling they seam to like thier jobs. The guy on the anchor deck probably likes his job in the middle of summer watching the scenery and wild life in Active Pass he might not be quite so keen in a 40 knot wind and pouring rain.probabaly best not to ask if they like David Hann or other senior managers.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Jan 27, 2011 17:06:43 GMT -8
I also noticed that quite a few posters were complaining about the hours worked, and that "if you want a life don't work for BCF." I think these guys have never worked shift work before, or worked as a doctor, or an emergency tech of any sort. I think a few of them are just whiners, but there did seem to be a few well thought out responses there.
I don't think the conditions aren't too bad, if that bad at all, and I've heard from numerous employees that they don't necessarily work really hard ie. lifting or strenuous work. It just so happens that the size of management sucks, but this is all really nothing us ferry geeks don't know allready.
Cheers,
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2011 17:37:31 GMT -8
Everything said on that ratings thing is 99% true. If you don't beleive it then get a job with BCF and you can see how they treat human beings.
Once the BC economy improves your going to see a mass exodus of BCF unless management changes.
Come on get hired on I bet you will last 6 months.
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 27, 2011 17:41:05 GMT -8
We actually have a few BCF employees and past employees posting here on the forum regularly, and never do we see them complaining about work conditions or anything similar. (You employees can introduce yourselves if you want)
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Jan 27, 2011 18:06:39 GMT -8
Yeah, uhm Jervis, you missed my point, I get the bad management. What I do not understand in the least bit is when people complain bout shift or on-call work.
I know what its like to have a silly job, I know what its like to fight for your rights as an employee, I have to do it everyday. My current employer has been jerking my around for 5 years, tries to ignore my overtime, sick pay, vacation, health care is wishful thinking, oh and forget a competitive wage. I watch everyday as my female coworkers are objectified and treated completely differently than I am. In the 5 years I have worked for this company of less than 15 I have seen 23 co-workers come and go, in an industry where employee stability is critical. Too bad its the only firm in town that my skill-set is good for, thus I'm applying for jobs in a new field.
Only the ones who are angry post on the commenting websites, not the ones who have anything good to say.
Cheers,
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Post by blackshadow on Jan 27, 2011 21:34:11 GMT -8
Reason why employees don't complain on here for some reason you commenting on about that site and secondly management reads this site. It would not take them long to find out whom employee is and be on them. As I have been personally hunted down by management for my comments on here as they will read this come after me again.
What is written is all true and it not worst than ever. Management is trying to get Union members to do get extensions on equipment from transport Canada but they refuse. I wouldn't be surprise there will be incident greater than Queen of North killing large number of passengers because of cut backs on money.
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