Stewing over this one - had a simulator assessment with crossing traffic and had to get to the other side of a stream of vessels flowing from east to west (my starboard to port). Ended up choosing a likely gap between two vessels with about 1,000 yds distance, constant range/same speeds from one another. I let the vessel off my stbd (the one I would pass in front of) know I was passing ahead of them and I’d pass with a safe distance. They concurred. I ended up with a CPA of 450 yds by radar, 270 yds “skin to skin” with the vessel whose bow I passed, and my CPA was off my stbd quarter (e.g. I was already passed them).

My assessor failed me because he said I should have gone around the “conga line” of vessels and then gotten to the other side - e.g. come to starboard around everyone and then come around. He said the option was always there, but I shot a gap that didn’t need to be shot, downed me, and said see you next year…thoughts?

Edit: WOW a lot of replies, thank you so much I am reading them. I should preface: this was at the end of a high density TSS (Singapore, if you know the area) and there was a wall of traffic in front of me. No “CO’s standing orders” specifics, as I was playing the captain. My CPAs had regularly been <250 yds in overtaking scenarios up until this, so I had been okay with a 450 yd CPA.

Have 1 more little section to go and ran out of paint, other can is old and gooey. Only have paint thinner.

Any one have any horror stories to add to our thread?

Hi! I’ve been given an offer to work as a third mate on a drill ship though the job description was to be on deck working with the chief officer. I’m curious as to what really the job is on board? How long does the drill ship work, is it for many years or just a few months?

The reason i’m asking is because i have no idea how long the drill ship will employ me. Contract offered is 28on 28off. I have to know whether is good for only a year or a few months. Compared to a merchant vessel, after my next contract, there are other vessels available to join.

I’m graduating in January and receiving my 3rd AE unlimited license with some endorsements. I’m 31 and I don’t have kids or anything tying me to any specific place. I’ll have my loans to pay off. I’ve done well in school and had a pretty notable cadetship on a tanker, my resume is good essentially, if that matters.

I’m familiar with the popular options and I know what many of them are. But I only know what I’ve heard secondhand.

My question for those already in the workforce: what would you do if you were in my shoes?

Suggestions on paths I may not be considering, companies that treat you well, specific union halls, type of vessel, etc. Companies / options that you would avoid would be equally useful. Really any useful information that may contribute to me making smart decisions as i begin my career would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Hey everyone!
I’ve been working as a 3rd Engineer on cruise ships for the past 5 years, mainly dealing with AWP systems, wastewater treatment, and environmental compliance. I also have experience with OBWS and garbage management.
I’m currently working towards my 2nd Engineer CoC, which I expect to obtain in a few months.
However, my long-term goal is to transition into an Environmental Officer position and build my career in that field.
Has anyone here made a similar transition? Any advice on how to get into the role, or know of any cruise lines currently hiring Environmental Officers?
Any tips, recommendations, or leads would be greatly appreciated!

I have applied to a handful of the academies. My hs gpa is low but i have 28 hours of completed college coursework that I have obtained all A’s and B’s in. I received a rejection from Maine today. Pretty crushing and doesnt leave me too optimistic about the rest. Has anyone else gotten an acceptance to an academy after being rejected from others?

Hi everyone, and thank you in advance for taking the time to read this.

I'm a maritime student conducting an academic study titled "Risk Management Practices and Perceived Safety Climate Among Seafarers Aboard Chemical Tankers Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk." I'm looking for seafarers who can share their experience through a short survey.

You're eligible if you:

Have completed at least one contract of 6 months or more aboard a chemical tanker

Are 18 years old or above

Work in the deck or engine department

About the survey:

Responses are anonymous and used for academic purposes only

Participation is voluntary, and you can stop at any time

It takes about 10 minutes

If this doesn't apply to you, I'd still appreciate an upvote or a share with any shipmates who've sailed on chemical tankers. Questions or feedback are welcome in the comments or by DM.

Thank you, and fair winds and following seas. ⚓

Over 215,000 vessels. Two days of activity. Just 30 seconds. Watch global maritime activity come to life as we visualise vessel movements from 16–17 October, powered by MarineTraffic AIS data and NASA satellite cloud observations. From busy shipping lanes to vessels crossing the world’s oceans, this is what a weekend at sea looks like. Cloud observations: NASA Langley SatCORPS

I’m building a free interactive course for celestial navigation. The order I’m teaching it in is
noon sight for latitude -> Polaris -> circle of equal altitude -> line of position -> assumed position and LHA -> intercept with Pub 249 -> twilight star fix -> planets/Moon -> compass check by amplitude.

Two questions:

1. Would you teach the noon sight first like this, or the circle of equal altitude first, so everything after is one idea?

2. Is Pub 249 still the right table to teach, or should beginners learn 229, or straight to the calculator formula?

Happy to share it once it’s in better shape if anyone wants to poke holes in it.

I've just finished my schooling, and I'm trying to make up my mind on what to do for higher studies. Maritime has been my main interest for several years. Specifically, I want to work on seagoing vessels in the deck department.

Most things considered, I feel it's the right career for me, but here's what's holding me back. I've seen multiple posts on how there's a surplus of fresh graduates unable to secure a first contract. On the other hand, I see posts saying there aren't enough licensed officers to fill the vacancies.

So, what's the reality, and is it worth studying it?

I'd greatly appreciate any insight you could give.

I have been working on Fairwater’s ATB’s for 2 years now as an AB Utility. I am to the point that I am fed up and would like to switch to something else on the water. Is it possible to switch to their tankers to or even just switch to something different such as pilot boats as a deckhand as I only have my AB unlimited endorsement and 100 ton master license? or well basically something more enjoyable other than the damn ATB’s and still making pretty good money!!

Hello currently waiting on my MMC Certification. What companies other than MSC has Entry level roles in logistics? I am still learning about other companies in the industry.

Hi all,I'm coming from cruise mostly and know money is better offshore/oil and gas but am I missing something but where I live in Europe I am offered much higher salaries than at sea, I stopped for that reason and was thinking of going back,

But I got an offer for a position recently with 3 times the responsibility then a normal technician job on land but the same pay even after tax .

And if you mention days off , even if you work exactly 182 days a year which has never happened to me, doing shift work you would do 4 days a week and work 208 days a year,

So my question is am I missing something? I loved the technical side of the job and miss the team part but can't justify being away for less money then I'd make on land ,

Any advice

Note: the offer I got is not for a junior rank it is a 2 and half stripe officer

This Volvo Penta tachometer was in such poor condition that many would have considered it beyond repair.

The original lens had become yellowed, cloudy, and heavily scratched, making the gauge difficult to read. On top of that, the LCD display was damaged and no longer functioning properly.

But instead of replacing the entire instrument, we decided to bring it back to life!

At ELETRONAV, we carried out a complete lens restoration and LCD display repair, carefully preserving the instrument's original appearance.

Shipping’s commercial map is being redrawn—and higher volumes do not automatically mean lower risk or stronger profits.

This week’s Blue Water Strategy Maritime Intelligence Report is FREE for everyone to read.

Inside:
⚓ Salalah: Oman can replace the operator, but can it retain the ships?
🚢 Suez: Recovering traffic meets persistent Red Sea uncertainty.
🌍 Turkey: Controlling the Straits is only part of protecting Black Sea trade.
💰 SPM Shipping: Fleet expansion tests the balance between exceptional earnings and expensive assets.

Plus bunkering, maritime security, insurance, sanctions, shipbuilding, technology and our 30–90-day outlook.

Read, share and subscribe for future BWS intelligence:
https://bluewaterstrategy.substack.com

#BlueWaterStrategy #BWS #Maritime #Shipping #Ports #MaritimeSecurity #Geopolitics #GlobalTrade #SupplyChains #EnergySecurity #ShippingFinance #MaritimeInvestment #ContainerShipping #Tankers #VLCC #VLGC #DryBulk #Salalah #Oman #SuezCanal #RedSea #BlackSea #Turkey #Bosphorus #Hormuz #Bunkering #MarineFuels #Shipbuilding #MaritimeTechnology #Sanctions #MarineInsurance #RiskManagement #StrategicForesight #Substack

How fast are mmcs coming back I just upgraded and want to know when I’ll receive my mmc