Having spent time in the navy, I can tell you the sea never gets boring. It always looks different or you see different things out there. One day the waves could be splashing across your bow, the next, it is the most tranquil place on Earth. You can see all sorts of marine life from whales, dolphins, to flying fish that glide across the waves. I want to go back out to sea and i'm am doing that by becoming a merchant marine. They get better paid without the hassle of being in the military. Had I known about this job, I would have chosen this route. But don't get me wrong, the Navy can be great. But I believe being a Merchant Mariner to have more upsides imo.
On the merchant ships where I was an AB officers seemed more prone to seasickness than the crew members. In the navy I was on nuclear submarines so all we had to do in heavy weather was to descend to a greater depth to stop any rolling. The biggest rolls we took on the John Marshall were 20 degrees at a depth of 180 feet during a typhoon near Guam. So the captain told the OOD to take us down to 600 feet which solved the problem. The roughest seas I went through in the merchants was on a RO/RO the American Falcon during the winter in the North Atlantic bringing back to Bayonne, New Jersey a load of captured enemy tanks of Soviet Russian manufacture from Desert Storm after hostilities had ceased. So it became obvious how important it was to do a good job of securing all of this heavy broken down crap with numerous D rings. We also had lots of US Army armor such as self propelled howitzers and so forth. We also brought back some army troops who stayed in the extra cabins since the crew was so small or only about 21 total.
Is there an age limit for starting in the MM? I am a licensed plumber and did some contract work from 08-2010 in Iraq. I then came back home and started a family. My kid is three years from graduating, and I'm getting stir-crazy from being in one spot for 15 years. Once she graduates, I would like to try out the sailer's life for a bit, but I will be about 47 years old at that time.
Hey man, I always wondered what it was like to work on a ship because of the time frames (you guys are out there for months at a time yeah?) I even briefly thought about trying to get into that business out of San Diego ... but nah. But thanks for sharing your story
Hi. I've been considering this as a career but my case is a little unique I'm 47 I'm MtF trans. It's not my identity its just a thing. I'm interested in the SIU route. I'm 47. I'm generally a top.performer. That wants to learn everything type. not due to ego I just don't like to suck at my job I'm having issues finding about the living quarters situation while attending SIU as well as your actual thoughts on me being trans in this career? I know the world is full of a holes.
It all started with the Exon Valdez. That was the tipping point. Things tightened up. Then 9/11 made it worse. If you were sailing in the 70s like I was there is no comparison to today’s merchant marine. We used to just carry our Z card and pass if required. Now it’s mostly just a TWIC.
In the Marines I had about 18 mos sea time in 4 years. I usually loved the storms as I would sleep like a baby. One night near Hawaii they fed us some greasy sloppy joes for dinner. About 70% of the ship was tossing that stuff up in the storm that night. One of two times I got sick. Not everyone got sick but a whole lot of people did. Nasty feeling. LOL
Had a captain on my ship who got sea sick and couldn't swim.
Having spent time in the navy, I can tell you the sea never gets boring. It always looks different or you see different things out there. One day the waves could be splashing across your bow, the next, it is the most tranquil place on Earth. You can see all sorts of marine life from whales, dolphins, to flying fish that glide across the waves. I want to go back out to sea and i'm am doing that by becoming a merchant marine. They get better paid without the hassle of being in the military. Had I known about this job, I would have chosen this route. But don't get me wrong, the Navy can be great. But I believe being a Merchant Mariner to have more upsides imo.
Hey good sir, just starting out learning.
On the merchant ships where I was an AB officers seemed more prone to seasickness than the crew members. In the navy I was on nuclear submarines so all we had to do in heavy weather was to descend to a greater depth to stop any rolling. The biggest rolls we took on the John Marshall were 20 degrees at a depth of 180 feet during a typhoon near Guam. So the captain told the OOD to take us down to 600 feet which solved the problem. The roughest seas I went through in the merchants was on a RO/RO the American Falcon during the winter in the North Atlantic bringing back to Bayonne, New Jersey a load of captured enemy tanks of Soviet Russian manufacture from Desert Storm after hostilities had ceased. So it became obvious how important it was to do a good job of securing all of this heavy broken down crap with numerous D rings. We also had lots of US Army armor such as self propelled howitzers and so forth. We also brought back some army troops who stayed in the extra cabins since the crew was so small or only about 21 total.
I was a Mate for 10 years and I never saw any of my shipmates get seasick. That includes years in the Gulf of Alaska in winter.
Now that’s impressive
How can I get a hat like that?
Is there an age limit for starting in the MM? I am a licensed plumber and did some contract work from 08-2010 in Iraq. I then came back home and started a family. My kid is three years from graduating, and I'm getting stir-crazy from being in one spot for 15 years. Once she graduates, I would like to try out the sailer's life for a bit, but I will be about 47 years old at that time.
Nope you definitely can become a MM I worked with guys a lot older
love your math answer 😂 facts
My BIGGEST mistake was thinking that Mariners need to be math and physics whizzes.. i was cowed because of that myth!
Hey man, I always wondered what it was like to work on a ship because of the time frames (you guys are out there for months at a time yeah?) I even briefly thought about trying to get into that business out of San Diego ... but nah. But thanks for sharing your story
Hi. I've been considering this as a career but my case is a little unique
I'm 47 I'm MtF trans. It's not my identity its just a thing.
I'm interested in the SIU route.
I'm 47. I'm generally a top.performer. That wants to learn everything type. not due to ego I just don't like to suck at my job
I'm having issues finding about the living quarters situation while attending SIU as well as your actual thoughts on me being trans in this career?
I know the world is full of a holes.
I would call and ask the administration at the school see what they say about the living situation
Why would you need a pass when your on US soil? Can’t I just show them I’m a US citizen?
Yes usually but there are certain ports that are crazy strict for no reason wouldn’t even let us go ashore
It all started with the Exon Valdez. That was the tipping point. Things tightened up. Then 9/11 made it worse. If you were sailing in the 70s like I was there is no comparison to today’s merchant marine. We used to just carry our Z card and pass if required. Now it’s mostly just a TWIC.
Nonsense !! Not everybody gets seasick.
That’s true not everyone does but if you do you never get 100% used to it haha
And if you’re standing by the gangway you should at least informed him of a required shore pass and that he had his TWIC card with him….
In the Marines I had about 18 mos sea time in 4 years. I usually loved the storms as I would sleep like a baby. One night near Hawaii they fed us some greasy sloppy joes for dinner. About 70% of the ship was tossing that stuff up in the storm that night. One of two times I got sick. Not everyone got sick but a whole lot of people did. Nasty feeling. LOL
How often do you get seasick
For me it has been a rare experience because the ship usually dodges the bad weather when it can sometimes you just get rocked wrong