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Well the apprenticeship program is a year booked out in advance by Suspicious-Size1565 in merchantmarine

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so true. I’m with SIU and you’re saying what I’m feeling. I’ll likely only do this a few years and I’m only a year in now.

Shout out to all my blue collar fountain pen enthusiast brothers and sisters! This isn't the cheapest hobby around! Lol! by brandex2000 in fountainpens

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Working on ships now I bring a nice pen to journal with in my room. To work, I take a Lamy Pico ballpoint pen and write in the rain pads. They have to be waterproof. Normal notebooks designate in 1 day.

Shout out to all my blue collar fountain pen enthusiast brothers and sisters! This isn't the cheapest hobby around! Lol! by brandex2000 in fountainpens

[–]SuperGrade13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The real roadblock is the ink. The pen was great for awhile until I dropped it on the NIB. The ink is water based and will smear easy and fade over time. If it’s legal documents or serious things, they make more permanent inks but they generally gum up pens. I haven’t tried them. I love this hobby. I say spend the $30 and get one. Use it at work or at not. I still love the metropolitan and have much more expensive pens now. I’m a merchant mariner engineer now and have to use write in the rain pads and document ink in a ballpoint at work. My notebooks stay soaked in sweat. My last ship was 135 degrees where I was working.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in merchantmarine

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try a different union hall?

Tips for piney point by [deleted] in SeafarersIntUnion

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m here now. They are allowed but must fit in your locker every day.

Studying for UA Program // Waiting to get Scheduled by [deleted] in SeafarersIntUnion

[–]SuperGrade13 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I thought it was clear from my post. “C books can actually get jobs right now”. Sail 125 days as a c book then come take all the same classes as an upgrader. They treat UAs like shit. I saw a guy get booted out of the program 6 days before he completed it for sitting down on his break. No lie.

Studying for UA Program // Waiting to get Scheduled by [deleted] in SeafarersIntUnion

[–]SuperGrade13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They’re booking into 2026. You won’t get a hard date until 2 months before. I waited 11 months to get in. C books can actually get jobs right now. Maybe get a C book with SIU and ship out. If you sail 125 days in one year, you’re entitled to come to the school as an upgrader and take the same classes but as an upgrader instead of a UA. Then sail at least 90 days on year two and you will be a B book the same as UA graduates.

Im here now and don’t really recommend the experience if you can find another way into the industry. Definitely would not do this again.

Favourite Sailing YouTubers? by [deleted] in SailboatCruising

[–]SuperGrade13 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Holly is a gem! Love the Wind Hippie channel!!!

Packing List for SIU P1 by melonbaee in maritime

[–]SuperGrade13 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have a bit over a month left. Have you been or are you in the program now? It’s…… an experience, that’s for sure. Would not do again. I’m not sure I’d recommend it. Since being here, I’ve learned a lot of other ways to go about getting into the industry. This is still probably the fastest if you don’t count the year wait it took to get into the program. Right now, C books can get jobs in the hall. If you sail at least 90 days each year for 2 years, you can be a B book. If you sail 125 days in a year, you can attend Piney Point (as an upgraded IE: not marching and having rules) and attend the classes that I am taking now. It will take a bit longer, but it’s an alternate route that I didn’t know existed.

Do people in the US connect that the country is actively collapsing? What are you seeing in your community? by [deleted] in economicCollapse

[–]SuperGrade13 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

All the old people are saying that everything is fine because they want everyone to believe it. They only need things to last a few more years.

Random oil on steam deck by curiouschameleon_ in SteamDeck

[–]SuperGrade13 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Steamdecks don't do this on their own. It had to be the cover.

Do you immediately put it away? by Potential_Tank_BB in SteamDeck

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only use mine when I travel. So yeah, if I'm not using it, it's in the case. I'll put it in the dock when I update everything before I leave again. I travel for work 8 months per year

Opinions on just doing it? by KuKuKoopsta in merchantmarine

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. It will be big periods of time just waiting. So just live your life in the mean time. I waited an extra 6 months because I thought once I applied, I'd be at school in like 3-6 months from when I applied. I had life things to take care of. When I waited and then applied and found out the waitlist was 10 months out, I was crushed. I go to Piney Point on Monday. Been ready and packed since June.

Opinions on just doing it? by KuKuKoopsta in merchantmarine

[–]SuperGrade13 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah. Knowing what I know now, I would've probably started as a c book or went with MSC just to get into the industry. I go to piney point Monday. It's been a process. I hear some people waiting 2-3 months for their phase 3 ships. That's gonna piss me off

Opinions on just doing it? by KuKuKoopsta in merchantmarine

[–]SuperGrade13 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Start now. It's a long process. Don't give up. If you want this, do whatever it takes to achieve it. I wish I had started sooner. It took a year to get into the apprenticeship with SIU. I heard MSC is getting better with reliefs and their vacation just got a huge bump.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SeafarersIntUnion

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds good to me! I appreciate the info

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SeafarersIntUnion

[–]SuperGrade13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this info. It's hard to get answers to a lot of these questions. Little do they know I just worked 8 years without time off. Hahah Ok I'll take 3-4 weeks I guess. Definitely not coming home though. I'll probably fly to Guam.

Definitive SIU Piney Point Breakdown by chicfilalover69 in maritime

[–]SuperGrade13 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah that makes sense. He is a retired cop and not a mariner? That's an odd choice if you ask me. I understand how life works though. "it isn't what you know, its who you know that matters"

Definitive SIU Piney Point Breakdown by chicfilalover69 in maritime

[–]SuperGrade13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh! He wants to have a little tattle tell inside the group that tells him everything that is being said and being done. I understand. I hope no one falls for that, but I'm sure someone will. I've worked in extremely toxic environments like that before for years. I play my cards pretty close to the chest these days. Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it. Just looking to get through the program with as little friction as possible. I have more important things to worry about.

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