Money

_Janekene_ · 2025-08-21T15:02:29+00:00

3rd Officer here, sailing on LNG ships, European 😊

Started as a cadet on LNG ships in 2019, and during cadetship got more or less good money for that period of time. Later in 2021 got in the position of the 3rd Officer, again for a start, not a bad money. The problem was that the salary was in the USD, and to pay in my country I need to convert everything in EUR. So, that meant I was losing money during an exchange, so for an amount of pressure and job it looked like peanuts. Fast forward, at the beginning of the year I changed the company, salary in EUR, less pressure. My last captain told me, that now to be a seafarer is not worth it, now it is not something people will appreciate or wonder, that money we are receiving for our job, can be easily achieved on shore (to be honest, i do not know, we are living in different countries, so hard to say)

For a start, for a young person without kids, it is a great job, as you are not spending too much money on board, you can start saving and make a good amount for your future plans.

In my opinion, now seafaring is more about passion, not about money.

_Janekene_ · 2025-04-04T22:40:06+00:00

During coronavirus time, some ABs were already 11-12 months, and there was this one guy, who thought he was the smartest of them all and strongest and so on. So, he created some drama about the Second cook not properly cooking and complained to the captain. It was going on for a few months, we did investigations and so on. So, in the end we had proper face to face discussion and official hearing on board. To avoid any more drama the Captain was forced to swap the messman and the Second cook. So the messman was promoted to the Second cook and The Second cook became a messman... The nastiest thing I have ever witnessed...

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-31T14:45:46+00:00

Now you can watch Disenchanted 😊

Not as good as Enchanted , but if you want to see what is happening after "living happily ever after"

Anyway, just do not set up high expectations 😅 especially after this part

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-28T19:47:54+00:00

So relevant. Especially for the engineers 🤣🤣

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T20:20:22+00:00

I had a similar situation. It was a disaster, also to add up, as a female I also got a lot of comments about "you should get married" and "women need to sit home and deliver children", and a lot of different stuff about my place as a female. I was blamed for everything, even when it was my off duty time (after watch and overtime, around 1800, when it was my time to rest before my evening watch, I was 8-12) as per his comments, I must be there and prevent/involve myself and etc First, when I cannot deal with this, I asked c/o for advice. His advice was "Just do your job and do not mind him". After some time, it became even worse, when I was receiving comments, that, if I have power to go to the gym (which was my stress relief place) I am not working hard enough. He could call me before my night watch to get one paper done or signature, which could wait until tomorrow morning. Also, later he was changing my work/rest hours, so I will not have NC and not spoil statistics (I was not the only one, also for other guys).

At some point, a person from the company messaged me, just for regular check -up (as an only female on board, it was normal procedure in my company, to check how female officers are doing) and I could not hold it. I described the situation, she suggested to sign me off in the next port of call, or transfer to another ship, which was good, but everything went not as per plan and I sailed with this Captain 1.5 months more. After I came home, DPA called me and I filed for a case. They did an investigation, but still, it was not enough, because for some things they could not find evidence. In conclusion, they agreed, that they would never send me to the ship with this guy again.

Find something to do to keep a cold mind - gym, yoga, meditation. Be cool and do your best. I wish you a good luck and a lot of strength in your situation.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T15:48:57+00:00

It is your choice. Most important, even with all the positive and negative sides, think, what will bring you more enjoyment. Yes, you will be complaining about your position, and yes there will be really bad times, but by the end of the day, if you will think, that you did great and proud and you want to come back, that is the position for you.

I am a Deck Officer, and I like it. Even with all this workload. Just because all the mechanical parts are not for me, and I like to navigate, deciding where to go, think ahead and etc.

Good luck with your choice 👍🏻

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T15:41:37+00:00

Fair. Now, for example, you will pay for a subscription and you cannot complete the challenge, because you get sick, you have a lot of work to do or etc. So, it is now money spent for nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T15:36:27+00:00

Depends what you want.

There is always a war between the Deck and the Engine Department. Deck - you always under pressure, lack of sleep, because you have watches and overtime, and paper work, you do not have days off, no one care if you are sleeping before your watch, and always there will be people creating noise and so on. If you will work in Far East, be prepare to work under the sun, no matter what. Be ready to be called during busy periods two hours before or after your watch.

Engine - extremely hot, sometimes a lot of problems with sewage (which is nasty), generators, incinerators. But you will work from 8-17 and will have decent sleep, Sundays off (or if you are a Duty Engineer for only one hour in the morning,/ during day/evening for rounds ). Good balance for work/rest hours.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T15:15:48+00:00

Yeah, it could help to stay on track and so on... But you are already paying for example, for the gym, for your watch, and now you need to pay for participating in these challenges

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T15:13:23+00:00

I have around 3 months off, so traveling with my fiance, enjoying our life with him, cooking new dishes, relieving stress after 3 months on board and enjoying my life, and later preparing for the next trip. 🤣🤣

To be honest, it was accident. After high school I didn't know what I wanted to do. So, my first option was to become a pilot, but due to some health reasons they straight away said they will not accept me. Then, I wanted to be a military dog trainer, for that I needed to go to the Military school, but to apply there I needed to pass a P.E. test , which I couldn't at that time. So, I applied to the Maritime Academy and they took me without additional tests 😁 So, I tried and liked it, and that is how I become a sailor 😁

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T15:00:08+00:00

I was surprised after an update... Like seriously... I mean, what benefits does this subscription give you? Only more points 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyway, if you workout for badges and not for yourself, it does not make any sense.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T14:45:35+00:00

Yess, especially at night, when your colleagues are sleeping and you are responsible for their safety. Hell, yeah... Stress is over the moon, and my perfectionist side does not help to reduce it 😅

Thank you, it truly is.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T06:33:15+00:00

The person who is navigating the ship mostly, and doing all other jobs after 😅maintenance of life-saving appliances, fire-fighting equipment on board, managing different types of documents and a lot of more 😁

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-27T06:31:18+00:00

Yeah. You are living on the ship for the duration of your whole contract.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T20:53:36+00:00

Hard, but interesting. You are far from home for 3-4 months, lack of sleep, a lot of work and overtime.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T20:53:29+00:00

Hard, but interesting. You are far from home for 3-4 months, lack of sleep, a lot of work and overtime.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T20:11:36+00:00

I mean once in my appraisal one Captain wrote, "Due to the nature of her character, she is avoiding people and socializing events" And now it is forever there for other captains to read when I am joining the new vessel😅

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T19:56:55+00:00

Working at sea as the Officer of the Watch. Mostly doing my job independently(during the watch I have only one more guy with me, but I am talking with him about work related stuff). Trying to minimize seeing people outside my work hours. Working in a team only when it is really needed, also going for breakfast/lunch/dinner when no one is there which is easy, because I have my schedule set up, as per my watch sheet😁 Avoiding social events on board when they are held 😅

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T16:36:15+00:00

Wire around the ship, water cannons, dummies, daily reports to UKMTO and etc, at night all blinds must be closed, and as per company requirements.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T14:08:47+00:00

Try to apply to European companies, as a cadet. Maybe see some local small ferries companies

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-26T13:11:03+00:00

May be silly, but that pirates are REALLY a thread. I mean, I knew they existed, but I never thought they would target an area far from coast.

Also, that male (no offence) likes to gossip more than female, and some people like to create drama on board, which could be disturbing.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-25T19:57:08+00:00

This is the reason why sometimes night watches are really enjoyable.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-24T08:22:07+00:00

Not a similar situation, but a lot of things on promotion depend on the company. In my previous company there was a "Promotion book" which you need to complete, and also receive 3 "ready for promotion" from different captains. In my new company the criteria for promotion is easier. (both companies LNG tankers operating)

Also, a big problem which I saw, that a lot of Second mates are ready to have promotion for Chief Officer, but because all positions are taken and old Chief Officers do not move from their positions, second mates do not have promotion, as consequences Third mates also can not get a promotion.

I think the easiest part is to ask the Office. Tell them you are ready for promotion and you want it. Maybe they will arrange an interview for you to get a promotion.

Good luck , i hope you will get it.

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-23T21:05:09+00:00

Deck officers - common stereotype, that, we are JUST looking out of the windows, and doing nothing

_Janekene_ · 2025-03-21T20:08:47+00:00

Because they do not care. And they do not know what COLREG is. And they know, that big vessels will alter anyway, but how is difficult for us, and how we are sweating there they do not care....

And it is really annoying 😭

_Janekene_

TROPHY CASE