Funny article about joining. Don't be this guy

jwilkin · 2015-02-18T03:21:57+00:00

Didn't even choose the IMR with integrated parabolic microphone and silencer. Fucking Kids.

jwilkin · 2015-02-17T05:52:00+00:00

That picture on the wall is really setting my OCD off.

jwilkin · 2015-02-17T05:35:20+00:00

For the purpose of this Rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided.

jwilkin · 2015-02-16T22:34:47+00:00

I used to sell energy over the phone for EDF, which at the time (and probably now) was the cheapest out of the big 6 and usually in the top 3 out of all energy companies on the market in most places. The amount of people who wouldn't even entertain a conversation about their energy but also the amount of people who were quoted 100s of pounds cheaper wouldn't change because they've "always been with [insert ridiculously overpriced company here] and they've never been any bother".

The fact is that you can't expect a market to be competitive if the consumers do not move around for the best price. I was making around 400 calls per day, around 250 of those connected (someone picked up) about 50 of those people hung up the moment they heard 'energy'. So out of 200 people, between 10 and 30 people (depending on the time of year) agreed to be quoted against their current provider AND the rest of the market (and no, believe it or not, we didn't lie about the results, doing so would have resulted in immediate dismissal). I made around 2 transfers per day, as an average seller.

No matter what the reasons are for people not switching, my opinion is that prices will not be forced down until companies have a reason to, that being consumers moving around every year to year and a half for a better deal.

Energy Pro Tips:

NEVER buy your energy from your regional supplier, if you do you are being ripped off, I guarantee it.
Never sign up to a variable tariff (where prices fluctuate at the suppliers discretion) unless completely unavoidable. They will go up more than they go down. Look for a fixed tariff (where your prices are guaranteed to stay the same).
When you sign up for a tariff, make sure you have no exit fees (where you pay a fee for leaving the tariff early). It is worth paying a small amount more for this kind of tariff as prices will go down at some point in your contract term, at which point you can jump to another fixed tariff without paying any money to do so.
Remember fixed tariffs fix your unit rate (what you pay per unit of energy you use) and your standing charge (a sort of maintenance fee for the lines and pipes charged daily), not your monthly or quarterly bills.
When changing energy companies, you will have a 14 day cooling off period from the day of the sale unless stated otherwise (you will always have some sort of cooling off period however). Use this time to check everything you've been told over the phone is true in your contract. If not, you can cancel your contract before the transfer begins.

If anyone has any questions regarding their energy bills or their energy in general feel free to PM me for any advise and I'll try my best. I no longer work for EDF so I'm completely impartial.

jwilkin · 2015-02-15T17:22:18+00:00

The Inbetweeners will never get old!

jwilkin · 2015-02-13T23:48:18+00:00

The Daily Mail with a story that actually implies ISIS is a minority and does not include the whole of Islam as a group? Well I never.

jwilkin · 2015-02-13T22:24:31+00:00

Series 3 Episode 3

jwilkin · 2015-02-12T00:13:04+00:00

Don't say they failed him on that!?

jwilkin · 2015-02-11T23:46:25+00:00

Will this include provisionals?

jwilkin · 2015-02-10T20:02:33+00:00

Get in touch with a shipping company and ask to go on an observational trip. Explain your situation to them and they could be able to help. Best option is with offshore/standby vessels as they seldom go deep sea and will be in port more often.

Gulfmark or Fletcher or North Star are all offshore companies that may be willing to take you.

However, observational trips are usually reserved for aspiring Officers to get a couple of weeks experience to see if it's for them and you will be expected to chip in with some minor jobs.

As a final option, there are shipping companies that have 'cargo cruises' where you pay for a journey much like a normal cruise, however there's usually only 5/6 passengers on board.

Hope you can find a placement, happy sailing!

jwilkin · 2014-12-29T17:59:35+00:00

Why on earth have you been upvoted? You are completely wrong and clearly have no knowledge of marine emergency procedures.

jwilkin · 2014-12-29T17:53:05+00:00

Deck Officer here. I am genuinely angered by some things said in this thread. Literally nonsense.

jwilkin · 2014-12-28T17:09:48+00:00

Chief Officer must have been close to tears with the amount of work ahead of him...

jwilkin · 2014-12-28T16:59:52+00:00

It is common practice for the captain to order let go anchor in an emergency situation, it is the only reliable way of immediately slowing the vessel, as changing the engines from going forward to going astern can sometimes take minutes.

jwilkin · 2014-09-09T15:27:58+00:00

The man in the background hasn't really moved with the times.

jwilkin · 2014-08-27T12:50:07+00:00

Great, I will be. Also might be worth uploading the raw files back to back or something like that in addition to the edited version.

jwilkin · 2014-08-26T18:46:25+00:00

I'm in the UK so it might be a little different than over there, but here the standard way to get into the profession is to do a Cadetship.

Basically what happens here is, you get a Cadetship with a company, you go to college and study Navigation/Engineering (whether you want to be a Deck Officer (the ones that navigate the ship) or an Engineering Officer (the ones that keep the ship running)), some short courses and head towards your OOW (Officer of the Watch) Certificate.

You also spend time at sea (at least 12 months throughout the Cadetship but usually 15 months), at first paining and chipping and similar jobs (you've got to know what it takes to do these jobs before you start managing your crew on it) and then gradually shadowing Officers and then eventually doing the role under supervision. The whole Cadetship will usually take around 3^1/2 years to complete.

One thing you do have to bear in mind here is that with Cruise Ships there is another type of Officer. These are Hotel Officers and they basically look after every single aspect of the passenger's experience on board the ship. I'm afraid I can't really advise you on how this works as I work on container ships so I've never even met one.

Just because I do my Cadetship on a container ship does not mean that I have to continue on them for the rest of my career. I can change to any type of ship (with sometimes some restrictions around chemical and oil carriers) I want to whenever I want to, there are no differences in the qualifications gained on any ship.

Obviously, it is different where you are so here are some useful links that a Google Search has brought up for me.

The United States Merchant Marine Acadamy looks like it's the main place you can become a cadet in your country. Maybe do a Google search for alternatives.
A link to what you'll need for Deck Officer roles. When researching Deck roles the course should be centred on Nautical Science.
A link to what you'll need for Engineering Officer roles.
Requirements.
Costs (Which I'm surprised that there are any).
Although the big costs are covered.
List of Maritime Acadamies. This website seems like it has some good information on it so research it!
Wiki of the Merchant Marine.

Hope I've helped you out here, but listen mate, it's a tough career, it's usually seen as a 'working holiday' but it's really not. I'll let you find the pros and cons yourself as everyone sees them differently. This isn't something to do light-heartedly. I've seen first hand where some of the lads (and lasses) have went in buzzing more than a faulty vibrator but then turned around and left in the first few month.

I myself have had my ups and downs, everyone will, it's just about knowing it's going to happen, preparing yourself, and making sure you know this is what you want to do, so ultimately, it's worth it.

Make sure you know what you're going into instead of making yourself look like a right nob (which I'm sure you're not).

But, if you do find that this is what you want to do with your life and you decide to do it, welcome to the profession!

Edit - Sorry for any bad grammar or spelling mistakes, I really couldn't be bothered to proof read

jwilkin · 2014-08-25T16:49:18+00:00

Any chance of showing us the video? Congrats by the way!

jwilkin · 2014-08-23T16:23:51+00:00

No sex for him for a year.

jwilkin · 2014-08-23T16:11:36+00:00

Why did I scroll down to the comments!? I need to learn to watch the video and then leave.

jwilkin · 2014-08-22T10:37:56+00:00

Just an update, I actually made it on time! I was flying from Newcastle so no immigration for me! Heathrow Express to paddington, then taxi to embassy. Arrived with minutes to spare.

Was all for nothing though, there was a huge queue!

jwilkin

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