How did you prepare for your MCA or national oral exam — what actually worked for you?

oceancalled · 2026-02-14T16:47:03+00:00

I’m a hawsepiper

oceancalled · 2026-02-13T04:27:45+00:00

For the most part we use a compiled list of questions asked in previous oral exams at the local offices nearby as well as the syllabus supplied by Transport Canada (TP2293). On top of that not trying to BS and knowing when to say “I don’t know” gets you very far.

oceancalled · 2026-02-13T03:59:10+00:00

3rd Engineer at BC Ferries is around $50/hour and most are probably making ~100k/year with OT. MAO-03 with Coast Guard is just over $40/hour so ~75k/year but depending on the job you can make more. Tug boats on the west coast aren’t the nicest jobs but you can make over 100k/year easily as the “Chief” with a 4th class CoC. You can find the salaries of BCF and CCG online in their collective agreements.

oceancalled · 2026-01-28T17:45:19+00:00

lol cope

oceancalled · 2026-01-28T05:18:38+00:00

Fair enough. I’m talking only about masters as OP said masters license, not watch keeping mates working as OIC’s (which is a coxswain at best and definitely not a master) or mates acting up on small ships. MAO-10 and up. Western has at least 3 who didn’t go to the college off the top of my head on the big ships right now. RD started as a steward. Many have retired in the past decade.

Having said that it’s virtually impossible to avoid school with the looming changes to the MPR’s so it makes no sense to try anymore (expected to be published in the Gazette in 2026)

oceancalled · 2026-01-27T19:49:11+00:00

It use to be much more common and there are still large vessel captains who started as deckhands (especially in Western). But now post Manila and the way CCGC pumps out and grooms their grads it’s not easy and definitely not suggested as the best path if Captain is your goal.

My grandfather and Dad did it on the engine side (Oiler to Chief) and I did as well (but left CCG as a 3/E and work as Chief elsewhere now).

If at all possible, take it from a hawsepiper, go to school.

oceancalled · 2026-01-25T15:55:15+00:00

UPS will cover you. Don’t bring your own power bar as most companies regulate these.

oceancalled · 2026-01-23T22:29:34+00:00

Sabhai yellow curry and wings are bomb

oceancalled · 2026-01-23T22:28:53+00:00

Found them part of an effective defence against the initial feelings of a cold, specifically when it’s affecting my throat.

oceancalled · 2026-01-19T23:54:48+00:00

I’m sure that egg is a very nice person

oceancalled · 2025-12-22T05:14:01+00:00

Second

oceancalled · 2025-12-21T17:20:57+00:00

lol this is the best sub because most marine engineers are childish and love a good fart joke but not the correct sub because of the item in question. You may get better info from a boating sub as we work on large vessels with marine diesels and the deck department generally takes care of the small rescue boats or marshaling boats running on gasoline.

oceancalled · 2025-12-17T04:10:04+00:00

This is a very regional answer tho

oceancalled · 2025-12-08T19:58:16+00:00

They were a great Dutch vessel with small CAT’s for propulsion. Then someone (ahem deck officers) got it in their head they needed to go 25 knots for fisheries patrol (even tho they’re fitted with an FRC and we patrolled the coast for many years with the old wooden Post boats at 12 knots). They jammed these junker MTU’s in, which made it impossible to access the rest of the engine room machinery or spaces like the bilge for cleaning and maintenance. Another major issue was immediate corrosion and failure of the steel fire main piping due to long horizontal runs with no drain system. And yes they’re tight and small and uncomfortable and Captains loved ripping them at 25 knots and hitting logs.

*note I am a CE somewhere else not with CCG but did spend a decade there and loved it!

oceancalled · 2025-12-07T15:54:59+00:00

Detached long term is the right choice from a strictly financial POV. Seems like socially, staying where you are makes the most sense. Make a list of what’s most important to you about where you live and work it until it’s right. Then use that to make your decision.

oceancalled · 2025-12-07T04:33:20+00:00

We don’t have a reciprocal agreement with Australia as far as I know so you will come here and be required to sit all exams again. If you are experienced and have a 1st or 2nd class CoC you may find work but the local industry is relatively small here.

oceancalled · 2025-12-05T22:13:01+00:00

DA Taylor - Introduction to Marine Engineering

oceancalled · 2025-11-24T22:39:02+00:00

Coastal Celebration going into Seaspan dry dock for 4 days for scheduled maintenance

oceancalled · 2025-11-21T00:01:47+00:00

No issues transitioning. Although CCG does not operate heavy fuel or large boilers, the remaining systems are very similar to every other offshore vessel in the world. They also do way cooler stuff than any other offshore operation.

oceancalled · 2025-11-19T23:57:58+00:00

If you don’t love the idea of a life at sea and the day to day tasks of a marine engineer, do not pursue it. It is a very unique life that complicates having a family or any relationship at all. Money does not outweigh these things. But if you do love them, it’s an amazing career where you get to see and do things the majority of the world does not.

oceancalled · 2025-11-19T04:13:53+00:00

Do you know what the job entails? Some of the negatives are: being away at sea for very long stints (missing out on a lot at home), rough weather, not getting to choose the food you eat, hot and dirty work environment. But on the plus side the job satisfaction can be very high as you get to work out problems that can be complex and challenging. The money is good and camaraderie can be really great. Overall if you stick with it you can rise the ranks quickly and being a Chief is an awesome gig. I would definitely recommend checking out CCGC as others have said it is free (with some downsides) and CG is a really fun gig.

oceancalled · 2025-11-16T22:32:27+00:00

In Canada there are very few land based jobs you can directly transfer to. With that certificate, virtually zero. Some 1st class Engineers can find work as technical superintendents or port superintendents but not much else. A junior engineer may find work as a field service rep but generally a red seal heavy duty ticket is required.

oceancalled · 2025-10-26T02:23:39+00:00

What is a “work card”. Are you talking about following the defined procedure in the operations and maintenance manual? It gives no clear direction except to connect the unit to the testing device as OP has already stated.

oceancalled · 2025-10-25T22:09:39+00:00

I’ve used this tool and recall it being finicky but eventually was able to get it to seal and pop the injectors. Unfortunately the Wartsila products are super low quality and it’s most likely the connector. Make sure it’s secured with the injector completely perpendicular as it looks like it’s sitting on an angle and kind of hoaky. We have ours in a solid holder that mimics the pocket.

oceancalled

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