Sea Life & Pay Myths

G

Guero20135

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Mar 24, 2024
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I have heard a lot about how great the Mariner life is and you can really make good money. I also hear a lot of talk about working 6mo out of the year. This all sounds too good to be true. I would appreciate to hear from an actual KP Grad that has chosen the merchant life.

As a 3rd Mate/Engineer what is realistic for pay and how does the on/off schedule work?

In retrospect, would you recommend a life as a Deck or Engineer Officer?

Is there any difference between a 3rd Officer and the rest of the crew? I'm asking not in a proud way, but just curious about things like room accommodations and facilities while underway. Not to consider myself above the rest but genuinely curious about how you are treated.

Is there any advantage to accepting an appointment to CGA over MMA? Other than a monthly stipend is there any reason CGA would be a better option?

Thanks
 
Grad here. The current rate for a 3rd mate rd Engineer is $120-160k. Low end being with MSC and higher end with Union contracted shipping lines. The officers have their own stateroom with private bath. When you graduate from KP you have the following options.

1. Activate your USNR commission and enter the Navy in one of the following Surface Warfare, Aviation, Submarines, Supply, Intelligence. Your obligation gets shortened to 5 yrs with excetion to Aviation which is 8 yrs from completion of flight instruction.
2. Cross commission into the other services on active duty for 5 yrs
3. Work in the maritime industry and serve in the USNR drilling 2 weeks/yr for 8 yrs. ie shipyards, shoreside employment with shipping companies, marine insurance companies, ocean logistics companies.
4.Grad school.
5 Sail on your license and do your 2 weeks/yr USNR duty. You may be granted a waiver if your sailing schedule conflicts with scheduling USNR drill schedule.

Pretty awesome in terms of choices after graduation.

Not unheard of for a grad to sock away that large payday and be independently wealthy in their early 30's.
 
KPEngnr90 said:
Grad here. The current rate for a 3rd mate rd Engineer is $120-160k. Low end being with MSC and higher end with Union contracted shipping lines. The officers have their own stateroom with private bath. When you graduate from KP you have the following options.

1. Activate your USNR commission and enter the Navy in one of the following Surface Warfare, Aviation, Submarines, Supply, Intelligence. Your obligation gets shortened to 5 yrs with excetion to Aviation which is 8 yrs from completion of flight instruction.
2. Cross commission into the other services on active duty for 5 yrs
3. Work in the maritime industry and serve in the USNR drilling 2 weeks/yr for 8 yrs. ie shipyards, shoreside employment with shipping companies, marine insurance companies, ocean logistics companies.
4.Grad school.
5 Sail on your license and do your 2 weeks/yr USNR duty. You may be granted a waiver if your sailing schedule conflicts with scheduling USNR drill schedule.

Pretty awesome in terms of choices after graduation.

Not unheard of for a grad to sock away that large payday and be independently wealthy in their early 30's.
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Thank you for the reply. It looks like KP has the most options. Can you comment on how most contracts work? If the contract is for example 90 days, do you also get 90 days off? is it paid 90 days off at same or different rate? Can you take on other contracts during the off time to earn more?

May I ask if you were Deck or Engineer?
 
I was an engineer. Retired now. Was with MEBA an engineers Union. Contracts vary. Usually 60 ,90 or 120 days or even 180, but some as short as 30 days. When you leave a ship you have an option to collect your vacation pay or leave them on the books. If you collect it, you cannot come back to the Union Hall looking for another ship till your vacation days run out. The last ships I worked payed 26 days vacation for every 30 worked so say I worked a 30 contract and collected my vacation immediately I could not come back to the hall until atleast 26 days had passed since I filed for vacation. If I dont file for vacation and leave them on the books I could get on another ship if I wanted.
 
KPEngnr90 said:
I was an engineer. Retired now. Was with MEBA an engineers Union. Contracts vary. Usually 60 ,90 or 120 days or even 180, but some as short as 30 days. When you leave a ship you have an option to collect your vacation pay or leave them on the books. If you collect it, you cannot come back to the Union Hall looking for another ship till your vacation days run out. The last ships I worked payed 26 days vacation for every 30 worked so say I worked a 30 contract and collected my vacation immediately I could not come back to the hall until atleast 26 days had passed since I filed for vacation. If I dont file for vacation and leave them on the books I could get on another ship if I wanted.
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Do these work similarly on the deck side of things?
 
The Myths are real ...

Sailing union gives you more flexibility. Back in the 90s I knew people who worked less than 6 months a year, it depends on contract length, pay rate and life style.
A company job will be more steady and defined without the flexibility but the money is similar for similar time off, you just don't get to choose like sailing out of the union hall.

All my sailing after school was inland and tug/barge. The pay is a little less but still good for a new grad (I was making a little over 100k around 2010), but the rotation is shorter. I liked 3 weeks instead of 3 months.

IMNSHO - CGA is only a better option if you don't want to have to go through the nomination process. Even if you want a career in the Coast Guard there is no real advantage over USMMA. If you want to do anything other than active duty Coast Guard immediately after graduation than CGA will be holding you back.
 
KPEngnr90 said:
I was an engineer. Retired now. Was with MEBA an engineers Union. Contracts vary. Usually 60 ,90 or 120 days or even 180, but some as short as 30 days. When you leave a ship you have an option to collect your vacation pay or leave them on the books. If you collect it, you cannot come back to the Union Hall looking for another ship till your vacation days run out. The last ships I worked payed 26 days vacation for every 30 worked so say I worked a 30 contract and collected my vacation immediately I could not come back to the hall until atleast 26 days had passed since I filed for vacation. If I dont file for vacation and leave them on the books I could get on another ship if I wanted.
Click to expand...
Does leaving it on the books mean deferring when you receive your vacation pay to a later date? I assume that you don't loose it but rather you get it later on. Is that right?
 
KPEngineer said:
The Myths are real ...

Sailing union gives you more flexibility. Back in the 90s I knew people who worked less than 6 months a year, it depends on contract length, pay rate and life style.
A company job will be more steady and defined without the flexibility but the money is similar for similar time off, you just don't get to choose like sailing out of the union hall.

All my sailing after school was inland and tug/barge. The pay is a little less but still good for a new grad (I was making a little over 100k around 2010), but the rotation is shorter. I liked 3 weeks instead of 3 months.

IMNSHO - CGA is only a better option if you don't want to have to go through the nomination process. Even if you want a career in the Coast Guard there is no real advantage over USMMA. If you want to do anything other than active duty Coast Guard immediately after graduation than CGA will be holding you back.
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FYI I accepted an appointment to KP Class of 2028
 
Guero20135 said:
BTW. I accepted an appointment to KP Class of 2028! Really considered CGA and even have a brother there but believe Merchant is the right choice for me.
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Guero20135 said:
BTW. I accepted an appointment to KP Class of 2028! Really considered CGA and even have a brother there but believe Merchant is the right choice for me.
Click to expand...
Good choice kid. Your bank account will thank you. Study hard and bear down on calculus, physics and chemistry. No matter how good you march or how shiny your shoes and belt buckle are if you don't make the grades academically you will be history. That golden ticket(marine license) will be worth more than your diploma.
 
Guero20135 said:
Does leaving it on the books mean deferring when you receive your vacation pay to a later date? I assume that you don't loose it but rather you get it later on. Is that right?
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Yup. Its money you're owed so you can keep it on the books as long as you want. But heres the catch. Its money your not earning any interest on so its dead money. Chief Engineer I sailed with many years ago said "Kid, if you ain't makin money in your sleep, your losing money."
 
KPEngnr90 said:
Yup. Its money you're owed so you can keep it on the books as long as you want. But heres the catch. Its money your not earning any interest on so its dead money. Chief Engineer I sailed with many years ago said "Kid, if you ain't makin money in your sleep, your losing money."
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Thank you for your response. You are a wealth of knowledge! What did you do in your off time after your contract was up? Did you work anywhere else or just take time off?
 
KPEngnr90 said:
Yup. Its money you're owed so you can keep it on the books as long as you want. But heres the catch. Its money your not earning any interest on so its dead money. Chief Engineer I sailed with many years ago said "Kid, if you ain't makin money in your sleep, your losing money."
Click to expand...
Understood!
 
Guero20135 said:
Thank you for your response. You are a wealth of knowledge! What did you do in your off time after your contract was up? Did you work anywhere else or just take time off?
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Double dipped as a power plant operator. EZ money.
 
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