Sea tour - "what to bring"

lilcola99

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
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My DS goes out soon and of course I am anxious:eek:I want him to have all he needs with him. I would like to know if there is a master list of things to bring provided to them with ample time to make the purchases and receive deliveries. I am reading some mixed opinions and experiences .
 
Your DS will be fine :) 2nd sea year my son did not have a chance to get his "sea year" gear. He went from a military internship directly to a container ship. It's amazing how well he did without the "list" of things. Most important is that he takes the things necessary for sea projects..........:shake:
 
Your DS will be fine :) 2nd sea year my son did not have a chance to get his "sea year" gear. He went from a military internship directly to a container ship. It's amazing how well he did without the "list" of things. Most important is that he takes the things necessary for sea projects..........:shake:

Exactly. What is needed is work clothes (khakis and/or coveralls) including work boots, casual clothes, Navigation instruments for deckies and simple tools for engineers (I always had nut rounders, er, channel locks and a flashlight) and the requisite underwear, socks and toiletries. Other than Sea Year stuff, my packing for sea never really changed from sea year to sailing on my license. Bar soap is provided by most (I seem to recall Cashmere Bouquet was the brand on most ships) and there is a slop chest for other items onboard, or at least there used to be. For my first ship, I wore my Blues when I got onboard and had a couple pair of khakis with boards. On that ship, we actually were required by the Captain to wear our khakis with boards and insignia at meals, but that was the only ship that I ever sailed on where it was required. I never again wore the uniform when signing on, and only brought my khaki hardware "just in case".

There can be a tendency to pack too much. I had an old sea bag that I got from a surplus store and would secure it with a padlock. I used that sea bag for my entire sea going portion of my career.

Overall, it really isn't that compliated. There are laundries on the ships to wash clothes, so I usually had enough for four days between washings.

While I don't go to sea anymore, I can be called out to travel and spend time offshore, onboard construction vessels, at shipyards, etc. I don't have a sea bag anymore, but I do keep a suitcase partially packed with the things I need should a last minute trip be necessary.
 
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