First Trip as a Cadet

No amount of college preparation fully prepares you for the day you walk up a gangway for the first time. The ship is bigger than you imagined, the crew are already established in their routines, and the chief officer has about 30 seconds to form an opinion of you that will shape your entire sea phase. This guide is the honest brief most cadets don't get before they join.

Before You Join

Do your research on the vessel. Know the type (bulk carrier, tanker, container ship, ferry), know roughly where she trades, and know the company's expectations of cadets before you board. Read your Training Record Book (TRB) end to end — the chief officer will be expecting you to know what you're there to achieve. Cadets who join without reading their own TRB make an immediate bad impression.

Pack professionally. You are going to sea, not a festival. Have your uniform ready. Bring copies of all your certificates — STCW, ENG1, discharge book — in a waterproof folder. Bring enough practical clothing for two weeks without laundry access (washing machines are usually available but not always).

The First 48 Hours

The first two days will feel overwhelming. You'll complete a vessel familiarisation, safety induction, fire and boat drill. You'll be shown your cabin, your muster station, your watchkeeping duties. You'll meet 15–25 people whose names you won't remember. This is normal. Don't pretend you know what you're doing when you don't — asking good questions at this stage is far better received than making mistakes born of assumed knowledge.

The most important thing in the first 48 hours is to be visible, helpful, and quiet. Show up early. Offer to help. Don't offer opinions. The time for those comes later.

Watch Culture

Watchkeeping operates on a strict timekeeping culture. Being one minute late for watch is not an acceptable start to a professional relationship with your OOW. Set multiple alarms. Be on the bridge or in the engine room five minutes before your watch starts — handover happens before the formal watch change, not after it.

On watch, your job is to observe, assist, and learn — in that order. Do not touch controls, equipment, or systems without being asked or instructed. Ask before you do. Write things down. The learning density during a good bridge watch is extraordinary, but only if you're paying attention rather than counting down the hours.

Working with Senior Officers

Senior officers have different management styles. Some are natural teachers; others expect you to absorb knowledge by observation. Some will be warm; others are formal and distant. Your job is to adapt to each style, not to expect them to adapt to you.

Address officers by rank unless invited to do otherwise. Do what you're told promptly and correctly. If you think you've been asked to do something unsafe, say so — respectfully but clearly. "I'm not sure that's safe because..." is always acceptable. Silence followed by a bad outcome is not.

The chief officer is your primary point of contact for the TRB and for training. Book a weekly meeting to review your progress — don't wait for them to come to you. Showing initiative with your own training is one of the best ways to build a positive relationship with senior officers.

The TRB

Your Training Record Book is the central document of your cadetship. Every task, every watch, every skill demonstrated must be logged and countersigned. Get into the habit of updating it daily. Cadets who fall behind on TRB entries face a stressful scramble at the end of the sea phase to reconstruct everything from memory — and chief officers who are asked to countersign three months of entries at once are not impressed.

Loneliness and Adjustment

Almost every cadet experiences a period of genuine loneliness, usually in the first two to three weeks. The work is relentless, the social circle is fixed, and home feels far away. This is normal. It passes. Most seafarers describe the adjustment as taking about a month — after which the rhythm of sea life becomes familiar and even comfortable.

If you're struggling, speak to someone. The MNTB, your training college, and organisations like Mission to Seafarers all provide welfare support for cadets. You don't have to wait until you're in crisis.

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Punctuality — always, without exception
• Asking intelligent questions and writing down the answers
• Completing TRB tasks without being chased
• Offering to help outside your assigned duties
• Taking safety seriously in everything you do
• Treating ratings and ratings' roles with respect — the bosun knows more than you do