Lifestyle – Frequently Asked Questions
Any questions?
Here are the answers to the questions we are most frequently asked by potential cadets:
Q: What about the earning potential?
A: Newly-graduated officers can take home tax-free earnings of up to £23,000 pa.
Q: Is there a good career structure?
A: Absolutely. New graduates can rise through the ranks, gaining new qualifications along the way and could end up as Captain of a ship one day.
Q: How do ships maintain contact with the shore from the middle of the ocean?
A: By long-distance satellite links. No ship, nowadays in the Merchant Navy, is ever likely to be out of contact with the shore.
Q: What is on-board accommodation like?
A: Gone are the days of hammocks swinging from wooden beams and bunk beds of 10 in a cabin built for four. These days, Trainee officers can generally expect their own cabins, usually en-suite.
Q: What is so rewarding about the Merchant Navy?
A: Travel. Self-confidence. Responsibility. (And not forgetting pay). They’re all very attractive.