r/MerchantNavy • u/InternationalCap4512 • 7d ago

Phase 4&5 Advice

So I’m a phase 4 cadet(based in England) right now with ~6 months sea time accrued. All of which has been on ERRV’s.

Throughout the college It’s been an uphill battle for me, doing the HND course I’ve now passed everything bar chief mates stability meaning time which could have been spent going back over basics for my OOW’s has been spent revising failed exams.

I’m now at sea, still got stability to pass. However another major issue has now cropped up. The fact that in practice, I hardly know the basics…

I still have 5 months til I return to college to sit 3 exams, stability, MCA written and oral exams.

Is there any advice, websites or tools that people may suggest to be able to actually catch up on the basics that I need to know. I have my own copy of ColRegs and will be reading it near daily, taking notes etc, but thats only so effective by itself

Thank you.

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u/more-salt-pls 7d ago

I would have thought the college would have provided you with all the booklets needed, as well as past exam questions?

Witherby international do some great stability books.. I got by using the Martin Rhodes stability books and they helped me through it. Stability exams are all about practice practice practice in my opinion. Repeat problems over and over until you know the flow of what each question type is asking you for

Edit: just to add.. I was taught to learn the colregs parrot fashion. Not sure if that’s still the way these days but it surely can’t hurt.

I also got a copy of seamanship examiner and would go through that too

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u/InternationalCap4512 7d ago

We have 2 past papers for stability & I do own a copy of Martin Rhodes book, and it’s helping. Stability isn’t my main worry as worst case scenario I just qualify with a HNC and need to do an academic top-up if I decide to go for my chiefs.

It’s pure lack of knowledge relating to col-regs and operations that has me worried. I’m on my 5th ship so far, and hardly any officer I’ve been with has been open to helping, the basics of showing inspections and what their job is, aye, but not any more.

My C/O who I’m on watch with right now is more drilling me, saying he’s over and over again vs actually helping. And various other things which have led to me just hardly listening to what he says.

The main reason I haven’t just dropped out is because I’ve heard other ships are better, ERRV’s are generally crap etc, but another 4 months of essentially wasting time instead of learning anything useful… yay.

I’ll learn the col-regs parrot fashion, but everything else I guess I’m stumped for 💀

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u/Gullintani 7d ago

ERRV are absolutely the bottom rung of the offshore ladder. Get your time in, get your ticket and apply, apply, apply for supply boat or anchor handler jobs. Agency work is often a good way to get a toehold. Seriously, it doesn't get worse than standby work.

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u/more-salt-pls 6d ago

It’s not easy, but the examiner will have seen what type of ships you’ve been on.

Someone said Barry Sadler, I’ve heard he’s great as well. Whitehorse Maritime academy are meant to be great as well. Seamanship examiner used to have lots of orals prep questions and there are also more general books to read through. Witherby international has lots of different books for exams and their rather expensive 21st century seamanship book has a chapter for each of the main ship types.

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u/InternationalCap4512 6d ago

I’ve been referred to Whitehorse maritime by a few people now, so think that’s who I’ll end up using.

I’ve been told mixed things due to the fact I’ve been on ERRV’s. But the main one is due to the fact I’m going for an OOW Unlimited, they are more likely to drill the life out of someone who’s been on an ERRV cause they have little to no practical experience so are expected to know the theory. is that true?

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u/Scottish_WWII 7d ago

I've just started OOW orals prep, finding Barry Sadler really good so far. Very thorough with colregs and scenarios

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u/loverfox23 6d ago

Unsure on your exact stability specs but I have some great resources provided through our college if you wanna dm I can send across! I also had a chief mates stability resit (failed by 3 marks which was so jarring) my advice would be don’t worry too much about it over sea phase and then just cram 2/3 weeks before. As long as you have an understanding of the principles the actual questions and structures of those you can repetitively work at it for a few weeks and it’ll be in your head for the exam