Deck Cadet 2022

You’ll go all over the ship as you learn to navigate, load and unload cargo, handle legal and commercial affairs and oversee crew operations.

What you can expect on your stay

Usually on four-hour shifts, you’ll handle physical tasks such as chipping rust off metalwork, and bridge / cargo watch keeping, which involves monitoring equipment and looking out for other vessels. You’ll also shadow more senior crew and help monitor pump operations, maintain equipment and more. In time, you’ll learn to plan the ship’s passage and learn all about anchoring, docking and cargo operations.

Learning and development

• Phase 1 - You'll spend the first phase on land, at nautical college, learning all about chart work, tides and sailings, meteorology, cargo work, ship construction, celestial navigation, electronic navigation, bridge watch keeping and more.
• Phase 2 - You'll then spend time at sea getting practical, hands-on experience.
• Phase 3 - After that, it's back to dry land for some classroom-based learning. We’ll teach you about marine law and management, cargo contracts and port operations, and handling incidents.
• Phase 4 - For the next stage of training, you'll need your sea legs again. You'll go back onto one of bp's ships to embed your academic knowledge, where you'll be given more responsibility.
• Phase 5 - The final stage involves one more phase of college, followed by academic and oral exams.

Minimum requirements to board

• At least 18 years old by 1st September 2022
• Be a British citizen 
• Have a British passport 
• Applicants will need to pass an industry-standard medical examination in order to complete a placement at sea 
• Either 64 UCAS points (or equivalent) including maths or science grade 5 / Grade ‘B’ or above in all the following subjects:
  • Mathematics
  • Science (with physical science content)
  • English language
• Or National Certificate/diploma in appropriate subjects (Engineering/Science/Maritime) plus GCSE (**or  equivalent as approved by the College) grade 5 / Grade ‘B’ or above in all the following subjects:
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • English language
• Or successful completion of an maritime/engineering HNC or HND plus GCSE (**or  equivalent as approved by the College) grade 5 / Grade ‘B’ or above in all the following subjects:
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • English language

Qualifications

After training, you’ll have a UK foundation degree or college diploma in marine operations, a seafarer’s licence and deck watch keeping officer ‘certificate of competency’ from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).