<p>"she will graduate with her QMED and then is eligible to sit for her 3rd engineer after 180 days at sea"</p>
<p>I would assume this 180 days has to be as a QMED though. I would doubt they would let you sit if you had been sailing as a third mate. If this is the case it is my understanding that the time you spent as an unlicensed crew member would NOT count towards your graduation requirements. I know in times past MSC has offered AB jobs to graduates and those were not considered to fulfill the requirement so I infer from that about the QMED not counting. Just a thought.</p>
<p>I have no idea if they allow duals this year or not but Jamz tells me that his friend, a 3rd classman is going dual. They call duals a "shopper". I'm learning!</p>
<p>The 'shoppers' are kinda like a dual light. They aren't the true dualies of past where a graduate came out with a third mate and a third assistant engineer's license and graduated with two majors. The 'shoppers' are the Ship's Operations and ... graduates, hence the term "shopper." It is a popular option and they graduate with a third mate's license and a QMED (Qualified Member of the Engine Dept) endorsement. They do have to spend a considerable amount of time in the engine room during their sea year and they have to sit for the QMED endorsement first class year. With the QMED endorsement they would be qualified to sail as an unlicensed member of the engine dept.</p>
<p>Its so funny that I can learn more from you guys than I can my own kid. LOL He spoon feeds me one sentence at a time for about 100 questions. No wonder I stay confused. He said that 'shoppers' are geared more to the deck side of things. Is that just his perspective or is there some truth to be found there. He did say its insane hard and during Indoc, he considered it for about a nano second but thought he'd better make time to shower & eat during the day. ;)</p>
<p>the Shoppers are definately more geared towards the deck side. I would basically consider it a Deckie with a minor in engineering. It is a great major for those who plan on sailing as a Mate b/c it gives you a good background in the engine room. I didn't realize how important as a deckie it would be to understand what goes on in the sweat shop down there, but it does help. If you sail on a tanker it can be even more important because you might have to help with the cargo pumps. I'm not sure that it's that much harder than any of the other programs, they are all hard and everyone claims there's is the hardest....well except for the straight deckies, we know we have it easy :)</p>
<p>What's everyone's thoughts on this UAE thing with buying up our ports? How will this effect our kids & how do you think that this will change the shipping industry as we know it?</p>
<p>Highly likely to politicize David Sanborn's nomination hearing to become Maritime Administrator (USMMA '75). He was VP with DP World (the company in question) immediately preceding his nomination.</p>
<p>Started new thread on the UAE DP World port concern in Parents section in an effort to keep this thread KP job oriented. Chime in there - Taffy already has!</p>