<p>I'm heading out to sea this summer and I was wondering if anyone knew of any ships or what kinds of ships go to South America? Or in general what is a good ship to get on?</p>
<p>Both my sea partner and I are going to be DI's this summer so does that screw us over at all or is it all relative?</p>
<p>it's best to ask around your company to kids who have already gone to sea. I think some of the liberty ships go there (the company liberty). </p>
<p>Being a DI will only screw you over on days. shipping schedules aren't in line with our school schedule so getting a good or bad ship is more luck. Get what I'm saying?</p>
<p>ggspin: As far as being a DI: DO IT! My son found his experience as a DI to be the most difficult anf yet the most rewarding thing he did at KP. However many sea days you lose this sailing period you can make up next year. Don't let anyone talk you out of it.</p>
<p>Sorry for being naeve. What does DI stand for. I'm a "Plebe" Dad. What can anyone tell us about the experiences at sea. Are one kind of ship better than others?</p>
<p>Go Mariners!!!</p>
<p>DI=Drill Instructor...the guy or gal who yells at you a lot. :D</p>
<p>Agree with NFO. If you can be a DI, do. Many wanted to last year but the timing didn't work out. Make it happen. You may not get your first choice of ships due to the sailing times not coordinating with DI training & Indoc.
Like Davy said, luck plays a part. </p>
<p>KPfootballDad, sometimes the ships they are on depends on their major or a certain type of certification that they are trying to get. For kicks, you can read this thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=265808&highlight=sea+year%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=265808&highlight=sea+year</a></p>
<p>ggspin21 - As far as getting screwed over being a DI goes, it depends on your split.. If you’re a A splitter like my son was, no problem, although he never did the DI thing and he told me he doesn’t have any regrets about not doing it..
Being a DI will probably cut into your seatime as a B split. IMHO whether you are an A or B split get to sea as soon as possible.. If you are serious about going into the maritime industry, you're going to want to get out and start learning all the stuff you're going to need to be a successful third mate or third engineer.. Also being a DI doesn’t have much, if any, relevant benefit if you plan on sailing in the Merchant Marine (again this is my opinion).. Where as, maximum sea time will help you out more in the long run. Just remember, the sea project is long and time consuming.. The more time you have to complete it and learn the things you need to learn, the better off you’ll be.. They don’t shorten the sea project just because you didn’t have as much time to work on it. </p>
<p>As far as good ships go.. I’ll quote from a Joseph Conrad sea story; When one of the new members of the crew joining the NARCISSUS at Bombay asks a venerable seaman "what kind" of ship NARCISSUS is, the seaman, Singleton, who was by nature the most taciturn of men, who spoke almost begrudgingly, paused to reflect and then replied, "Ship! . . .Ships are all right. It is the men in them! (that’s what makes them good or bad)</p>
<p>I don’t know of any U.S. flag shipping company that runs to South America on a scheduled (liner) service. Used to be that Delta Lines, Moore McCormack Lines and Lykes Lines had liner runs down there.. Not anymore.. Davygravy3 is talking about Liberty Maritime.. They may run down there but they are more of a “tramp” outfit so they don’t have a scheduled run to South America. You might try Crowley.. They may have a liner service to the east coast of S.A. and the Caribbean. Check them out on the web. </p>
<p>I currently sail as Master with a west coast company and have been sailing for 32 years, so if you want the straight scoop, PM me with any questions you have. I think I might be able to help you out. DD1</p>