<p>??? about banking for sea year. As they travel about the world, is Navy Federal the way to go? Mid has a Wachovia ATM Visa too but not sure that will be doable in foreign countries.</p>
<p>As long as they have a credit card that works they will be fine. Make sure to call the issuer prior to leaving to let them know they will be going to various countries which may change. If they need cash they can get an "advance" from the captain just prior to pulling into port, and sometimes they will be given some money by the officer's on the ship for working hard. </p>
<p>They will get paid at the end of each voyage, not once a month or twice a month and the end of each voyage is usually in the US. They can always be paid off in cash as well if they really want.</p>
<p>Just printed out the Sea Year Guide...all 117 pages of it!! Zowie! Are there cliff notes?</p>
<p>Shipping out, shouldn't Mids typically know their itinerary? If so, how? Internet? </p>
<p>Are ship's itinerary generally the same route?</p>
<p>Our problem: Mid is going on a Sealand Maersk ship in a few weeks. He spoke to B Splitters just coming off the same ship. They went to China. According to the itinerary on Sealand Maersk website, they do not go to China. We need to know if he needs Chinese Visa.</p>
<p>When in doubt go ahead and get the Visa. Our Mid did not have one the first time they landed in Shang Hai and was not able to get off of the ship. Fortunately, he was able to get one when the ship returned to L.A. It is better to save yourself the hassle</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are ship's itinerary generally the same route?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, if theyre line haul ships and are not tramping.. A line haul ship is one that is on a regular schedule voyage on a published set route. For instance my ship is deployed on what my company calls the GCX (Guam-China Express) run. The voyage takes 35 days and there are five ships on the GCX. So we provide a weekly call in each port on the run. Voyage length divided by seven equals the number of ships on a deployment.</p>
<p>A ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Shipping out, shouldn't Mids typically know their itinerary? If so, how? Internet?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You can check the internet or your cadet can email you the itinerary after they join. </p>
<p>Cadets should try to get a Chinese visa before joining a ship bound for the PRC. Without a visa you WILL NOT be allowed ashore, even in an emergency and that includes everything except the most dire medical emergencies. It also would include not being able to be repatriated in the event of a family emergency. There is nothing the company or the local U.S. consul can do to get a crewmember passed the PRC immigation authorities if they don't have a valid visa. Also, for those whose ships will be calling in Hong Kong, it is a special administrative region (SAR) of the PRC and has no visa requirement to go ashore.</p>
<p>All good stuff. I appreciate your expertise & advice. Very helpful. Thank you.</p>
<p>ah, just get on a tramp ship, much more fun!</p>
<p>Oh, so I've decided that something must be going on in China. I went to the NY Consulate last Thursday to get 4 Visa's for Mids going to China (I did the same thing last year); at first they did not want to give me the Visa's but after 45 minutes of begging I got the visa's issued......but...this time the visa (same ones applied for last year at a cost of $130) were only for 90 days and 2 entries, when last year for $130 the visa's were for 360 days with unlimited entires..........Go figure :)</p>
<p>Maybe last years price and flexibility had something to do with the Olympics....just a guess.</p>
<p>
[quote]
after 45 minutes of begging I got the visa's issued
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You must have got on your knees too.. Because normally once they have decided not to issue the visa no amount of begging will get them to change their minds...</p>
<p>
[quote]
this time the visa (same ones applied for last year at a cost of $130) were only for 90 days and 2 entries, when last year for $130 the visa's were for 360 days with unlimited entries..........Go figure
[/quote]
One thing I have learned in all my years dealing with PRC authorities is that they're consistent in their inconsistency </p>
<p>On my ship I provide crewmembers a letter on company stationary that they give to the consulate when they make their application. The letter has the crewmembers FULL passport name and passport number and requests for a 2 year multiple entry visa. It looks like this </p>
<p>
[quote]
To the Consulate General
Visa Section of the
Peoples Republic of China.</p>
<p>November 10th 2008</p>
<p>This is to certify that the letter holder, John Michael Doe, US passport No. XXXXXXXXX is employed as a crew member on the United States merchant vessel HAWAIIAN ENTERPRISE. Said vessels present deployment has her calling at the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai every thirty five days.</p>
<p>Please issue the letter holder a 24 month multiple entry visa in order that he may be granted shore leave while the vessel is in the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai.</p>
<pre><code> Respectfully:
_____________________
William Bligh
Master, SS HAWAIIAN ENTERPRISE
[/quote]
</code></pre>
<p>Without a letter signed by the vessel Master, chopped with the ships stamp and the application made on the correct form you will probably not be able to get more than a 90 day visa, at least not at the PRC consulate in Los Angeles.. </p>
<p>One final thing, Matson reimburses for the cost of the visa. So save your receipt and give it to the Captain. He will credit the amount (up to $130) on your pay voucher.</p>
<p>Our son was leaving today from Longbeach (I think) on APL Singapore and said that they were going to stop in San Francisco to get their visas. I hope that they can get them!</p>
<p>Deepdraft.....yes I almost got on my knees LOL</p>
<p>The odd thing is I did have a letter from matson for all 4 of the Mids which is why I was so perplexed that the visa's were not almost automatic and another reason why I was surprised that they only issued 90 day 2 entry visas. I was not about to go back and question this for fear they would revoke what I had :) My husband has a plant in China and I've never had a problem getting visa before. Guess I just went on a bad day...ugh!!</p>
<p>OldAirForce, I believe the only locations you can get Chinese Visa's are at their consulate offices in NY and LA or at the Embassy in DC, but I may be mistaken.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I believe the only locations you can get Chinese Visa's are at their consulate offices in NY and LA or at the Embassy in DC, but I may be mistaken
[/quote]
</p>
<p>FYI there are also consulates in San Francisco, Houston, Chicago. </p>
<p>The one in SF is located at:
1450 Laguna St
San Francisco, CA 94115</p>
<p>From other postings (thanks SuzanneGra), remind your engineering mids to put their stock (metal for their project) in checked baggage... but keep your sea project books in your carry-on/backpack... If the metal gets lost, you can replace it. If the backpack gets lost, it's a whol-l-l-e lot harder to replace the books. SOME TSA folks let it through, some don't. </p>
<h2>For the deckies... Yes, carry your sextant with you. It's a precision instrument that does not take kindly to the ministrations of the baggage-handling gorillas.</h2>
<p>And, as others have said, thanks for all the great advice posted so far!</p>
<p>My Engine Mid had one special request that I thought I'd pass along.
Ear Protection.. (Those hearing protection earmuff things, like the airport workers use... Looks like your parents' headphones from the 1970s).</p>
<p>We got some from Fastenal (which seems to be near every manufacturing center and port we've been to). 30db protection. Will let you guys know if they don't work out, or Mid has other suggestions. Ours was <$35. </p>
<p>On ship, they do supply those in-ear plugs. They work ok. But maybe the 'headphones' looking stuff is better, or more comfortable, or will be used in addition...</p>
<p>There is no need to buy any sort of ear protection. If you know how to properly use them, you will be sufficiently protected. Just because you put them in your ear doesn't mean they are going to work. You have to roll them up and jam them in your ear canal. I would think this is common sense, but people on this site have consistently proven me wrong.</p>
<p>Each will find their own preference for ear protection. I found that I didn't like the big ear muffs in the hot engine room and preferred carrying a few pairs of the disposable foam ones around. My friend on the other hand at school preferred the ear muffs. Stay clear of the ear muffs that also have the electronic receiver on them...from what I remember you can't use them in the engine room. Something about needing to hear alarms? Something my first chief mentioned to me. Didn't make much sense to me since they are basically ear muffs that allow you to hear when it gets quiet without taking the ear muffs off. Maybe more importantly...they're going to get banged up and probably destroyed so why pay extra for them?</p>
<p>If you are heading out this time of year where it is cold, bring your warm, but not good, parka that you will not be unhappy if grease get on it going up the gangway. Also, don't forget the gloves. Guys often forget chapstick and some kind of lotion - those Norwegian fishermen were right, it gets nasty otherwise.</p>