you can go for nautical studies.

there were 2 higher institutions that provide these course.

you can choose Diploma in Nautical Studies(navigation part, later on become captain)

1)Akademi Laut Malaysia(ALAM)
2)Sarawak Maritime Academy

for ALAM, juz apply like marine engineering. same application process. just that you have to choose nautical studies.

sarawak maritime academy i'm not sure how to apply. been looking around for the website. could not find it. some news i've read that they begin taking the first batch last year. not sure how to apply.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Jan 31 2009, 04:26 PM

yep! nautical studies are conducted in the main campus in Melaka.

sometime you can go shore leave(outing) at port. depends on the captain.

don't worry too much on physical. but more on mental. think about it carefully.

some people sail to escape from problem on shore.

some people sail then committed suicide bcoz mental not strong.

but sailing is relaxing laa... you just focus on work. meal are provided. what o you need to think. every month can send famly some of ur salary. help them ease their burden. help your sibling.

this field is most suitable for people with adventure mind.

________________________________________________________

let me tell all of you my personal story. well, i come from middle-class family. during my spm, i did not do well in it. only got 5A's. my bro went to egypt for medical courses under scholarship. So, i feel like i'm burdening my parents. I cannot afford going to IPTS. if i go to IPTA, i'll still need money from my parents for my living.

i was considering for actuarial science and architecture before going to ALAM. but, i got C for add math. so i don't go for actuarial science course offered to me. I also decide not to go for architecture because i heard that this course might cost a lot of money(but with creativity tis can be reduced) for model making.

so, when i was in matric. i spent only rm3 for my meal. daily... only eat twice per day to prevent myself from asking my family for money. one day. while I was praying. handphone in my pocket vibrate. i put it in a silent mode. after finish pray. i check my phone. there is a unknown number. i decide to give it a call. later on. the voices on the other line mention that they were from ALAM. they said i got the sponsorship. suddenly it stop because my phone was running out of battery. i have to borrow my friend phone.

i was asked to go for briefing from my company. it is compulsory. my father said he will pick me up. i was in matric at that time btw. after waiting. it is already 9o'clock. briefing start at 10o'clock. i wonder why my father haven't arrive yet. so i give him a call. his tyre exploded while otw to matric. so i called for taxi. in my heart was filled with anger since i'll be late for the interview. but, i soon realise that i should be grateful since god still save my father. i almost cry that time. when i arrive. it is already 10.30 am. haha. the briefing had not started yet.

and now. here i am in ALAM. studying for marine engineering.

yeah...

there is also people in my place that have harder lyf than me.

for your info. during interview. the interviewer will give good mark towards people with strong passion towards offshore job and also to people coming from hard-living family.

one more thing. if i'm not mistaken. the management once tell us that most of the student selected are the eldest son in the family or 2nd. coz they hope that we are the one to help our family.

but other people also have same chances provided that you do well in the exam. if you go just like that and doing so-so like my friend. you'll not get it. one of my friend who went on the same day for interview along with me don't get the scholarship.

fluency in english is an added advantage. basic2 also ok la. as long you can speak. no prob. haw can you work onboard ship when you can't even speak english. haha.

bring necktie along. smart haircut. since some who went for the interview have long hair(tau la baru lpas spm). i never saw them in the academy. cause they have mark for "Penampilan Diri".

I'll elaborate more if some of you got selected for the interview.



@hiddentrap

yes! you should think about it carefully. do some research. i also do some research before go. after satisfied only then i decide.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Jan 31 2009, 05:48 PM

tanx for the added info hiddentrap.

yep. we live in sea longer than on shore.

dun worry. there are many career on shore if you're tired of sailing.

for chief eng/captain, they work 8 hours a day. but actually they can come to work anytime and nobody will say anything. they're boss btw. but ethically, it is not right.

for chief eng/captain in my company, its 4 month on/4 month off. equal tym onboard and on shore. ever heard of FPSO?

almost like oil rig/platform. but they also need marine guy. you work 2month on/2month off. some even 2 weeks on/2weeks off.

some companies even promoted you to manager level if you performed well and loyal with them. manager only do shore based work.

i will elaborate more later on about shore based career for those who are tired of sailing.

yup. job might be easier. but heavier responsibilities.

hard to get onboard merchant ship as passenger nowadays. because of strict company policy.

haha. at first my mom also discourage me to enter this course. but i manage to "pujuk" her. then she calm down. and she said it's my choice. i tell her. this might be my only chance to get scholarship. i'm not doing well with my academic. so might not get this chance anymore. moreover, i always wanted a job that promise me big bucks so can help ma family.

i also wanted to attract many young generation into this industry because we have many shipping companies in malaysia. but most of the men working onboard are foreigner. this is a opportunities for malaysian.

another factor that cause lack of malaysian in the maritime industry is because lack of exposure given to us. i never know anything about alam until i finish my spm. that is when i come across my senior friendster profile. i saw his college. so i ask his phone num and call him to ask more about it. after getting much info. i receive my spm result around march. while reading newspaper, i saw alam advertisement. so i apply for it. hoho.

no need. once you're admitted into alam, all of necessary item such as international passport and seaman card will be handled by them. company will pay for you. no need to use ur own money.


actually. in ALAM, i'm not sure about racism in alam lyf. coz in my batch, no racism is going on.

but it is a lie if I said there is no racism. there is. but not malay fight chinese or indian.

it's a racism against foreigner. those coming from outside malaysia. because, they the one who caused problem. and the whole batch will get the punishment for the prob they caused.

but it'll be reduced once they can cope with our tradition. coz they're not used to it. and we'll also cope with them.

among malaysian, there is no racism going on as far as i know.


yep! lyf onboard cruise is much more comfortable. but more tiring as more thing need to be maintained. but i think i'll opt to cruise if i've given a chance. everyday live in hotel.


hoho. dun worry. because onboard merchant ship(i'll use oil tanker as an example). il tanker is one of the biggest ship in the ocean. guess what. the crew onboard normally only 27 people in the whole ship. haha.

for the deck side, they'll drive/navigate the ship.

for the engine side, we will monitor the engine room and carry out maintenance if anything go wrong.

when not in working tym, either sleep, playing snooker, online, swimming, karaoke, watching tv(or dvd), playing computer games, fishing and many more that you can think of. haha.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 2 2009, 08:50 PM

ask them. whether the seaman license they ask is COC or seaman card.

for the seaman card & discharge book, you can do it at the Marine Department.

but i think it is a seaman card. better give the company a call again and ask about it.

errr...

right now, there is no company sponsoring for electrical officer.

you can try MISC, GMV, Bumi Armada, AET, Alam Maritim, Tanker Pasific n many more.

call them and ask if there is any vacancy for Electrical Officer.

if they have, ask for the requirement.

btw, here is the document you needed if you want to work onboard/sailing on merchant ship as worker..

Required:

Seaman Card and Discharge Book: can get from Malaysia Marine Department.

International Passport : Immigration

Modular certs : from institution providing these course. for example ALAM.
ask the company whether they can sponsor you for this courses. since it is very expensive.

---

Added on February 2, 2009, 11:55 pmbtw, i think i forgot to mention that you don't have to pay income tax.

haha.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 2 2009, 11:55 PM

I'm not sure. since all are being handled by ALAM. mybe you can give marine department(mardep) a call and ask about it. i think less than rm200.



yep! that's why some people escape to this career to relax. we have different life than shore based work. even more relaxing. just work then relax. food also provided. some ship organize party on weekend. depends on captain. if you're going on oil tanker, you can also play futsal.

salary is tax free. hoho. njoy the full power of your salary once you're on shore. haha.

but my advise, better save a little bit of money. for future investment.

---

Added on February 4, 2009, 4:39 amopppsss!

seem i missed some of marsiano question.

ok. the selection process is equal in number. just for the felda/jpa might be more malay.

sponsorship from companies such as misc and aet carries equal number.

but you might find out that you'll see more malay and indian. and less chinese. this is because, not many chinese apply for it. it is true. during interview process, i can only see 3-5 chinese among 50 other candidate.

but no worry. during the induction program, you'll get to see how these 3 major races get along together like we're family. the hardship we face make us realise that we should work together no matter what race.

they train us from here because later on when working onboard ship, you'll be working with people from other country, races, and religion.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 4 2009, 04:39 AM

more like body and mental torturing. it bring your body to the limit. those who cannot withstand it will quit. they don't remove who cannot perform the activities. but the pain will make you quit yourself. hoho. one week of hell.

during the induction, it's not the physical that determine you're strong or not. it's ur mental.

nope. there is one "obese" guy in DNS. he almost cannot do all the activities. but he stay until the end of the induction program. and he pass and got admitted into the program.

also, bear in mind. if you're not selected for the first intake, there might be also 2nd and 3rd intake. because, if some of the students quit during the induction program, they'll replace by calling other candidate.

my advise, do your best during the selection process.

well... it really depends on you. because it's up to your interest.

in ALAM, all student will be prepared for Class 4 Certificate of Competency. almost same like LAME license.

we have oral and written test to obtain the COC.

the written test is the diploma.
the oral will be conducted with MARDEP(marine department) after you finish.

so the program here is almost like LAME. just for the ship and not airplane.

i cannot give you final words since it might be a correct choice for you. and it might be wrong choice for you.

are you willing to go into sem 1 in ALAM? what is your age now?

but i don't think it is too late because in my batch, there are also people enter here by 21 years of ages. and as far as i know, ALAM graduate have not having any problem in securing job after grads since most are sponsored by shipping companies.

another thing need to be consider. lyf in ALAM is very2 different from politeknik. why don't you apply for marine engineering course in politeknik?

ask more in this thread if you need any more info or suggestion. so the others can also share the info.

yep!

very2 different lifestyle you'll be having. between living in land or sea.

in this case, i suggest you follow your passion. ask urself what you really want to be. i cannot give you final answer for this prob.

gudluk in making decision JohnMax. take ur time. ALAM intake is still far away. think carefully.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 4 2009, 10:45 PM

If you like travelling, then i suggest you to be seafarer. because i don't think that LAME will be able to travel worldwide. but as seafarer, everyday also travel. this week here, next week there. hoho.

haha. i also considering myself to go into aviation industry before. but failed miat interview.

after Jr.tech, will you be able to climb to LAME?

haha. no comment about this. i think both job almost same amount of salary given. just that seafarer don't have to pay the income tax. and marine engineer have wider line to join after tired of sailing. we can work as a steam engineer, boiler engineer, pump engineer, welder, fitter, electric engineer. because u'll be learning and doing most of the job of the profession i've described above when you're working onboard ship. can also become manager. because chief eng and 2nd eng they engage more in ship management. if you perform well, company can even promoted you to management level. can join oil and gas.

working on shore means you've to pay ur meal, pay ur transport to work. hoho. onboard ship, all these are provided. meaning for your salary, you'll be earning full. no cut here, cut there(ooops! forget that got EPF cut). all ur salary is in ur total control.


hoho. yep! we'll be lazy to study after working.

up to you. If you want to be in maritime industries, then you're welcome. Coz i'll be happy to see more young generation of malaysian in this field.

think carefully! later on decide. but if you want to enter alam, make sure you're not more than 21 years in ages.

Ask more if you've any more doubt towards this career. I'll be happy to assist you.

dun worry, if you miss the chance for ALAM, you can opt for Politeknik Ungku Omar. they also got marine engineering. their program is catered for sea-going marine engineering officer like alam. the differences between PUO and ALAM is that PUO take 3 and 1/2 years while in ALAM only 3 years. it is worldwide recognised like ALAM too.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 4 2009, 11:43 PM

nope! the form only will be released after SPM results are released. If i'm not mistaken, the application closed on 31st march last year. interview & written test(will be conducted on the same day. some interview 1st, then written test) around mid Apr-May.

first intake should be around Jun-July. hoho. I manage to study in matric for one month and rest for 2 weeks before entering ALAM.

for the interview,

1st: Introduce yourself.
2nd: why you choose this career.
3rd: Who introduced/wanted you to be in this career.
4th: Who is MISC top people.
5th: how many vessel MISC have?(can be any question regarding MISC ship)
6th: Are you willing to sail for months and leaving ur family.
7th: what will you contribute towards this industry.
8th: what do you expect in 10 years to come?

and other basic question. hoho! that is what I can remember. hoho. i'll post more later on if I remember.


for the written test, i covers 3 subjects you learn during spm. 20 question for each subject. together, there is 60 question total. need to answer in one hour if i'm not mistaken. all objective. make sure you bring along calculator and stationaries.

English, Physic, Math(with AddMath).

It is random topic for each subject. so just study all. but not too deep since just basic or introductory question for topic selected for each subject.

hoho. this is what i can remember by now.

---

Added on February 5, 2009, 12:38 amALAM is owned by MISC which is a subsidiary of Petronas.

hrmmm.... don't know any lecturer by that name. maybe she's in main campus(DNS).

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 5 2009, 12:38 AM

haha. we only get rm200 allowance every month.

but that rm200 is for ur spending/enjoy. since food are provided. once a week get to eat western. meal also quite nice. the quality have improved.

It would be bad if you look offshore on the negative side.

If you look on the bright side, it'll be ok. Imagine, no need to pay for ur meal. going to work no jam, no transport needed thus no money spent on fuel when working onboard ship. when not working can do anything you want. peaceful environment if u don't cause any prob. air-conditioned accommodation(one room for one person for officer). cheap cigarette(no tax for cigarette. around rm3 for marlboro 20's) but encourage you not to smoke. live a healthy lyf.

in ship, at the galley(dining hall) the place one fridge. inside the fridge, there are many ice-cream(mostly cornetto for malaysian ship). you can eat as much as you want. one of my senior said he have no craving for ice-cream for 1 month after coming back from shipboard training. hoho!

many more. haha!

---

Added on February 5, 2009, 3:10 amAdded. min salary(inclusive allowance) for malaysian crew by some shipping company. PM me for company name. get in USD, then spend in malaysia. haha! this figure is for FPSO. no income tax!
2month on/2month off


*harap boleh bagi bayangan kepada yang masih tertanya-tanya.



my advice, don't choose this career because of the $$. this is just for motivation towards aspiring seafarer. if you choose this career because of money, later on you'll regret it coz this thing involved the changing of ur lifestyle.

but, money also might be the factor you choose this career. rather than being jobless and the commit crime such as robbery. better become seafarer la. duit halal. legal money.

This post has been edited by destroyer: Feb 5 2009, 03:52 AM

ok. right now i can only tell you the subject i learned for 1st sem. since i cannot remember the subject i'm going to learn in sem 2 and afterwards.

sem 1 subjects.

Applied Mechanic (3credit hour)
Electrotechnology (3credit hour)
Mathematics (3credit hour)
Thermodynamics (3credit hour)
English (2credit hour)
Engineering Material (1credit hour)
Engineering Workshop Practice (1credit hour)
Laboratory (1credit hour)
Workshop (6credit hour)

for workshop, in one sem, you'll learn 2 workshop skill. either combination of welding+maintenance or bench-fitting+lathe machine. sem 2 also got workshop. and you'll learn the other combo. hoho!


This is the timeline for ur study.

Sem 1 and Sem 2: in ALAM campus.

Sem 3 and Sem 4: practical onboard ship(9-11 month)

Sem 5 and Sem 6: in ALAM campus



Facilities(for terengganu campus).

1) Accommodation until finish study. Students are required to stay inside the hostel. stay in dorm. largest room can occupy 36 person. smallest only 12 person.

2) Galley(dining hall). food provided. 4 times a day(breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper)

3) Workshop(4 of them). for maintenance and bench fitting we'll use our own facilities. for welding and lathe machine, we'll use INSTEP facilities. out own workshop are still under construction.

4) Air-conditioned classroom.

5) we share library with INSTEP. we have our own books, just that we don't have the building yet. can online in library or go to cyber cafe near our accommodation. rm2 per hour.

6) sport facilities. football, basketball, volleyball, badminton.


Activities.

Daily routines(weekdays)

0530: waky-waky, Subuh prayer.
0600: Physical Training
0630-0730: breakfast, prepare urself.
0730-0800: colors(morning assembly)
0800-1000: class
1000-1030: break
1030-1230: class
1230-1400: lunch break+zohor prayer
1400-1600: class
1600-1700: class end+break+asar prayer
1700-1800: sports(you can play anything you want.
1830-2000: Dinner+maghrib prayer
2000-2200: prep
2200-2230: supper
2230-2245: roll call or room inspection
2300:pipe down.

weekends

free activity. sometime warden ask to do gotong-royong.


__________________________________________

my suggestion, if want better facilities, better go to Politeknik Ungku Omar. they have better teaching facilities. but the problem is, if you're unable to secure a scholarship, it'll be costly to attend ur modular courses. and their course is 3 1/2 years while in ALAM 3 years. but if you want better lyf better go poli. hoho. save money, go ALAM.