u/SeaDude92

Hey Entry Level family!

I like you are awaiting the 4-6 week update to move forward with MSC. I hope for good luck to all my fellow applicants, and I know a lot of you are awaiting results just as eagerly as I am! IT COULD BE ANY HOUR OR ANY DAY NOW!! That being said, let me take a second to introduce myself and my story, and I would love to hear yours!

I (34M) fell inlove with working on ships in my mid 20s when working as a sommelier for cruise ships. I loved being on the water, the crazy schedules, being busy, and occasionally going off to port and parting with all my friends with all my hard earned money. My only complaint was that I hated working in hospitality (especially the restaurant side of the business) but money was MUCH better than that of deck and engine department people. As an American working for non US-flagged ships, I never made even what an entry level mariner makes long term even at the director level. I loved the life at sea but at that time had not known or even considered MM work. In my 3ish years working cruise contracts throughout my contracts, I was able to visit 53 different countries and islands all over the world! ALL PAID FOR!

Fast forward to about 1 year ago exactly and I came across a bunch of random YouTube videos about the Merchant Marine while working as a wine director in The Maldives, and I was instantly hooked at the idea of working as a MM being my next gig.

It took me a year to get all my paperwork in order, I flew out to Guam for my medicals & TWIC, I got home in time to get my documents in order, waited for the gov shut down, and finally got everything in a few months before they reopened the Entry Level jobs.

With my TWIC, STCW, VPDSD, Passport, and MMC in hand, I’ve never been more grateful to possibly leave behind an amazing 15 year career in the wine business, a 185k annual salary, and boring life stuck at home in working just to maintain a mediocre life!

Adventure calls!

Good luck, and I’d love to hear your story! I’m hoping for deck dept!

Hey all,

Just checking in, it’s been a few months since I’ve posted. Since the start of the year Entry Level has been closed. I know since the temporary repeal of the Jones Act, due to current affairs in the Middle East, hiring is on a freeze. My question is more of a long term question. If the Jones act does get torn up, will there still be a place for MSC specifically due to its Government status?

I have all my ducks in a row to apply for Entry Level, including some bonus stuff (STCW Basic Training & VPDSD). I hope I can get in before the industry closes up 😬.