Training Time!
I have signed up for school at the union hall.
I plan to take an Electronic Charting course to aid my knowledge in ECDIS, the computerized system of navigation. Known formally as the acronym, ECDIS, which stands for Electronic Charting and Display Information System, most all ships use a form of ECDIS in order to calculate and monitor its intended course along a track line and ultimately, a route. Since I use this system on a daily basis, while on board a ship, I have a vague idea on its usage. However, I have not taken a course to entirely educate myself on all its functions. This great tool will be paramount if I am to promote to Second Mate status.
The Union hall is located in Dania Beach, Florida and will be the venue for the course and also provide on site housing while I am visiting. American Maritime Officers Union (AMO) is an elaborate infrastructure encompassing simulators, workshops, and technical support for anything maritime related intended for its members and those seeking particular training for industry purposes. The premises is one of the largest maritime instruction facilities within the country and offers courses to the commercial maritime sector, as well. Many companies throughout the united states utilize the services found at AMO in order to train and evaluate their individuals.
Florida will be a blessed departure from the bone chilling arctic blast currently sweeping the northern Midwest. The weather was last reported to be colder than normal, in Southern Florida, but nothing like the seasonal temperatures typical of this time of year in Michigan. Consider the time spent in FLA like enjoying a new reality video arcade game intended for work.
Have a great day!
4 Responses to “Training Time!”
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Hello. My husband is a merchant marine. We are happily married with 3 wonderful children. Periodically, I have searched for a webpage in support of merchant wives with not much success. I have found sites for military-navy wives but not for merchant wives. I ran into this web page tonight..nice pictures. Do you happen to know of any website for the wives? Thanks
Mrs. Marinerwife-
This is a particularly boggling question to answer. In fact, you are not the first to pose such a question. Many of the mariners who venture out to sea, network between others who live in close proximity of them. Never actually finding a website of mariner wives, I cannot be certain there is such a site or organization for wives to seek others who share similar experiences. All I can say, at this point is finding places, venues where other merchant mariners gather. I am actually heading to the union hall training facility where family members are welcomed and many of the mariners bring not only wives, or husbands, but their children, as well. You didn’t indicate if your husband belongs to a union.
Best wishes-
Nate
Hi, I am an AB in the merchant marine, and my wife actually found this site. We have had the same problem, trying to find some kind of support for the families of merchant sailors. There is so much for the navy, but none for us.
My wife actually started one a while ago, but we had to move across state and it kind of fell by the wayside. She is starting it back up again however, and when it is running, we will let you know.
Please do share once you have the site up and running. As I told the mariner wife, this is not an area I am familiar with, except there are not a lot of support for the merchant marines- as much as for services such as Navy or Marine Corps.
I will try and search boatnerd.com and possibly pick at the founder’s mind- Frank, who might know of a network of people who solely keep in touch.
My wife has her own non-merchant marine friends who she keeps as support while I am gone, but not too many people understand hers or my lifestyle.
I am going to possibly change up this website to include posts from others in the near future.
So stay tuned. This may happen by Summertime.
Thanks for stopping by, myxxplyxx
-Nate