Booty22 said:
I've got a few questions to ask.
While performing any work in an area that is considered a "Confined Space" do you have to fill out Confined Space permits?
While performing any hot work, Do you need to get a hot work permit?
What class of ship, is the one I'll most likely to be posted to?
What are the Mar Eng Mechs shifts like? (on a regular day without any equipment failing)
Who ever answers these! Could you please tell me what makes this job exciting for you?
Are you still happy with your job?
is there anything that you hate about it (except for the high temps and noise) ?
Thanks for your invaluable info in advance
In answer to these questions, as best I can:
1. Yes, you still follow Confined Space Entry Rules. The Navy (and Airforce and Army) uses General Safety Standards and in the case of the Navy, ship class specific Safety and Environmental Management Systems which are derived from Canada Labour Code Part II directives. The rules are the same.
2. Same holds true for hot work but there are actually more restrictions due to armaments and fuel storage.
3. To say what class of ship is very difficult. Because we have more frigates, odds say you will go there but don't quote me. If you have done your homework and have a specific class in mind, you
"might" be able to request while on QL3 in Esquimalt.
4. Stokers generally stand a one in three rotation (one on, two off, one on two off....) as follows:
Mids 0000-0400;
Morn 0400-0800;
Fnoon 0800-1200;
Anoon 1200-1600;
Fdog 1600-1800;
LDog 1800-2000; and
First 2000-0000.
'dog' watches are split to accommodate the supper hour. Cleaning stations occur from 0800-0930 and 1800-1900. Evening cleaning stations are followed by reporting rounds. With no break downs and no training (that will NEVER happen by the way!), based on the above, you work a 70-75 hour work week. (As does, by the way, everyone else on board)
5. What makes it exciting is essentially answered by the question "What excites you". The hours are generally long which is the norm except that your work environment is generally hot, dirty and hazardous. Picture climbing into a diesel enclosure (the size of a one car garage) 30 minutes after the engine has been shut down after running the last 5 days at moderate to full powers to fix a leak on an oil cooler....or climbing down beneath the main shafts to replace a hydraulic filter on the pitch system. I have to say though, there is nothing like the feeling of power at your finger tips when you conduct a manual start of a General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine. At full power, each of these generate 24,600 hp and when both are driving the ship through the water at 50 km/hr, they are burning 10,000 litres/hr of fuel-that equates to approx 11" travelled for every litre of fuel burnt!
Finally, as a CO once told me, when a stoker reaches what I believe to be the pinnacle of his/her career as a PO2/PO1 Engineering Officer of the Watch, he/she is the ONLY person on board who can bring the ship stopped dead in the water without the CO's permission!
6. I was ecstatic with my job right up until 1000 on 15 Nov 2010-That is when I was promoted to CPO1, right out of the trade!
7. I did not hate the high temps and noise. I hated extremely rough seas but not for the reason that may come to your mind at first. I get pissed off when you can't sleep because you are being thrown around, when you chase the water around the shower stall, when your food is all over the place and when you can't even sit in a chair on watch without something breaking away and flying toward you. I have been hit by broken away cabinets, fire extinguishers, toolboxes, chairs, a coffee machine (not the counter-top kind), a computer monitor and of course, several co-workers. I have permanent scars from burns everywhere, the most prominent on the right side of my face where an invisible jet of superheated steam melted my glasses to the side of my face back in 1988. Most of what I did not enjoy (You shouldn't hate anything) was the non-trade stuff. That said, it was all part of the experience and as I have stated in other threads, I would not trade my experiences for anything and if given the opportunity, would do it all, the same, all over again.
Hopefully that answers yours and maybe others' questions. The Navy (the CF as a whole) will be going through some major transformations in the coming years, not only with the acquisition of new equipment all-around but also with the way we conduct business and the type of operations we are going to be involved in. It will be exciting no doubt but I have to say, my time is ramping down-my head is full. Exactly when, I do not know but I will turn over the watch in due course for the more energetic to take over.
