Your First Ship as Deck Cadet: What Nobody Tells You Before You Join

Quick Answer

Your first ship as a deck cadet will be harder than training. You will face exhaustion, strict seniors, unfamiliar machinery, and isolation. This is normal. Your job is to learn, keep a detailed logbook, never fake a task completion, and ask questions through the right channels.

You passed your pre-sea course. You got your STCW certifications. You signed your first contract. You stepped onto the gangway.

And then the ship moved. And you realised nothing prepared you for this.

That is normal. That is the gap that exists between every maritime training programme and actual shipboard life. This guide exists to close that gap a little before you step onto that gangway.

The First Week

Disorientation is guaranteed. The ship is bigger than you expected. The machinery is louder. The schedule is rigid. The Chief Officer expects you to know where everything is on day two. You do not know where anything is on day two.

What to do in week one:

Walk every deck, every space, with a notebook. Draw rough sketches. Know the layout.
Introduce yourself to every officer and department head — briefly, professionally
Read the Safety Management System (SMS) documents relevant to your watch duties
Find out your muster station and emergency role before anything else

You will be given tasks before you feel ready. This is intentional. Ships do not have a grace period.

The Hierarchy Reality

The deck officer hierarchy is strict. Master > Chief Officer > 2nd Officer > 3rd Officer > Cadets.

What this means in practice: your opinion, unless specifically asked for, is not relevant in the first months. Your job is to observe, complete assigned tasks properly, and learn from watching people who have been doing this longer than you.

This is not the same as being treated badly. Having high standards set for you is a training tool. Being shouted at for mistakes and being corrected firmly are different from harassment.

Know the difference. If you are being given tasks, taught, and held accountable — that is training. If you are being humiliated, made to feel worthless, or put in situations that are unsafe with no guidance — that is something else, and it is not acceptable.

Your Training Record Book (TRB)

Your TRB is your most important document on this ship. It tracks every competency task you complete during your sea service. These signed-off competencies are what enable your eventual CoC application.

Never. Ever. Sign off a task you did not complete.

The temptation is real. A senior officer wants you to sign that you completed fire pump operation drills when you were pulled to another task. Signing it feels like the easy way to keep the peace.

If discovered during a flag state inspection or MMD audit, task falsification can cost you your CDC, your CoC eligibility, and your career. The consequences are lifelong.

Complete the task or be honest that it was not completed. Get the opportunity to complete it properly.

Common Onboard Pain Points for First-Time Cadets

Fatigue: Watch schedules plus training tasks plus maintenance duties mean sleep deprivation is real. Manage it. Communicate when fatigue is affecting your safety.

Isolation: You are far from home, in a floating steel box, surrounded by people you just met. This is psychologically hard. Acknowledge it. Build small connections onboard. Write letters home or voice notes when connectivity allows.

Language barriers: On international vessels, crew from multiple nationalities work together. Communication challenges are real. Patience, patience, patience.

Food and health: Eat properly. Your physical condition affects your mental resilience. Maritime medicine is limited — take basic health seriously.

Asking questions: Ask questions, but do it strategically. Know when a senior is available and receptive. Ask specific questions, not vague ones. “What is the procedure for testing the emergency fire pump?” — good question. “Can you explain everything about fire systems?” — wrong question at the wrong time.

When It Gets Too Hard

If you are struggling to the point where you cannot function — not just finding it challenging, but genuinely breaking — reach out.

Talk to the ship’s Master. Captains have seen this before. A good Master wants to know.
Contact your company’s crew welfare officer or HR department
Reach out to SailorGPT at sailorsuccess.online/sailorgpt — it is there for this
Contact ISWAN’s International Helpline — available in multiple languages

Struggling onboard is not weakness. Staying silent until you break is.

The first ship shapes the rest of your career. Show up properly. Learn everything you can. Ask questions. Keep your TRB honest. The rest builds from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bullying common on ships for deck cadets?

Senior-junior hierarchy is strict onboard and some cadets face harsh treatment. This ranges from demanding standards (legitimate) to actual harassment (not acceptable). Document incidents, reach out to the Master or DGS if harassment crosses a line.

What should a deck cadet do if they feel overwhelmed on their first ship?

First: you are not alone. This is extremely common. Talk to someone — another cadet, a trusted officer, or reach out to SailorGPT or ISWAN. Do not suffer silently. Documented mental health support is a right under MLC 2006.

How important is the training record book (TRB) for a deck cadet?

Critical. Your TRB documents every competency task completed onboard and is required for your CoC application. Never sign off a task without genuinely completing it — falsification has serious legal consequences.

How much does a deck cadet earn on their first ship?

Deck cadet stipend typically ranges from ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 per month depending on the company and vessel type. Some companies also provide food and accommodation onboard at no cost.

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