| Trainee/Voyage Crew |
Volunteer |
Permanent Crew | |
|
Salary |
you pay for sailing | no pay | you get paid |
| Refund of travel expenses | no | depends | normally yes |
| Accommodation | whatever you book | bunk in big cabin | 1-4 berth cabin |
| Food |
normally the same for everybody
on board |
||
| Drinks in the bar | you pay | you pay | special arrangements |
| Working hours | you are included in everything but mainly you shall have fun |
level – you still shall have fun! |
minimum 12-14 hours per day 7 days per week |
| Kind of work | mainly fun-jobs | more tricky jobs | the shit jobs |
| Responsibility | none | depends on your ability and your position | you are fully responsible for everything you do and also for that what the trainees and volunteers do under your supervision or command |
| Experience needed | none | some voyages as trainee | previous sea time as volunteer and/or maritime education |
| Necessary documents | passport | passport, personal logbook, |
passport and/or seamanbook, medical fitness cert., Basic Safety, other STCW certs as necessary for your position |
| Qualifications needed | none | depends on the position on board, normally proof of received training | full valid STCW certificates as necessary for the position you work in |
| Medical condition required | no communicable diseases, everything else depends to the ship’s rules | physically fit and able bodied | fully seaworthy as per medical fitness certificate |
| Age limits | none, though some ships have restrictions | over 16 | over 18 |
| Watch keeping | yes, if you are able, but not alone | yes, but normally also not alone | yes, with full responsibility |
| Allowed to drink alcohol | normally yes, if you are over 18 | as per SOLAS | you are expected to decide this on your own in accordance with SOLAS rules |
| Participation in drills |
Everybody on board has to take
part in the drills held. |
||
| Member fire-fighting party |
no |
yes, as assistant | yes, according to the level of training you have |
| Member of the boat squad | no | yes, as assistant | yes, according to the level of training you have |
| You are regarded on as | guest | helping hand | employee |
| You are expected to | have a great time | help the crew | do your job |
| Wearing uniform | no | sometimes crew t-shirts or alike | uniform or crew clothing at least on official occasions |
| Shore leave | you are mostly off duty in port | normally no problem though you will have to do some jobs while in port | not for granted- it can happen that you do not set a foot ashore |
However, things vary between the ships. This is just to give a short overview about working on a tall ship.