Frequently asked questions(FAQ)

 

General

We are located at Yacht Haven Marina on Phuket Island in the southern part of Thailand. Our training facilities and student residence overlook the marina and have stunning views of Phang Nga Bay. We located are ten minutes away from Phuket International airport and about 40 minutes by car from Phuket town.
We are the only school in Asia with MCA accreditation from the UK government and also a registered school with the Ministry of Education in Thailand to deliver maritime training courses. We make sure all our students feel comfortable and we provide accommodation, meals, transportation, training materials, and introduce you to the lifestyle on board. Our instructors, facilities and training standards are quite outstanding.

STCW stands for: “Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers”, which was ratified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1995.

The basic entry level certification is abbreviated within the industry to STCW 2010 and comprises five modules:

  • Personal Survival Techniques (PST).
  • Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF).
  • Elementary First Aid (EFA).
  • Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR).
  • Ship Security and Awareness (SCA).

The course will take 5.5-days to complete. All modules must be completed to obtain the MCA certification.

Any previous certificates you have, e.g. First Aid, will not be credited towards STCW 2010. STCW 2010 certification is required under international maritime law for all crew working on board vessels of 24 meters length or more.

Galileo’s entry level course for steward/stewardess and deckhands is a 15 day course including STCW. Three days are spent in practical learning on board – one full day on a superyacht learning all about interior and exterior work, one day out at sea on board Galileo’s training yacht learning about basic navigation and seamanship and another full day at sea on Galileo’s tender/speedboat learning all about driving and handling a fast tender/ rescue craft.

You need a seafarer medical certificate (ENG1) if you are:

  • In charge of a ship, e.g. ship’s captain.
  • Serving on a merchant ship.
  • A seafarer.

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) states: A seafarer is any person, including a master, who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship and whose normal place of work is on a ship.

Any seafarer on board a ship must have an ENG1 (or equivalent) to work on a merchant vessel, or for any UK Certificate of Competency (CoC).

You may visit UK government website, please see the link below. There is a list of al approved doctors who can issue ENG1 medical certificate.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mca-approved-doctors-overseas

Galileo Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) training is carried out to the highest international standard of realism and safety.

We have our own specially designed Model Fire Ship, built to MCA/MNTB and IMO specification, that truly replicates real fire at sea and rescue situations. Only small teams enter the Model Fire Ship under close monitoring by our instructors and health and safety officers.

The protective clothing and SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), which you will wear, are top quality UK/USA made fire-fighting outfits and all live fire experiences are closely controlled under strict expert supervision.

A few things:

  • Ensure your Resume is professionally written, maximum of two pages, detailing your superyacht related knowledge, skills and experience, and is up to date.
  • Ensure your photograph is a professional reflection of you.
  • Ensure your statement of career objectives is professional, concise and honest.
  • Ensure you follow the instructions in a Job Ad exactly. If they ask you to send your certificates, send them, If they ask for references, get some. Send them. By following the instructions in a Job ad you have demonstrated you can follow direction. Something very important on a Yacht, especially at sea, especially in a safety / disaster / rescue situation. This helps a Captain/hiring party weed out people very quickly. Stay in the resume pile by following directions.

No, not guaranteed, because each employment decision is made by the Owner, HR and / or Captain of the vessel, however, it is likely Galileo can assist you to secure a position quite quickly.

Galileo Recruitment is the sister division of Galileo, which:

  • Refers and recommends Galileo graduates to recruitment specialists who want to recruit enthusiastic Galileo certified crew members.
  • Assists the maritime industry to recruit crew members with the requisite experience, enthusiasm, commitment and personality to harmoniously work on their vessels.
  • Whilst Galileo Recruitment cannot guarantee finding a position for applicants, our track record is very good, due to our reputation and network in the maritime industry.

This is not an easy question to answer. The industry is always looking for crew and in many instances it is about being in the right place at the right time. There are many factors that contribute to your “place-ability” and consequently the time it will take to find a position. The best thing to do is to be well presented on paper and in person and stay in touch with Galileo.

First impressions are paramount, it is important to make a very positive and lasting impression:

  • Make sure to arrive on time, dress in professional superyacht attire and be immaculately presented.
  • Bring copies of your resume, licenses and references.
  • Please don’t chew gum, smell of cigarettes or wear excessive jewellery.
  • Turn off your cell phone and try to keep your tattoos hidden.
  • Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and make eye contact.
  • Speak with confidence and be honest about your experience and ability.
  • Be clear about your career objectives and how they apply to your career path.
  • Stress positives, avoid negatives.
  • Keep your questions focused on the job and its requirements – not the benefits.

Salary guidelines are based on industry experience, licensing and longevity.

Entry level candidates can expect to be at the lower end of the salary scale. If your salary expectations are unreasonable most employers will disregard you. It is in your best interest to request a competitive, realistic salary and be placed. The good news is that your salary will undoubtedly improve as you gain experience in the industry. Generally, salaries in this industry are much higher than in other hospitality jobs, such as in hotels and airlines.

Cruise ship personnel have many skills that transfer to the superyacht industry, though it is important to remember that it is not the same industry. Superyacht crew tend to work longer hours and have more extensive job descriptions with less time off. Housekeeping and Chef skills are easily transferable and such candidates are regularly placed in the superyacht industry.

However, the move to the superyacht industry may require even experienced cruise ship personnel to compromise their hierarchal status and prove they are an integral crew member before moving up the ranks.

The standards of excellence required in all aspects of skills and work in the superyacht industry is higher than in the cruise ship industry. Multi-tasking is always a feature of work on a superyacht, unlike work on cruise ships which is usually divided into quite specific job functions.

When moving from cruise ship to superyacht work, after graduating from a Galileo course with a sought after certification, you will have the passport to a successful entry into the superyacht industry.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a unit of United Kingdom government, works to ensure safety and security for all seafarers and to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea. The MCA produces legislation and guidance on maritime matters, and provides certification to seafarers.

In order for you to travel to or work in a foreign country, you may require a visa, depending on which country you’re from, and to which country you wish to travel.

Many yachts will ask for a B1/B2 visa with your application, for example, which is a Business/Visitor visa to enter the United States, not a working visa. If your yacht plans on traveling to the US, you may wish to read through the online application process.

This site seems to be a good source of information:  https://visaguide.world/us-visa/nonimmigrant/visitor/

If you have further questions, please talk to your Embassy or for less formal information, forward your questions to forums such as that on Dockwalk for clarification.

Please note: Canadians do not need a B1 or B2 visa in order to visit the US (only a valid passport that is not within 6 months of expiring) and you may remain in the US for up to 6 months. You should be stamped B1 or B2 upon entering the US without having to first apply for any visa. Make sure your captain knows this upon entering the US!

Another popular visa to consider is the Schengen Visa. In order to travel in 26 European countries (the Schengen Area can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area), you may require this visa.

The first thing to do is to create an industry-standard resume WITH picture! During each entry level course Galileo will work with you to ensure that you have a first class resume that will stand out to any captain and make the most of your experience and training with Galileo.

Dock walking, going to a marina or dockyard and presenting yourself to yachts as available to work as crew, is a great way to make contacts and to find a job on board. You may need to be patient until you find yourself in the right place at the right time! Leave your resume if possible and/ or contact details.

If you are dock walking, be sure you know the exact position for which you are applying. There are many websites out there which describe the positions in detail. Many guys prefer the exterior work of a deckhand and many women prefer interior or stewardess work. But many women work in the deck department and even in engineering now as men do in the interior, so go for the position you want! Ask if they have any need for dayworkers – let them know you are seeking permanent work if that’s what you want.