The most exciting part of the contract where every seafarer is looking forward to is when they will finally disembark on a vessel. Having been finished the contract, the feeling of finally escaping one of the most stressful jobs on earth. It’s like no other.
Once landed at the home airport, uncertainties will cover up behind us. We hope that our planned month for the next embarkation will be the same as that of the crewing manager’s plans. We hope to have a clearer picture on how or how long our vacation would be. However, not everyone is blessed enough to have that option. In some way, the crewing manager will give us a line up longer than expected. This is a worrisome situation to have.
This is the best time to activate plan B. No questions asked. If it could mean looking for a new company or agreeing to serve a lower position with a condition to get back to original position once available. This type of negotiation should be done if you do not want to stress yourself to transfer to another agency. If you want to transfer, exit professionally and explain your side. I am sure your agency will understand your ground.
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If you do not have plan B, you’ll most likely to be short on your vacation budget, compromising all your bills, amortization, household expenses, etc. Thus, this will push you to be in debt. I assume that you already have budgeted your final paycheck to the number of months you will be in vacation so you must look for a schedule based on that budget.
A much more painful situation is when a company will not shoulder the training that you have to take. This is a big burden yet again for seafarers. A helpful wife or a business with a steady income will greatly matter on this.
Right before disembarkation, we should have a plan B if everything we hoped for will not materialize. Think of the severe consequences if you do not have a plan B when this happen. Higher licensed seafarers can’t always escape uncertainties just like lower ranking crew. So better off, everyone should be prepared for life’s surprises, for again, we are just contractual workers, our next contract will and will never be a guarantee.