How often are merchant seamen away from home?

What do merchant navy officers do in spare time at home?

• i want to know what merchant navy officers do like when they are at home....and they say the facilities are provided to family, i want to know in what way....??? how much time do they get to stay at home??? during work when they reach to their destinations do they get time to roam and travel there??? plz do reply in detail...ty

• Answer:

  In vacation you have plenty of options to follow. You can go to some tourist destination. The company for whom you work, might require you to undergo some courses. You can finish off your personal work. For promotion you have to clear exams, so you can prepare for them. BUT, if you do not have any of the above to do, then you can party, watch TV and sleep till 12 O clock everyday. Family facilities in the sense that the top four officers can carry their family onboard, without any ticket expenses. Very few companies provide for medical insurance of your family members. If you are working on contractual basis, you can stay any period you wish to. Normally we stay at home for 4 months. Depends on the type of ship or destination, if get shore leave or not. If you sail on very big oil tankers, most of the times you cannot go ashore. If you go to some mafia infested port like nigeria, then also very few chances of going out. If you are sailing on bulk carriers, container vessels or passenger ships, you definitely get good amount of time to roam ashore. Hope, this note answers your queries.