From: "British Harrier - 3rd Officer" To: "Paul Bird(MNC Website)" Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 9:17 PM Subject: MNC Website. Hello Paul, Got your email via Bill Northrop at BP. I would be delighted to be entered on the MNC website, however I feel that the info I supplied to the WEBSHIP could do with some editing. I spent three memorable years at MNC and met some wonderful people, both Staff & Students, I was fortunate enough to attend the closing ceremony, nice to see some old faces - but a sad event. Most people (Lecturers & Students) will probably remember me as "Zed" (a name I was christened with at MNC) rather than Andy Zawirski, I wonder whether it will be possible to list me as such. I think I only ever used my proper name on exam papers! I don't think the Webship info is entirely appropriate in its present form, so here's some more relevant info: Attended MNC 1982-1985, successfully finished the Electronics & Comms Eng. HNC together with MRGC & Radar Mt'ce Cert. Awarded SERT(now also non-existant)best student award 1985. Joined EB Communications of Croydon in approx sept 1985 and after a quick 4 week trip as Jnr RO, was despatched by EB to serve on mainly Dutch vessels. I took a year out in around 1988 and did 6 months with Tektronix as a Service Engineer which I did not find suitable. I then worked for Arcaid Computer Systems for 6 months but returned to EB Comms when the mortgage rates went through the roof. After a couple of trips I applied for a REO position with Shell and joined my first Shell ship in early 91. With the greatly improved leave ratio compared to freelancing I realised I was happiest at sea career wise. I realised the demise of the RO was fast approaching reality and felt I could make a go of the Deck side of the job - unfortunately Shell did not agree and steered all their RO's down the ETO route which involved getting a Combined (Motor/Steam)Class IV Engine ticket. I succeded in gaining the Class IV in 95. I left Shell in the mass exodus in 97 when Shell's experiment with reducing salaries & conditions badly backfired. I was fortunate enough with the help of Capt Colin Chandler at SSTG Rochester to get a Deck Traineeship with ARC Marine of Southampton, and with a correspondance course from National Sea Training Centre at Gravesend I completed my NVQ III Deck OOW course and passed my Orals first time in Dec 98. I joined BP in Feb 99 and hope to be attending Fleetwood Nautical College for Mates/Masters course in Jan 2002. I have been living in both Poland & UK since around 1992, since marrying and having two children (boys aged 7 & 3) I have actually spent almost all of my leavetime in Poland. I have an Email address: but since I spend 4 months at a time at sea, I only access it during leave periods. Anyone is welcome to get in touch. Please feel free to use any/all of the above on the website and if you have need to contact me further please do not hesitate. It's so easy to lose touch with people - it will be nice if some get back in touch. Best Regards Andy Zawirski