Introduction:
This policy applies to all cadets undertaking full time college study as part of their officer training programme, whose training is managed by the SSTG.
Prior to commencement of training, you will be required to purchase the required items of uniform and work clothing, and these must be taken with you for the start of the first college module.
Where the sponsoring or employing company have not already directly supplied any of the required items or previously contributed towards the cost, a payment of £ 150.00 will be issued to you as a contribution towards the costs incurred in this respect. This payment will be made during the first 2 weeks of Phase 1 of your training.
((At the commencement of training you will be issued with a set of cadet epaulettes stripes, and an SSTG or company tie for use during college phases.))
The blazer may be worn with a company, MN or SSTG tie and a company or MN blazer badge as appropriate.
Officer Trainees are subsequently responsible for the further upkeep and replacement of their uniform and clothing items. It must be kept for use in subsequent college modules.
You will be required to wear the above items whilst at the college at specified times as directed by the college staff.
You will be required to meet an acceptable standard of dress as befitting an officer under training at all other times.
Specific safety equipment required for practical work during college lessons or whilst on board ship will be supplied to you. It is your responsibility to provide sufficient work clothing such as jeans, working shirts, and warm outer-clothing for working on board ship.
For your information, details are provided below of a specialist Merchant Navy uniform outfitter, although it should be noted that more competitive prices can often be found by shopping around and there is no particular requirement for the items to be purchased through any particular establishment:
Uniform Supplier:
Tower Supplies: www.towersupplies.com
T: 01202 718 000: 3 Yarrow Road, POOLE, Dorset, BH12 4TS.
Note: It is not compulsory that you use this suppler, except for the limited examples where companies require you to obtain certain branded items. In all other cases, you can sometimes find similar items by shopping around and these can occasionally be sourced at a cheaper cost.
College Requirements:
| FLE | GLA | SMA | SOU | WAR | |
| Plain White Shirt or Blouse (with shoulder straps for epaulettes). | Ö | Ö | Ö | ||
| Plain Black Trousers or Skirt. | Ö | Ö | |||
| Plain Grey, Navy or Black trousers or skirt. Skirt must be knee length. | Ö | ||||
| Navy blue RN or NATO style pullover. May be crew or “V” neck Plain White Shirt or Blouse (with shoulder straps for epaulettes). | Ö | Ö | |||
| Navy Blue or Black blazer, with sponsoring Companies or MN blazer badge. A plain navy blue uniform sweater or other company uniform, with the sponsoring companies agreement. | Ö | ||||
| Black socks. | |||||
| Black uniform Shoes. Female cadets may ware court shoes or similar with a maximum heel height of 5cm. | Ö | Ö | Ö | ||
| Company, MN, SSTG or Black Tie. | Ö | Ö | Ö | ||
| Boiler suit: White or in a colour supplied by your sponsoring company. Suits must have a means of fastening up to the neck, with long sleeves with cuffs that are not too free. | Ö | Ö | |||
| Safety shoes of an approved type e.g. BS/8070/953, ES DIN/4843 or BSS 1870, | Ö | Ö | |||
| Navy blue or black waterproof jacket. | Ö | ||||
| Swimsuit and swimming towel. | Ö | ||||
FLE
I can confirm that we expect students to wear a Merchant Navy uniform of white shirt with cadet rank epaulettes, black or company tie, black trousers (not jeans), black socks, black uniform shoes (not trainers or high heels). In cool weather a navy blue pullover with epaulettes or navy blue blazer may also be worn. Female officer trainees may wear modest navy or black skirts instead of trousers if they wish.