Posted by Terence McManus on April 17, 2001 at 09:14:32 from 211.99.176.34:
I've just revisited this site after some time away so have started a new thread on this one.
I don't have any hard statistics - but here are a few thoughts.
In the days when the British Merchant Marine was the largest in the world I suspect the average age of senior officers would be fairly high since for many it would be a career for life. However age-ism ruled even in the 19th century. There is a story by Conrad of a ship's master who dyed his hair since he feared losing his post if the ship's owners suspected his real age.
In Conrad's case the ages were as follows
Age
Born 1857-12-03
Went to sea ( Marseille) in 1874 16
Deckhand on first British ship 1878 20
2nd Mate 1881 23
Mate 1883 25
1st Mate 1887 29
First command as master 1888 30
Served as mate on various ships
Swallowed the anchor 1994 36
(Source Brittanica.com)
His British contempories would have a few years start over him, going to sea as apprentices in their teens and qualifying more rapidly as mates. However a man with a master's certificate might have to serve for many years as mate before getting his first command. I suspect the command would come through a combination of ability (or reputation), luck, and influence.
Most of the ex British Merchant Marine people I know left the service fairly young as the result of ships being transfered to sailing under flags of convenience with third world crews and officers. On the other hand a distant relative of mine was still commanding US flagged container ships in his late sixties.