I worked for them for 5 years, with 2 contracts on handymax vessels and 5 on capes. In the end, they let me go without any reason. Since then, I have been cautious about them. They only care about you while you are useful, and you shouldn't expect long-term relationships. Sometimes, a mechanic can say something negative about you, and you end up in trouble. Unfortunately, we are just used as fillers for positions they don't want to fill with their own crew.
I worked with Fleet Management LTD when I urgently needed a job. However, the experience was not great. A Vietnamese master replaced the previous one, and it turned out he liked to speed. Overall, it's a company to turn to only when you need work urgently, but nothing more than that.
I do not recommend working with these ships. They may look new, but they have been in operation for six months and still lack supplies and crew. You will work like a slave in the galley for 14 hours a day. The crew is a mix of our people, Indians, and Filipinos.
I spoke with a clerk from Fleet Management LTD today. They mentioned that visas are required because the ship is in Korea, but we were there at the beginning of September, which indicates that no one is actually handling the crew changes. I agreed to a one-month contract with an additional bonus, so I consider it beneficial for myself.
I worked my last contract as chief on a ship managed by Fleet Management. Instead of my planned 4 months, I ended up staying for 7. I followed the proper notice procedures, but they kept extending my contract without my consent. When I refused to sign an extension, they stopped responding to my calls and messages. Eventually, I had to deal with port state control, which led to a last-minute extension just to get to Rotterdam. The management treats crew members poorly, and I feel like they see us as expendable. They continue to offer me work, but with such poor conditions, I would only consider it if the pay was significantly higher.
I have encountered situations where crew members felt uncomfortable refusing to perform their duties, but nothing serious happened as a result. Once the contract ended, so did the employment obligations, and there was no need to worry about future career prospects with this company. Most of the crew would not respect someone who refuses to work under such circumstances. I have been in a similar situation myself, and I can assure you that nothing will happen if you choose not to comply. Wishing everyone well.
I worked with Fleet Management LTD and had a very negative experience. The crew was unprofessional, with incidents of fighting and not showing up for watch. I left after 3.5 months of daily correspondence, while some crew members had been on board for a year. They claimed charter requirements prevented crew changes, which I found to be untrue. I also faced issues with crew replacements, as the replacements offered were not qualified. Overall, it was a frustrating experience.