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The RFA is barely mentioned in the britbong sticky but it's a great route into the merchant navy.
Pay during cadetship is much better in the RFA than commercial (about £1400pm), plus you get free accommodation and food (on a naval base).
Other advantage is that you basically get dual trained. You get all the normal merchant navy OOW training but also extensive royal navy warfare training (including weapon training). This is great on a CV.
Also, you'll get to work on some interesting ships, in interesting locations, doing interesting stuff. Way more shore leave than most commercial ships.
Downsides are that the pay once fully qualified is worse than commercial sector, you have to pass a security clearance and sign the official secrets act, and you need to become a "sponsored reservist" which means if an actual war breaks out you'll basically be drafted into the royal navy and subject to their requirements.
They also have opportunities for ratings (deckhands/motormen/chefs) which is a 2 year apprenticeship.
