Professional Seafaring with the Merchant Navy

Did you know that the Merchant Navy is the term used for the commercial shipping industry that carries goods and passengers around the world?

With the ocean as your backdrop and your workplace the most advanced and sophisticated ships in the world – there really is nothing to compare with life at sea.  Careers in the Merchant Navy on board commercial ships offer a unique way of life and the opportunities at sea and ashore later in their career have never been better.

Commercial Shipping is a vital national industry and even in these times of economic downturn it is an industry of the future - well managed, technologically advanced and committed to respecting the environment.  Commercial ships operate worldwide as part of an essential global business that is highly efficient, hugely competitive and offers superb career opportunities.

A career at sea can give you:

•    Worldwide travel – without the expense!
•    Degree or Higher National Certificate and Diploma qualifications - all fully sponsored
•    Early responsibility talking charge of high tech, complex, sophisticated ships, propulsion systems, computerised equipment
•    Excellent salaries – tax free when working on voyages at sea
•    Unrivalled holiday entitlements – such as work on board for one month and get one month’s leave

The Merchant Navy can provide you with all of this and much more!

Work onboard involves becoming either a Navigating (Deck) Officer an Engineer Officer or an Electro Technical Officer (ETO).  There are also some limited opportunities for support staff – known as ratings.  

Navigating (Deck) Officers are responsible for navigating the ship from port to port and the safe handling of the cargo - which could be anything from passengers to containers. Highly advanced computerised systems are available to help with the varied navigational challenges of today’s busy seaways and with ensuring that the cargo is delivered both safely and on time.

Engineer Officers are responsible for the care and maintenance of the ship - a multimillion pound floating city with its engine, machinery and complex technological systems all of which need to function well 24 hours a day 7 days a week!

ETO Officers are primarily responsible for the maintenance of the ship's intricate electro-technical equipment and computerized systems.

Trainee Merchant Navy Officers on commercial ships must complete a 3yr (approx) education and training programme at a number of world-renowned nautical colleges or universities.  This will provide professional seafaring certification that will be recognised across the globe as well as HNC, HND and degree qualifications.  And what’s more, the programmes are available at all entry levels from GCSE/ Standard Grades to A Levels/ Highers.  Graduates with relevant degrees, especially in Mechanical Engineering, may be able to follow a shorter course of study to obtain their professional Officer of the Watch certificate.

Individual shipping and training companies recruit and sponsor Trainee Officers direct and pay all tuition fees and provide a training allowance.  They also organise the ship placements for the practical training periods at sea and arrange for the trainees to join the ship - which could be in any part of the world.

There are distinct career progression routes to follow when working at sea which start on achieving the first seafaring certificate.  Extensive career development opportunities through the officer ranks mean that once initial training is completed officers can work their way to reach the highest levels of Captain or Chief Engineer by the time they are 30, with salaries in excess of £60,000.

Here are the thoughts of some of those who are already at sea!

“Our first trip took us across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal to Japan. We’d both chosen the Merchant Navy because we wanted a career that was varied and rewarding – and over this trip we both found we’d made the right decision” - Kate Allen & Karley Smith - Deck Officer Trainees

“Our ship is like a floating city, with literally dozens of different systems to support up to 1,800 passengers and 800 crew. And it is the responsibility of us engineers to ensure these systems all function perfectly. The list of systems is endless. There’s the ships propulsion and steering, electricity generation and distribution, navigation, air conditioning, lighting, security, waste, recycling and lots more. You can imagine it makes my job very varied and fascinating” -  Peter Paine - Engineering Officer

To find out more information about the Merchant Navy Career Opportunities please go to www.careersatsea.org, OR ring our Careers Information Line on 0800 085 0973.