Can I spend my career in shipping?

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 Oct 2009

While the sea might seem an attractive career choice for a young person, with good rewards, long holidays, interesting work and responsibility at a young age, reality shows that few people will spend their whole career afloat. Family ties in particular bring seafarers ashore, and many might be put off a life at sea because of the possibility that a “course change” will be necessary at some stage.
In fact, sea experience and qualifications can be an excellent pathway to a whole career in the wider maritime world, in a whole range of different occupations. The actual operation of ships is supported by a whole infrastructure of shore side occupations, which can provide a rewarding career for somebody who has a background of seafaring and appropriate qualifications. In both commercial and technical fields, in ports and ship operations, these opportunities exist and it is recommended that any ambitious ship’s officer should take notice of them, while still enjoying life afloat.
In the shipping company itself, whether in ownership or ship management, vessels will be managed and operated by operational and technical superintendents. Manpower and personnel is a specialised business, which offers opportunities. Former seafarers find themselves in senior positions in classification societies and surveying and inspection companies, while they have moved successfully into law firms, and in Protection and Indemnity insurance where they have made a major impact in accident prevention and in casualty investigation and claims. Ports and terminals employ large numbers of former seafarers in stevedoring and terminal management, in marine and engineering services and in pilotage, which offers an interesting “half-way house” for mariners who enjoy the challenges of ship handling. A career as a Harbour Master can itself be a fascinating further career.
There are other opportunities in government services and maritime regulation, for both deck officers and marine engineers, in surveying, the development of regulation, port state control and regulatory inspection services, examination of mariners and numerous other tasks in marine administration. Maritime education offers an interesting further career for academic high-flyers with good communication skills and teaching ability. And there will be many more opportunities for seafarers with ambition and a wish to serve an essential industry. Seafarers tend to be adaptable and flexible, but it needs to be appreciated that a “further” career will inevitably mean further study and application, possibly demanding extra qualifications. But it is perfectly possible for any well-qualified seafarer to excel and build a successful whole career in this large and comprehensive industry.

Source: BIMCO Seascapes