Career development opportunities

All ships are owned by someone, managed by someone, operated by someone, crewed by someone, registered somewhere and carry cargo for someone. It is the responsibility of a ship management company to ensure that all these responsibilities are managed properly. The company operates the vessel on behalf of the owner and provides shipping services to those seeking them. They are also typically in charge of crewing vessels. Maritime experience is not essential for all roles within a ship management company however for particular roles sea going experience is required or advantageous. For roles where seafaring experience is required, the company tends to recruit seafarers who wish to find employment on land rather than going to sea. There are a number of job roles within Ship Management and companies may call them by different titles, but some of these may include:

• Operations Manager

• Technical Superintendent/manager

• Fleet Manager • Marine Superintendent

• Ship’s agent

• Etc…

There are around 700 ports, harbours, jetties and piers around the UK that provide a range of facilities for commercial vessels, leisure craft and fishing boats to carry out their business of moving cargoes and people to meet the demands of world trade and sea-going leisure activities. Seafarers and ex-seafarers will often be found working in various roles in many ports and harbours as this provides them with an ongoing link to the sea, ships and boats, but from a shore-based working perspective. There are a number of job roles within Ports and Harbours and companies may call them by different titles, but some of these may include:

• Port manager/Port operations manager

• Harbour master • Marine pilot

• Tug master • Stevedores

• Vessel Traffic Services

• Etc…

Training the next generation of seafarers, as well as keeping the skills and certification of existing seafarers current is carried out by specialist departments within a small number of colleges and universities within the UK. There is also a large number of training companies that provide various courses to ensure seafarers are up to date. Such organisations will have lecturer and trainer posts that are filled by ex-seafarers. There are a number of job roles within Maritime Education and training and companies may call them by different titles, but some of these may include:

• Lecturer

• Simulation

• Etc…

Ship owners must ensure sure that all their seafarers are correctly certificated, their vessels are seaworthy and that their business is carried out in a safe and effective manner. The maritime regulatory authorities work closely with national and international partners in the shipping industry to promote the safe construction, operation and navigation of ships on behalf of the government and the DfT. These industry bodies employ many ex-seafarers in a variety of technical and administrative roles. You may be able to work for one of the following maritime regulatory authorities after moving ashore:

• The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

• The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)

• General Lighthouse Authorities

Commercial shipping brings together a world of professional maritime service organisations to provide expertise and specialist services to the international shipping sector. Many of the bodies and organisations that provide maritime services employ ex-seafarers, given their expertise, knowledge and understanding of the shipping industry and how it operates. There are a number of job roles within maritime business services and companies may call them by different titles, but some of the businesses that employ seafarers may include:

• Shipbroking

• Ship classification

• Maritime law

• Marine insurance

• Crew management and recruitment

• Etc…

Seafarers and ship owners will always require advice and support from shore side positions. These organisations help to fund projects, support education and training of seafarers and lobby to government on behalf of the shipping industry. There are a number of sectors in which seafarers can move into after coming ashore using their sea going experience including:

• Professional bodies

• Trade associations

• Charitable organisations

• Etc…