I’m going to graduate with an ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering degree in December 2027. I’m going to pursue a career in the Merchant Marine as an engineer for many reasons, and I want to plan ahead before going in blind.
I’ll have everything I need to work as a wiper upon graduation (TWIC, Medical Clearance, MMC entry-level, STCW basic training).
I want to know, from people’s experience/what they’ve heard, the fastest ways to get 180 days of sea time in the engine room, with at least 90 of those days being on 4000 HP/3000 kW or higher vessels. From what I can gather, the main constraint is actually finding a job, so I was wondering where jobs are easier to get for people with no maritime experience (or just one season/voyage/etc of experience). I would prefer ocean-going vessels because I’m pursuing an international 3rd A/E (which means a significant amount of extra training) after getting my national with 180 days of sea time, but if the wait is significantly longer, the competencies I gain wouldn’t be worth the time.
Also, are there any certifications most employers/unions expect beyond the minimum required by law? I want to get those before looking for a job and coming up short.
With the mariner shortage, (especially engineers) I’m sure many of the big OSV operators would be willing to work with you to get you seatime if they thought you’d hang around after passing the 3AE. Tugs & OSV’s work 12 hour days so that would be faster than 8 hr days. Since you will need to take +$30K in STCW courses try to find a union or company that pays or have their own school. You didn’t mention passport. Make sure you have a passport.
Also, will you graduate with Mechanical Engineer or Mechanical Engineer Technology degree? Below are a couple of threads discussing what you plan on doing.
It’s a full Mechanical Engineering degree, not a MechE tech degree. Meaning it’s accredited by ABET EAC. From my research, this is the desired degree for 46 CFR 11.516 (a)(5), but the “school of technology” line has left me with some doubts. I called NMC’s question line, and the receptionist didn’t have an answer. Emailed them and haven’t heard back yet. Researching some more, it looks like that line is a holdover from the original regulation back when ABET accredited all MechE programs as “schools of technology”.
I didn’t mention passport, but I do have it until 2034.
In terms of the mariner shortage, from what I’ve been seeing, people are saying there’s both a shortage and a surplus of mariners. I know MSC is in a shortage and has grounded some vessels because they can’t fill them, but is commercial having the same issue? Is the shortage just in qualified officers, or the entire industry, including entry-level? Is there some data/news I’m not seeing that confirms a real shortage instead of just hearsay?
And thanks for the OSV callout; after doing more research, it’s really appealing to me (at least until 2AE). The defined schedule would be really useful for scheduling the extra classes I need. And the 1.5x time seems quite nice for quick advancement. For sticking around after getting 3AE, is there a standard practice in the industry of exclusively sailing for one company for a certain amount of time in exchange for seatime/hiring/paid training? For example, if I agreed to 2 years of exclusive sailing (meaning 1 year at sea for half-on/half-off) after getting 3AE and they pay for training, is that standard, generous on their part, or generous on my part?
Currently pursuing chief, so not necessarily looking at a shoreside position. I’ll probably take it in my last semester because it doesn’t seem too difficult.
There is no “standard” for companies paying for training. Asking them to shell out 25-40k when you just started entry level sounds tough but maybe you can pull it off. I do know that MSC will pay for this sort of training. Other companies will too, but most I imagine will send their people that have been sailing with them for a bit and that they want to invest in.
Fastest route would be going the OSV route for the days, you get 1.5 days due to working 12 hour days and can get the 180 days credit with 120 actual days. Then jump to MSC and get them to pay for your classes, hotels, meals and travel. Not that this is a recommendation for MSC, but it’s the cheapest and fastest route.
I don’t know that MSC would hire you as a 3AE without already having OICEW. Their job posting lists it as a prerequisite:
The one person I know personally that took this route got hired at Washington State Ferries to get his 180 days then stayed in MEBA.
Once you get the national licence, you could work on the lakes to make decent money and have large blocks of time off to knock out the classes for the STCW endorsements.
I’m assuming this is engine utilityman. It requires RFPEW and AS-E (see below).
Wiper would be an option beyond the initial 180 days but once he has the national 3AE, I would assume he’d want to use it where he could as opposed to staying on wiper wages.
