What kind of jobs could I get with a BS in Marine Transportation outside of the maritime industry? This may sounds like a silly question (if you don’t want to sail, don’t get the license/degree) but let me elaboration:
I am entering sophomore year at a maritime academy and I definitely want to sail deep sea for several years after I graduate. However, if/when I marry and start a family, I am not interested in sailing much at all. I do know that there are many jobs available in ports (tugs, harbor pilots, etc.) but I’d like to know if anyone here has an anecdote or two on getting a job off the water entirely later in a career. Another detail: I do plan on minoring in business as an undergrad and then getting a masters in business later through my academy’s program. I think this would help for sure.
This question partially stems from the fact that my engineer friends and their professors always boast that they could just get a job in a factory or power plant, etc. That’s really what got me thinking.
Anyways, do you think a transition like this would be possible, or am I locking myself in to a career at sea?
Sounds like you’re at Mass? If so, I personally wouldn’t bother with the business minor unless you’ve got the extra time and brain power to do it. It’s not worth setting yourself back at all and you can always just go back for the masters. Every deckie I meet I tell them to take tugs and towing even if you don’t plan on working tugs. It was easily the most valuable class I took there. A minor in business isn’t going to add much while you’re sailing.
No one locks themselves in. If you have a plan to go back to school then there you go, that’s your out. It’s harder for us deckies to get a job right out of sailing if your only experience is 2nd/3rd mate because there’s 10 million of us and it doesn’t mean a lot. If you get the business degree, or even better get an MBA from a better school, you’ll be ready to get started outside of the industry.
I think a lot of guys limit their thinking to the idea that we’re worthless outside the maritime world. If you have a business degree you’re just as valuable as some schmuck who went to UMass or UConn.
I know this is the domain of engineering, but even as a deckie you could use those skills in any kind of facilities management or construction project management role. Lots of translatable skills. EHS in a different industry is also a possibility. I think a lot of it comes down to what parts of the maritime industry interest you and if you were to follow that specific part, what are some shoreside equivalents. I’ve seen deck grads do everything from pursue MBAs to do Wall Street finance, lawyers and doctors, cops, firefighters, almost everything. Some require additional school, but even without deckies have a lot of skills.
Don’t forget host at a maritime themed seafood restaurant.
Just kidding. It depends on the economy & mostly who you know. If the economy is good, easy to get hired anywhere, many times degree or not. Other times, people recommend & hire those who they trust. If you plan on leaving the maritime trade always keep networking & staying in touch with people outside of the maritime trade. You might find another career via a future neighbor, an old classmate or your future kids soccer coach. It will work out no matter what you do now, just graduate.
The Federal Government hires Marine Transportation Specialists (may be listed under other titles, but this is common position title) and generally they try to hire individuals with credentials. The salary probably isn’t as high as at other employers but the benefits are great and the work-life balance is pretty good too.
If you are a hands on, get dirty and get stuff done officer, then there many shoreside opportunities, like construction (including marine construction), logging, cranes and rigging, heavy trucking, etc.
If you are a stand around with your thumb up you a$$ while watching others work type of officer, then maybe logistics office jobs, the post office or some sort of putter around government job.
Former Deck Officers I know who have moved out of the marine industry in a shore job are generally in the health and safety side of things. An experienced health and safety professional in a shore based role has a lot of transferable skills to other non-maritime industries.
Also changing industry becomes easier when you get up to a higher management level in a shore based role. A lot of management skills are transferable from industry to industry.
I once met an ex-engineer that was doing potable water inspections on passenger boats. I can’t remember the exact title or place he worked as I was newbie. But, he inspected cruise ships and their equipment, logs and such to be sure they were abiding by the potable standards.
marine surveyor - Marine insurance adjuster or underwriter - ferry terminal operations - Locks and river transportation - Ferry boat management and operations - working for port authority- Container terminal and Pier warehouse operation
environmental response companies (clean up)
Diving and salvage company
It’s been a long time since I worked for an outfit with Port Captains. I didn’t know that was still a thing? From what I recall, a Port Captain was a regular captain who was the biggest asshole of all other captains whose head swelled so big, one boat couldn’t keep it afloat so they put them ashore. A semi-green 2nd or 3rd mate who can handle logistics, talk to people civilly & hopefully with some engineering background sounds better than the old Port Captains I was used to.
We used to say that when a captain had too many screw ups, did too much damage, and the company couldn’t afford to let him run a boat anymore, that he became a port captain.
Nowadays, port captains are often re-titled “marine ops managers.” That’s kind like calling the janitor a “sanitary engineer.” Companies learned from banks that they can pay their staff less if they give them important sounding titles that make them feel important.
An unhappy ship is an unsafe ship. I have a simple policy: I don’t work for assholes in the office. I don’t put up with asshole crews either.
‘Port captain’ is the most misunderstood title in the maritime industry. It means different things to different people in the industry, and nothing at all to the people outside of it.
I know of one place where the PC was essentially the general manger. One step below the owner. Ran a fleet of boats. Ran a terminal. Head honcho.
I’ve known other PCs that were a combined fleet liaison to management, travel agent, and ship’s agent. That seems pretty typical.
I’m a port captain. I have five responsibilities. The 5 P’s.
Personnel: I hire/fire fleet manpower. I set the pay rates for the Fleet and write the salary agreements. I have staff that recruit and vet, and develop the crew schedule for the year.
Policy: I set the policy for how the fleet will do things. Such as: standards for navigation; approved techniques for cargo stowage; medical protocol for an infected tooth. Policy on alcohol, policy on guns, on cell phones. On and on…
Publications: All the stuff above goes into the Vessel Operation Manual (600 pages for Volume 1, with additional digital memos). Also, company Factbook with 30 years of statistical data on Fleet operations. Manual on pay practices for mariners. Graphic novels. Etc. Now also videos.
Parts and Provisions: I have staff that get parts and provisions for the Fleet.
