So, like im sure a number of other people on here are, Im considering a career at sea. There are a number of things that appeal to me about the industry as a whole, at least from my perspective. (1) you get a large amount of time off compared to shore based work. (2) theres no office mission statements, flow charts, or corporate BS, everyone is there to move cargo from one place or another, not help a pissy grandma return her patio furniture. (3) It’s the only career Im aware of where you can move from the very lowest position to the top of your field based solely on experience (not that an unlimited masters guarantees you a job). (4) you make what a landsman makes in a year and you only work 6 to 8 months.
I fully understand that I most certainly have a warped view of reality as I’m not actually in the insudtry at the moment. I have worked on a tall ship for a time and although that’s not comparable to massive ocean going cargo containers it did give me a love for the water at any rate. Im open to most aspects of the marine industry; yachting, workboats, near costal and ocean but oil rigs arent something I want to do. I would prefer ocean going vessels, because at the moment im interested in this more for the lifestyle it would allow me to live as opposed to the money involved. I have no wife, children, or anything to tie me down so being away from home isnt a big issue.
I do have a Bachelors of Science from a well respected university, but from what I understand that wont help me much in terms of licensing or getting a job. Ive got an appointment to apply for my TWIC on Thursday and I will be putting in for an MMC with an OS rating after that. I would appreciate any advice or words of wisdom on the industry as a whole or any ways to get into good entry level jobs.
I hate to be the first to respond, but I feel you may have some inaccurate perceptions of the industry.
You do get a larger block of time off than an 8 to 5 job. BUT you actually will work more hours per year on a marine job than a 40 hour work week… This is provided you are working an even time schedule.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! We are ‘lucky’ to have ISO, ISM, internal and external audits, and vettings from customers and independent auditors as a new advent in the industry.
Possibly correct. But I foresee that in the future (not too far from now) that to get a larger license you will HAVE to take so much formal education, classes, and courses that it will be certainly cost prohibitive (if not downright impossible) to work your way up.
Not to be a pessimist, but I feel the Hawsepiper is a dying breed, and it will soon be impossible to matriculate UP the ladder. International Industry groups (IMO) on top of the list have come out recently that they feel that Course study is the ONLY way to have demonstrated competence proved to authorities. On the job training is being shot down as ‘unprofessional’ and is not ‘good enough’ for what IMO feels should be a demonstrable competence level for upper level mariners.
I don’t mean to bash your hopes, but You starting out NOW in the industry means you will have to jump through many more ‘hoops’ than say 10 or 20 years ago. And the USCG is only making more and more hoops to jump through. Some of this is so the USCG can show equality with foreign license structure, and they are ‘dancing’ to keep up with the ‘jone’s’ so to speak.
[QUOTE=cappy208;48744]
Not to be a pessimist, but I feel the Hawsepiper is a dying breed, and it will soon be impossible to matriculate UP the ladder.
[/QUOTE]
It is not gone yet and far from impossible for those willing to make some short term sacrifices for some long term gains.
You will never be home, never see your family or friends, never be able to enjoy holidays. You WILL deal with corperate BS and assholes and kissups and dirtbags. I would recomend you find a land based job you enjoy and stay with that. It will soon be impossible to move up without being a ringknocker and ABs dont get paid that much. Think about very hard, I regret getting into this line of work im trying to find a way out where I dont feel like a stranger to my own family and friends. I hate to tell you like it is but thats it. If you still want to get in it is nearly impossible to find a job somewhere decent. Experienced people are taking entry level jobs just so they can get a paycheck.
[QUOTE=whipersnapper;48741]So, like im sure a number of other people on here are, Im considering a career at sea. not actually in the insudtry at the moment, I do have a Bachelors of Science from a well respected university[/QUOTE]
If you had mentioned the name of the university it would have become slightly less respected. But wise acre remarks aside NOAA hires technicians for surveys and oceanographic studies. It might be a good way for you get out to sea without the hassle of getting your credentials etc
You will never be home, never see your family or friends, never be able to enjoy holidays. You WILL deal with corperate BS and assholes and kissups and dirtbags. I would recomend you find a land based job you enjoy and stay with that. It will soon be impossible to move up without being a ringknocker and ABs dont get paid that much. Think about very hard, I regret getting into this line of work im trying to find a way out where I dont feel like a stranger to my own family and friends. I hate to tell you like it is but thats it. If you still want to get in it is nearly impossible to find a job somewhere decent. Experienced people are taking entry level jobs just so they can get a paycheck.
Good point, and NOAA has their Corps that they train to drive their their ships, tantamount to a Deck Officer OJT Program. Some on the site came-up that route.
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;48750]If you had mentioned the name of the university it would have become slightly less respected. But wise acre remarks aside NOAA hires technicians for surveys and oceanographic studies. It might be a good way for you get out to sea without the hassle of getting your credentials etc
Let’s face it: many of us have felt this way at one time or another (and if you haven’t then you will sooner or later). For someone thinking about starting a career at sea this facet of our lives needs consideration.
We do spend a good portion of our lives away from family and friends. We miss our children’s first steps. We aren’t there when our parents pass away. Our friends’ lives move on without us and all too frequently our spouses do as well.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Our pay is well above the national median, even for those of us without college degrees. We see the world and talk about distant places as if it’s just down the road a bit. We have a freedom now uncommon in the United States to work when we feel like it and live where ever we want.
We go to sea for our own reasons both good and bad. But let’s not try to blow sunshine up anyone’s ass and pretend there are no down sides.
No, im just disgruntled with the “good ole boys club”. I guess I did rant but think about it hard before you get into it. The NOAA sugestions arent that bad but they are normally at sea 200+ days a year. There are land based boat jobs out there depending on where you live that make good money.
[QUOTE=whipersnapper;48741] I have no wife, children, or anything to tie me down so being away from home isnt a big issue.
[/QUOTE]
Now is a good time in your life to give it a shot. You aren’t necessarily making long term decision.
It would be a tougher decision to make if you had a wife, kids, mortgage, etc. Right now your life is uncomplicated. You can always return to a land job.
[QUOTE=seadog!;48764]Call me crazy…I LOVE my job!!
Life at sea is real, life ashore is pretend.
[/QUOTE]
When I first came ashore, THAT is what I had in my head. Here I saw, for the first time, people with jobs that weren’t related to the sea and shipping. Man, what kind of existence is that? It took me years to get over the fact that someone could have a job that wasn’t maritime related and be legitimate. To tell the truth, I still have my doubts. . . . .
As far as what may be in store for our potential mariner? I say go for it. I remember my early years. The only bills I had were rent on my “ghetto” apartment, utilities and insurance. I had no wife, kids, girlfriend or other attachments. That isn’t to say, unlike seadog, I wasn’t ready for a break at the end of my hitch, but I didn’t mind going back.
Chase your dream. Life is too short to not do what it is that you want. I am on my third career that is maritime related. I started at sea, came ashore as a surveyor and now work as an adjuster and surveyor. I would not be what I am today if not for my time at sea, and I am glad that I took advantage of the opportunites to do so when I could. I have very few regrets about my life, and going to sea is certainly not one of them.
You pays your money and you takes your choice. - who knows what the right choices are?
Anyone remember seeing those best jobs worse jobs lists?
Here is the the top and bottom ten:
The Best
Mathematician
Actuary
Statistician
Biologist
Software Engineer
Computer Systems Analyst
Historian
Sociologist
Industrial Designer
Accountant
The Worst
Ironworker
Roustabout
Welder
Garbage Collector
Roofer
EMT
Seaman
Taxi Driver
Dairy Farmer
200 Lumberjack
I saw this on a news show one time. They interviewed an old- timer logger and asked him what he thought about being on the bottom of the list. He said something like: “I don’t know about that, I’ve always been told if you ain’t a logger you ain’t nothing”
That’s how I feel, I’m sure people ashore are enjoying well paid, intersting jobs, but in my heart of hearts I believe that if you ain’t a mariner you ain’t nothing.