Seeking Advice On Job Search (SUNY Maritime Student)

Professional Mariner Forum
1

Hello,

Currently, I am enrolled at SUNY Maritime and am likely (99%) to graduate Fall 2016. My major is Marine Operations Engine, and I will be receiving a 3rd A/E license.

My first class cruise is approaching, and I am looking into job opportunities for the fall.
I am currently searching for jobs in New York City, DEP (sewage ships), Staten Island Ferry Oiler, plant operator, CON-EDISON, etc. (High pressure boilers, HVAC, etc). Perhaps even MEBA for day work or night watches.

Income is not a concern for me, since I will be living with my parents. My biggest concern is time/flexibility and gaining solid experience.

[TABLE=“width: 500”]

Ideas and Concepts

[/TABLE]
[TABLE=“width: 500”]

Staten Island Ferry
(Oiler)

DEP (Sewage Ship)
(Oiler/3AE)

MEBA
(Night Work/Day Work)

Ravenswood Transcanada Plant
(M&R)

Astoria Generating Plant
(M&R)

DEP Sewage Treatment Plant
(Operation/M&R)

Work towards HP Boiler License

HVAC work with small company

Elevator Mechanic

[/TABLE]

Why am I not going deep sea/ out of NY?

I need to stay in New York City to help my parents. I plan on attending City College for mechanical engineering.

I am looking for any sort of feedback. My objective is not to chase money.

2

If you are going for an advanced degree in Mech Eng and want to work at places like power generation or sewage treatment plants as a maintenance and repair person, why did you go to a maritime university and get your 3 A/E?

As a freshly minted 3 A/E with zero experience, oiler jobs are the thing for you (good news, since money is not a factor). Restricting yourself to one area will severely limit your opportunities. I will grant that if one were to restrict themselves to only one area, NY Harbor would be the place to do it (now that the best paying boat job in the GOM is deckhand on a party fishing boat (if the customers tip well)).

If you have a steam endorsement (which I gather based on the companies you are looking at), then you would probably want to find a steamship company where you could maintain that endorsement. You must have at least 50% of your sea time on a steam powered vessel to renew/upgrade a steam license. Who cares where the company is located? It is a seagoing job. It will inherently take you far from the corporate offices.

With all that being said, I defer to my original question. Do you really want to work on a ship/boat, or are you just looking to fulfill the seagoing requirements of a maritime university that offers a license you never expect to sail on?

3

[QUOTE=txwooley;178953]It is a seagoing job. It will inherently take you far from the corporate offices.

Do you really want to work on a ship/boat, or are you just looking to fulfill the seagoing requirements of a maritime university that offers a license you never expect to sail on?[/QUOTE]

From the examples he gave it sounds like he wants a job on a vessel that doesn’t leave NY. Also, in many states it is fairly easy to transition from a Maritime Engineer license to a state issued stationary powerplant license of the same grade. Maybe that’s his goal?

OP, try the local harbor tug outfits if staying local is so important. If you want to go home at night you’re basically limited to ferries though.

Also, SUNY doesn’t have a service requirement. He doesn’t have to ever sail if he doesn’t want to, though that begs the question of why he got a license to begin with.

4

[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;178955]From the examples he gave it sounds like he wants a job on a vessel that doesn’t leave NY. Also, in many states it is fairly easy to transition from a Maritime Engineer license to a state issued stationary powerplant license of the same grade. Maybe that’s his goal?

OP, try the local harbor tug outfits if staying local is so important. If you want to go home at night you’re basically limited to ferries though.

Also, SUNY doesn’t have a service requirement. He doesn’t have to ever sail if he doesn’t want to, though that begs the question of why he got a license to begin with.[/QUOTE]

I want to sail, and I plan on sailing. But, I also want a sense of security. A sea going job means you need to physically qualify. I am physically fit, healthy, and take care of myself. Although anything can happen. Three weeks ago, I went skiing and tore my ACL. It made me realize that it is very easy to become disqualified medically.
Perhaps next time, I will break a leg, or lose a leg. How will I sail then?
I need a degree that will support me if I am physically able or not. This is why I will continue to peruse a Bachelor of Engineering.

Sailing is appealing to me. It provides a lot of time off, to work on personal projects, goals.

Perhaps going union would be best at first. Working contracts vs for an employer.
Or maybe, I should sail for three months and use the time off for school.

There are so many paths for me to take at the moment, and I am trying to visualize each one. My parents cannot offer me much advice since they are unrelated to the industry. Most of my ideas of jobs come from other students and Gcaptain. I want to be aware of my options and put some thought into each one.

5

[QUOTE=noskills;178956]I need a degree that will support me if I am physically able or not. This is why I will continue to peruse a Bachelor of Engineering.[/QUOTE]

You need to worry less about what ifs like that. (If you’re that worried give up your dangerous hobbies.). The best CYA if you like this industry is to sail and advance your license as far as possible. If you get hurt in 10 years you’ll find loads of office jobs that you’ll qualify for because of your degree and engineering license.

Additionally, a second bachelor’s degree in engineering is a HORRIBLE idea, especially mechanical engineering. There probably aren’t many jobs you could get with a mechanical engineering degree you can’t get with your Maritime engineering degree. If you want another degree get a [B]masters[/B] degree in engineering, though I still say that’s a waste of time now. Reevaluate after sailing for 5 or more years.

6

You’re marine engineering bachelors will work, no point getting a second. Sailing experience early in your career is a positive you can apply to any shoreside position especially as an engineer.

7

Out of everything you listed, MEBA is your best choice. To actually gain experience, make money, and seatime you’re going to have to go on 3 or 4 month assignments. But think of all the time off!

8

[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;178959]You need to worry less about what ifs like that. (If you’re that worried give up your dangerous hobbies.). The best CYA if you like this industry is to sail and advance your license as far as possible. If you get hurt in 10 years you’ll find loads of office jobs that you’ll qualify for because of your degree and engineering license.

Additionally, a second bachelor’s degree in engineering is a HORRIBLE idea, especially mechanical engineering. There probably aren’t many jobs you could get with a mechanical engineering degree you can’t get with your Maritime engineering degree. If you want another degree get a [B]masters[/B] degree in engineering, though I still say that’s a waste of time now. Reevaluate after sailing for 5 or more years.[/QUOTE]

The degree I am getting from suny is a bachelor of science, not engineering. I only get my 3a/e license. I feel that the 3ae is the only part of my degree that holds value. That is why I am considering a bachelor of engineering.
I like your advice of telling me to reevaluate after 5 years.

9

[QUOTE=noskills;178977]The degree I am getting from suny is a bachelor of science, not engineering. I only get my 3a/e license. I feel that the 3ae is the only part of my degree that holds value. That is why I am considering a bachelor of engineering.[/QUOTE]

Is it not a Bachelor of Science in some field of Maritime Engineering? Unspecialized entry level engineering jobs (the kind that you can get with mechanical engineering degrees) can usually be had with ANY engineering degree.

10

[QUOTE=txwooley;178953]…You must have at least 50% of your sea time on a steam powered vessel to renew/upgrade a steam license.[/QUOTE]

You do not need time in a specific propulsion mode to renew. You can even renew with no sea time. If you upgrade with sea time, you need one-third in each mode you will apply for (not half). See 46 CFR 11.502(a).

You can upgrade and add a mode you don’t have sea time in with a course, e.g. 3rd AE Steam & Motor upgrade to 2nd AE motor with sea time on motor vessels, then add 2nd AE steam with a course. See 46 CFR 11.502(b)(4).

11

[QUOTE=noskills;178956]I want to sail, and I plan on sailing. But, I also want a sense of security. A sea going job means you need to physically qualify. I am physically fit, healthy, and take care of myself. Although anything can happen. Three weeks ago, I went skiing and tore my ACL. It made me realize that it is very easy to become disqualified medically.
Perhaps next time, I will break a leg, or lose a leg. How will I sail then?
I need a degree that will support me if I am physically able or not. This is why I will continue to peruse a Bachelor of Engineering.

Sailing is appealing to me. It provides a lot of time off, to work on personal projects, goals.

Perhaps going union would be best at first. Working contracts vs for an employer.
Or maybe, I should sail for three months and use the time off for school.

There are so many paths for me to take at the moment, and I am trying to visualize each one. My parents cannot offer me much advice since they are unrelated to the industry. Most of my ideas of jobs come from other students and Gcaptain. I want to be aware of my options and put some thought into each one.[/QUOTE]

There is no such thing as security in an job, career or life (as you found with your torn ACL). To live a life with a sense of caution is to not live a life at all. . . I am not saying to take up BASE jumping, but realize that NOTHING is secure. I am on my third career post graduation and have been at it for over 18 years now. I never thought I would be doing what I do know back in my cadet years. Do what you think that you would like to do and life will take care of itself. There are NO guarantees. .

12

You may want to check out the big NYC hospitals-Sloan Kettering, etc. I know there are a load of Domers over there and at ConEdision too.

I agree with Capt. Phoenix about getting a Masters degree. I would also look into getting your Professional Engineer’s license.

13

[QUOTE=MateChristine;179915]
I agree with Capt. Phoenix about getting a Masters degree. I would also look into getting your Professional Engineer’s license.[/QUOTE]
Agree 100% If you were just starting out I would suggest that the Bach. Eng. [I]might[/I] be better than a Bach. Sci. At this stage, it no longer matters. Academically, your Master’s and/or P.E. is the way to go. Operationally, advancing your license is your goal.
Congrats on your success at SUNY and many calm seas ahead.

14

This doesn’t make a lot of sense. A bachelor of science in what? You get a bachelor of science in a filed of study.

15 
 Yea but it's a BS in Marine Operations, with an Engine License, instead of a BE in Marine Engineering with an Engine License. The BE is better.

Edit:

To OP, still from there you’re better off either getting a masters or a job rather then going and getting a BE.

16

Maybe it’s because I’m viewing their site on my phone but all I can find on the SUNY Maritime page is 5 different Bachelor of Engineering degrees, one of which is Marine Engineering. I also don’t see any Marine Operations degree.

http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Academics/Undergraduate%20Programs/Engineering/BE

17

[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;180074]Maybe it’s because I’m viewing their site on my phone but all I can find on the SUNY Maritime page is 5 different Bachelor of Engineering degrees, one of which is Marine Engineering. I also don’t see any Marine Operations degree.

http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Academics/Undergraduate%20Programs/Engineering/BE[/QUOTE]

Since it’s not a BE degree, that may not be the place to find it. The following appears at: http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Academics/Undergraduate%20Programs/Engineering/index

[I]For students who wish to earn a USCG License as a Third Assistant Engineer, but who do not wish to prepare for a career in the engineering profession, we recommend the [B]B.S. in Marine Operations[/B] program in the Marine Transportation Department.[/I]

Also note the “Bachelor of Science” listing under those degrees eligible for a 3rd AE license, here: http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Campus%20Life/COASTGUARD/index

18

Yeah, I missed that because I’m on my phone. Thanks.

19

[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;180076]Yeah, I missed that because I’m on my phone. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

It’s definitely hard to find. I found it in the last place I looked.