[Spain] Career change to Merchant Navy at 26 – too late?

Professional Mariner Forum
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Hi everyone,
I’m 25, from Spain, and a Computer Science graduate. I studied that degree without being fully sure, but now I’ve realized my real passion is the sea. I’d love to join the Merchant Navy and eventually become a captain.

The thing is: I would start my Nautical Science degree at 26 and graduate around 30, including cadetship. Sometimes it feels “too late” already, and it’s discouraging to think I could have started earlier. Still, I’m ready to go all-in, spend my savings and fight for it if it’s truly realistic.

I’ve been digging through forums, but honestly I haven’t found a single clear success story of someone who started later and eventually became a captain. That makes me doubt even more, because I see very mixed opinions: some say it’s possible, others say it’s a waste of time.

So I’d love to hear directly from those in the industry:

  • Is it too late to start at 26 and graduate at 30 if I want to eventually reach captain rank?

  • How are career changers usually seen in the industry?

  • Do many officers retire “early” to shore jobs, or is that just a myth?

  • Is there anything I can do to speed things up or gain sea time earlier, since I’m starting later than most?

If anyone here is working in the industry and wouldn’t mind sharing their perspective, even via private message, I’d be super grateful. I don’t personally know anyone in this world, so any guidance or insight would help a lot :folded_hands:.

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Hi there.

With your background in computer science You will run through maritime college like the scirocco wind and surely have much less to learn/ study then regułar student.

Go for it but forget about being the captain. Think about CHIEF ENGINEER.

If i could repeat my life that is exactly what i would do.

If you feel work /life at sea is your calling just do it.

There is a thread on this forum where i posted a link with video about a Nurse who at 40 decided to go to sea and She had become a Master at Maersk Line. If i find the link i will repost it.

The interview was conducted by Sam Chambers the chief editor of Splash247 maritime news joint. Very interesting.

And once again. Forget the Captain. 50 or more years ago i would say- YES but not nowadays.

Cheers

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Thanks a lot for your message — it honestly encouraged me a lot. I’d really love to see that video about the woman who became a Master at Maersk, it sounds very inspiring.

Can I ask you something? Do you mean that nowadays it’s not really possible to reach Captain in my situation, or that it’s still possible but just not worth the effort anymore? I’d like to understand your perspective.

Also, why do you suggest going for Chief Engineer instead? If that’s a realistic path, I’d love to take a closer look at it too, but it’s not what calling me honestly.

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Tell me first why would You like to go to sea.???

As a computer scientist You have an excellent profession with a big , really big future and opportunities. In my place where I live now , after examining job ads I can see the starting IT salaries are almost equivalent to ship master salary in FOC( flag of convenience ) environment . So if it is money in such environment then forget about it. You will earn more as a comp scientist.

But there are different environments .This forum is a J.A. environment and if you look up threads dealing with salaries in this environment you may find them attractive but will You work in such environment?

You may ask locals on this formum and I am sure they will give You some advise what it takes to work under US.flag.
I am a cheap potato on the market and my environment always was FOC .

My next question is why do You want to be a Captain? . What is it that does atttract You to this particular position ?? What is your source of information regarding this particular position. ??

When I said :

I did not have in mind the hurdles one has to run or rapids one has to nagotiate in order to get there . 8-12 years one needs to get there and i guess i am in the ballpark irrespective of the environment , circumstances and company.

What I had in mind was that 50 years and more ago when You got there You were truly Master & Commander :winking_face_with_tongue: . Nowadays You will be a fetch dog and a stooge if You are lucky. :wink:

My last question for a time being is : what type of ships you have in mind : a) bulkers, b) containers & gen cargo, c) heavy lifts , MPC ( multipurpose carriers) , tankers, product tankers, LNGs, LPGs , roros, ferries , ropaxes, passanger vsls , reefers or may be and i do strongly recommment it wine tankers :wink: . Sampling wine daily will never bore and/or exhaust You .

BIG or small ?? What flag ? : convenience, national flag, or the dream of all cheap potatoes - the US flag. :wink: ??

Trust J.A. experts here will chip in with some good advise.

Why I strongly recommentd Chief Engineer. ??? More job opportunities once you decide to swallow the anchor some years later and there are other reasons but about them later.

That is all for a time being in the briefest of all my briefs :wink:

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Thank you for your response; it really made me reflect. I’d like to clarify a bit about my situation and motivations.

Even though my conditions in the IT sector (I’ve decided to focus on Infra/Cloud) are very good and I work remotely, my salary isn’t anything extraordinary, at least in Spain. More importantly, I don’t enjoy this sector and I really dislike office life—it feels boring and makes me feel miserable most days. I’m not really doing this change for a monetary reason, although in Spain it’s supposed to be a really well paid profession.

Although I have never sailed professionally, I’ve been passionate about the sea and ships since I was a child. Not living near the sea and lacking opportunities has prevented me from pursuing it until now, with more frequent visits to coastal areas and getting more into the maritime world. I would love to become a ship officer and dedicate myself to the sea. I also have nothing tying me to land, and I believe I have my feet on the ground regarding what life as a captain is like. Of course, nothing replaces the experience of sailing for yourself.

What attracts me most is dedicating my life to the sea, spending as much time on it as possible, navigating storms, sailing in challenging situations, and traveling the world—though I understand shore leave is increasingly limited. I’m adventurous and I feel I would truly enjoy a more dynamic, exciting life, especially that of a captain, where I could combine my adventurous side, my passion for the sea, and my more “engineering-minded” side. My sources of information are mostly theoretical, from documentaries and research, since I’ve never sailed professionally. That’s part of why I’m here: to understand the real-life experience behind it.

I’m curious—why do you think captains today often end up as “fetch dogs” or subordinates?

Regarding the type of ship, I have in mind container ships and tankers, but I’m not entirely clear on the differences in life and navigation between ship types. I understand it must vary enormously. Do you know any sources where I could learn more about this? It would be very useful.

I’m not particularly interested in working under the US flag. I don’t mind FOC ships; I don’t have a nationalist attachment. As I mentioned, my main goal is to be a navigator in challenging conditions and enjoy life at sea. Maybe this sounds a bit utopian or imprudent?

Honestly, the engine world doesn’t appeal to me. It’s not my thing. I have an adventurous personality, and given my interests and temperament, a captain/navigator role fits me much better!

If I decide to “hang the anchor,” I still have my IT career as a backup. Perhaps that makes things different here in Spain.

Once again, thank you—your response made me think and I truly appreciate it.