What can the shipping industry offer to young people?

The shipping industry offers young people the chance of an adventurous lifestyle packed with exciting career prospects.

Sailing the world's oceans is not for the faint hearted. To succeed in a seagoing career you will need to combine technical skill with a range of robust personal qualities. Show that you have the potential and commitment to succeed and we will provide you with a training programme that is second to none.

The role of the deck officer
As a deck officer you will be a vital part of the ship's management team and with expensive vessels and valuable cargo or passengers in your charge, it's a big responsibility.

While on watch, you will make decisions on manoeuvring the ship and controlling navigation and communications. In port you will be responsible for cargo handling and ship stability.

As a senior deck officer, you will be a leading member of a small team of skilled and professional seafarers. You will direct and supervise the work of your team; maintaining the ship and its equipment at optimum efficiency.

Personal qualities
You will need to be decisive, unflappable and able to inspire confidence in others. You must be a good team member with an interest in technology, mathematical ability and good written and verbal communication skills. In addition, confidence, enthusiasm and self-reliance are essential attributes.

The role of the engineer officer
As an engineer officer you will operate and maintain all the mechanical and electrical equipment throughout the ship. You will be responsible for power generation and distribution systems and for other equipment such as lifts, refrigeration plant and pumping and ventilation systems.

You will monitor mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and control equipment, and have charge of computer-controlled engine management systems. If things go wrong at sea, you will diagnose the fault, repair the equipment and put it back into operation as quickly as possible.

As a senior engineer officer you will lead a team of professional engineering personnel and supervise their work at sea and in port.

Personal qualities
You will need to be practical, resourceful and have a real interest in mechanical, electrical and electronic systems. As with deck officers, you will be decisive, unflappable and able to inspire confidence in others. Good written and verbal communication skills are required.

The role of the Electro-Technical Officer
Some ships carry electro-technical officers (ETO) who are specialists working in the Engineering Department where they take responsibility for the maintenance of on-board control engineering and electronic systems including propulsion control, radio communications and electronic navigation aids. ETOs may have the opportunity to develop their careers along a similar path to that of engineer officers, perhaps leading to the rank of Chief Engineer.

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