The Lifestyle
No matter what kind of vessel you join, you are about to experience life in a completely different way. You will operate all over the world and the opportunities for global travel are very real. Ships operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On board you will work a system of watches normally in a pattern of 4 hours on and 8 hours off.
Your lifestyle at sea will depend on the type and trading pattern of your ship. You will find the food and accommodation on board is excellent, with single cabins and en-suite facilities on many vessels.
Opportunities
Whether on a super tanker, a container ship, a cross channel ferry, a cruise liner, a specialised vessel servicing the offshore oil industry or a small cargo ship you will have the opportunity to study, pursue leisure interests and socialise with your colleagues on board.
Holiday, pay, welfare and benefits vary from company to company but are generally very good. For example a qualified officer after a voyage lasting four months could get two months holiday or more.
Within months of joining you will be working at sea. There are some 200 British companies that own or operate a large and diverse fleet of merchant ships. Once qualified the whole fleet is open to you.
You could work aboard small coastal vessels, large passenger ships, roll-on/roll-off ferries, cargo vessels, off-shore support vessels, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, supporting the Royal Navy at sea, and super tankers.
Shore Based Posts
After you have gained some experience at sea there are lots of opportunities to advance your career ashore if you choose to do so. These may be within a shipping company or in one of many other marine related activities where your skills as a seafarer are in great demand. Typical shore based posts include:
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Ship management and fleet operations
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Surveying ships to check seaworthiness
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Ports and harbour management and pilotage
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Lecturer in college, training the seafarers of the future
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Maritime regulatory authorities
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Ship repair and marine equipment production
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Marine insurance
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Ship broking and finance
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Ship classification
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Maritime law and arbitration
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Offshore exploration
More Information
If you would like more information regarding a career as a ship's officer or cadet training at Warsash Maritime Academy please contact:
Sandra Petcher, Cadet Administrator
Tel: +44 (0) 1489 556286
Email: sandra.petcher@solent.ac.uk|