Work
Working at sea
Although the British-owned fleet has decreased in recent years,
there are still job opportunities at sea. These include careers as
a seaman or deck officer, engineer, cook or steward. The jobs have
varying requirements for qualifications and training. To become a
deck or engineering officer usually requires a form of
apprenticeship. Probably the easiest way to make enquiries is through the
relevant sector bodies. The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) [www.mntb.org.uk] is the shipping
industry`s body for developing and promoting the training and
qualification of seafarers. It lists on its website British
training bodies and sponsoring shipowners which recruit new
entrants for a career at sea. The Chamber of Shipping [www.british-shipping.org/maritime]
is the trade association for British shipowners and ship managers.
It tends to be concerned more with larger, ocean-going ships and
ferries, whereas the Ship Safe Training Group [www.sstg.org] is a training
organisation for a consortium comprising over twenty five shipping
companies operating over 300 smaller vessels such as coasters [definition] and oil rig
supply vessels. You can also contact shipping companies direct. The best guide
to their addresses is the up-to-date edition of Lloyd`s
Register`s List
of Shipowners. Major libraries in port cities usually have
copies. The MNTB website lists the companies that recruit officer
cadets [definition] and
ratings [definition] each
year.
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