How to find Maritime Jobs Using “Linkedin”?

Facebook is fun; Twitter is good to stay “informed”; however, if you are serious about your career, I suggest you better get yourself registered at Linkedin. From top companies to CEO’s, from recruiting agencies to top-notch head-hunters, everyone is there on Linkedin. (Did I forget to mention that even the President of United States is On Linkedin?)

Linkedin is all about networking and staying connected in a professional and a bit formal way. But that is not what Linkedin is all about, there is much more to it. Top companies are always hunting their “next-employer” on Linkedin. Why? Because they get to see the eligible candidate’s profile along with his or her network and recommendations.

Credits: prykhodov/depositphotos.com

Moral of the Story: Get to Linkedin as soon as possible because it takes time to build up a network, even in the virtual world.

In this article, we will learn how to use Linkedin to find Maritime Jobs and also find out how the people in your network can help you getting a job, in a way more than you ever thought.

For this, we will use the Linkedin’s Job Insider Tool to search for Jobs. Follow the step-by-step process below to setup your Job Insider tool.

1.  First get a Linkedin Account. Sign-up for a Free Linkedin Account here :  Linkedin. If you already have a linkedin account, sign-in using the same. We suggest you use Internet Explorer or Firefox for setting-up this feature.

2.  Next Download the Linkedin Job Insider Tool for Internet Explorer. Kindly note that you would to asked to shut down the internet explorer during the downloading process. Download and install the tool.

Download Job Insider Tool

 3.  Job Insider tool is a plugin which will install a separate toolbar in your internet Explorer or Firefox. Download and install the tool and restart the Internet explorer or Firefox.

4.  When inside the Internet explorer, you will see a “Linkedin” logo at the left corner of your browser, when you again sign-in on linkedin website. Check the logo in the black circle marked below.

5.  Press the logo and you will get a dropdown. Select “Find Jobs” in the dropdown.

6.  You will be taken to the search engine screen. This is where you search for jobs listed on linked and on other search engines online.

7.  Put a keyword, for e.g., “marine engineer” and you will get the results. This is normal right? No, this is where the real benefit of “Linkedin” is. Under each job listing, you will see a line “See who at XYZ Company can help you get this job”.  If you have a person in your contacts, who is in the same company, you can send him a message and ask him if he can help. If not, you can still apply for the job.

Note: However, make sure you don’t sound too desperate and are contacting the right person. There is no point sending a private message to the CEO of the company, we would not even notice your message.

Appearing For Merchant Navy Competency Examination Abroad – New Zealand & Singapore

This is the second article in the series Appearing For Merchant Navy Competency Examination Abroad. The articles explain the pros and cons for enrolling for competency examinations in foreign countries and what seafarers should be aware about before making  such decision. The first article of the series Appearing For Merchant Navy Competency Examination Abroad – UK can be read here.

EXAMINATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND :  New Zealand is famous for its sprawling, lush green fields, long beaches, harbours and scenic landscapes.  For domestic and overseas students appearing for their Competency Exams in New Zealand, the regulating national authority is known as Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).  It is also the statutory body looking after various shipping related procedures, businesses, acts and rules. New Zealand offers 1 year programme for Mates and Master through their various universities. A deck officer holding a second mate COC can opt for this course. The Maritime NZ uses the “Sea Cert.- Seafarer’s Certification and operational limits Framework “ which serves the following purposes:

• Issue of Seafarer Certification and Endorsements
• Facilitating Transition from old certificates to new certificates
• Provisions for Renewal of seafarer certificates
• Prescribing approved Training and prior learning for Certificates of Competency
• Procedures for Recognition of foreign certificates

Thus Sea Cert acts as a one step solution for a mariner with regards to certification, requirements for sea service and courses, assessment and validity. Training course and approval of training provider comes primarily under NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority). Sea Cert also provides online services to mariners and offers recognition of New Zealand certificates overseas. MNZ has published a guide for reference to various functions and requirements fulfilled by Sea Cert. on 2^nd July 2014.

The sea service requirements in New Zealand for Competency Exams for Masters and Mates are similar to Indian sea service requirements. However they too offer a combined competency course after which a mariner can appear for Chief Mate and Master’s examination. A list of approved training providers is there on the website of Maritime New Zealand.

The maximum student visa duration for New Zealand is four years. Part time study visa can be obtained for a maximum of nine months on a visitor visa. Student visas allows a maximum of 20 hours work per week and full time during the scheduled vacations. However in case of variation in condition of study and work the administration considers extension of visa and work permits. Medical and travel insurance is a pre requisite before travelling to New Zealand. Regarding the type of medical insurance the immigration website contains relevant details.

The main drawback of living in New Zealand are higher cost of living with less job opportunities for students to support their education. If the city of residence is Auckland, Queenstown or Wellington public transport can be used to travel. However in remote areas one might experience their insufficiency or absence. Travel can be expensive when one has to use a car in absence of sufficient means of public transport. However for the remote areas the quality of accommodation offered is often less favourable in prevailing winters. The process of visa for New Zealand is simpler and they do provide work permits for Part time work hours during the course duration. Nevertheless the natural beauty of this country is a dominating factor when a mariner has chosen to appear for his COC overseas.

EXAMINATIONS IN SINGAPORE :  For overseas students willing to study in the far east, Singapore is one of  the most favourable countries. Being a major port and shipping hub, most of the mariners have been to Singapore at least once in their sea career. That makes them comparatively familiar to the country than to other countries in the west. Moreover, English being one of the main working languages in Singapore, puts a seafarer at ease as he searches for the relevant information.

Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is the authority responsible for Maritime Education, Training and Issue of Certificates. Singapore Maritime Academy (SMT) provides Maritime Education and Training. The Training Standards Department (TSD) of MPA oversees Maritime training and certification of seafarers. The MPA uses ISO certification procedures for various maritime institutions to ensure compliance.

Courses for Master and Mate are combined and of  1 year duration whereas for OOW it is 3.5 yrs. The assessment is carried out as per national standards approved by the Maritime Safety Administration. Singapore Maritime Academy uses computer assisted learning and Onboard training in service. National TRB ( Training Record Book)  is required to be completed by seafarers appearing for Competency exams. Mode of examination includes written, practical assignments, assignments, oral and simulation exercises.

To facilitate documentation and validation, a number of services are provided on the E-services portal of MPA.  The E-services portal can be used for assessment of eligibility of Deck Officer and Marine Engineer Officer Examinations. For transactions with MPA, a mariner has to first open an account with MPA and then using e-payment services. He can then pay various type of fees using this service.

E-certification is another section which puts a mariner at ease, where by, submitting online applications for Certificates of Endorsement and Course Certificates issued by MPA can be authenticated. For foreign COCs MPA recognises certificates issued from 60 countries and Singapore COCs are recognised by 62 maritime administrations.

Besides conducting maritime competency courses, Singapore being one of the busiest ports, attract various shipping and business related establishments of major players in the maritime  industry. Thus adequate opportunities for funds, scholarships are available. For mariners who wish to take advanced studies in marine research, one can find courses run for Maritime law and arbitration, Naval architecture, Logistics and ship broking as well.

MPA provides welfare schemes for seafarers through its shipping division and the Singapore Mariners’ club. It also includes service apartments for stay and discounted meals. Various educational grants, long service retirement awards, and special relief fund for seafarers are provided to seafarers registered with the club. This country offers reasonable pricing levels for public transport. Accommodation and studio apartments are expensive but with little local knowledge one can find a reasonably priced room or shared apartment. The well spread network of public transport system ensures all part of Singapore are accessible. The cost of living in Singapore is slightly expensive as compared to other Asian countries but is lesser than UK and Australia. However being a favourite tourist destination for Indian citizens, the air travel is relatively cheaper than that for travelling to Australia or UK.

The term “Visa” is referred to as Pass in Singapore. For an Indian student the institutes in Singapore file a Singapore student pass for Indian applications to provide them student pass when they enter Singapore. For short courses of 30 days or lesser duration student pass is not required. For part time employment in Singapore the students need a training employment pass or work holiday programme or training work permit, which varies based on nature of work, period of stay and educational qualification of the seafarer. Besides maritime courses, Singapore is a well known destination for tourism and shopping among mariners and their families.

What Are The Duties Of A Ship’s Lookout?

A lookout is a person at the ship’s bridge who maintains a continuous watch of the sea to report any kind of hazard that can be an obstacle in the navigation and cause harm to the ship. According to COLREG, a lookout is required to give his uninterrupted attention at all times to the ship’s navigation in order to inform the officer on watch (OOW) about other ships, shipwrecks, debris, floating objects etc.
Though the job might sound simple, the duty of a lookout is a responsible one and should be taken with utmost seriousness. Lookout helps in carrying out the duties of the officer on watch (OOW) more efficiently.

The lookout should inform the officer on watch when he observes any of the following:

• Any kind of floating object
• Navigation mark or lights
• Any type of distress signal from other ships or ports
• Land
• Ice, irrespective of size or form
• Any type of ship irrespective of its size
• Sandbags or prominent navigational features
• Problem with any of the ship’s navigation systems, including navigational lights
• Any kind of hazards or derelicts that can be dangerous to the ship’s navigation

The main duties of a lookout are:

• To give utmost attention through sight, hearing, and any other means in order to assess any change in the operating environment
• Detecting and reporting on ships, shipwrecks, debris, shipwrecked person, and other navigational hazards
• Reporting on possibilities of collision,stranding, and other dangers to navigation
• The lookout should remain at his position at all times until he is relieved from his duties. On relieving, he should provide all the information to his reliever about things that he has reported.

The job of lookout is mostly carried out by Able Seaman (AB) or Ordinary seaman (OS) of the ship. However, it is to note that the lookout duties cannot be shared with other works.

Today, the job of a lookout is of utmost importance on ships plying in piracy affected areas.

Shipping Jobs: A Field of Great Opportunities

There are many shipping jobs in the market and it is very important that one finds the right kind of shipping job that suits one’s suitability and positive attributes. Right from the employment opportunity of a deckhand at the base level to the top level of being a captain and in today’s times being an expert in the emerging field of marine information and technology, one can find and easily secure the right marine recruitment.

The one good thing about applying for shipping jobs is that one gets a wide arena to choose from based on one’s basic educational qualification and one’s field of interest. Additionally since there are two different areas to choose from – technical and non-technical – it becomes easier for an applicant to apply for the appropriate and suitable marine recruitment field.

Also since there are various kinds of naval vessels wherein an applicant can find a job to his satisfaction, it makes the concept of marine recruitment and shipping jobs even simpler and uncomplicated. From merchant navy to jobs involving prime time fishing, there is everything for everyone who is interested primarily in shipping jobs.

Credits: JamaL1977a/depositphotos.com

There are many advantages to getting a marine recruitment. Not only does one get to explore the world but there is also the point of getting to know and adapt to living as a unit and as a team member. Certain shipping jobs require major efforts on the part of workers and employees to invest a major proportion of their time in team activities so as to facilitate a smooth functioning of the marine vessel and as such it becomes important that the employee puts aside his personal grievances and prioritises about his commitment to his colleagues and his marine vessel.

As mentioned earlier, the choices that are available to an applicant of shipping jobs are many. There are job opportunities in cruise ships which would allow the applicant the freedom to see various countries across the world, learn about the various existing cultures across the world without having to worry about accommodation and other financial constraints. The profession of a deckhand might sound to be a lowly one but in essence, it forms one of the core professions in the shipping industry and is a job that is much sought after by patrons.

Also, in today’s times since the usage of information and technology has increased in the marine industry, shipping jobs pertaining to IT engineers and technologists are also on the rise. The best advantage of having an IT marine recruitment is that it gives one the freedom to explore about the usage and interpretation of technology in various parts of the naval world and if possible, try and recreate it on the vessel on which the IT expert is aboard.

There are also specialised shipping jobs for people who want to be a ship’s captain. Of all the marine recruitment profiles, acquiring the position of a ship’s captain is the toughest. This is because many ships require candidates not only with the necessary qualification – in this case, a Master Mariner’s license – but also with the right kind of experience. Because the job involves a higher sense of duty and responsibility, the aspect of experience becomes important, as more the experience one has, the better it will come to use in difficult and troubled times.

Shipping jobs in cargo ships also are a great hit among the masses as are shipping jobs which require the need for fishers in remote and exotic locations like Alaska. These jobs are quite different to the routine ones generally prescribed and require wholesome commitment and allegiance on the part of the applicant.

Shipping jobs, on the whole, require patience and utmost steadfastness on the part of applicants. The area of naval expedition is not something that can be done and dealt with speed and fastness. Ships are the slowest means of transport and as such take a great deal of time to complete even a single journey. Therefore it is important that an applicant invests a major amount of time thinking about the ramifications of getting a marine recruitment. The benefits and perquisites of the job are quite too many, but if one is hesitant to explore and take a long voyage, there is no point of having so many benefits. Shipping jobs offer vitality and in order to experience that vitality, it is relevant that the applicant has the spirit of adventurousness to support the ever-present vitality of the profession.

21 Websites to Find Maritime Jobs Online

[Updated January, 2017] –  The shipping industry, as a career is a peculiar one, absolutely different from the conventional. The number of marine career opportunities provided by the industry is massive. The best part is that if you are a maritime professional and seeking a new job, then you never know which country your next job will take you to.

Moreover, if you are a seafarer working on ships or in the offshore industry,  you would continuously prowl, looking for better companies, salary, and working conditions (Nothing wrong, a common practice). Well, those might also be the reasons to look for a new job in every field, but for a mariner they contribute a little “extra” towards deciding a new maritime job opportunity. (Ask a mariner and you would know the answer!)

Online maritime jobs search has reached its all new high with several quality websites and social networking hubs coming-up in the recent years. If you are maritime professional looking for a new job, there are several best jobs websites for maritime available online that feature latest job opportunities in the marine industry.

Mentioned herein are our top 21 maritime jobs websites, which will help you to find maritime jobs and scale new heights in your maritime career.

Happy job hunting!

Top Websites for Looking for Maritime Jobs

1) Maritime Connector – One of the most famous maritime jobs websites to hunt for job opportunities.  Lists jobs on a variety of sectors from the shipping industry. An important website for finding jobs on ships.

2) Job 2 Sea –  One of the fastest growing maritime jobs website online, Job 2 Sea offers job listings on a number of categories, along with latest jobs which are updated on a regular basis. Several ship jobs listed.

3) Find a Mariner – As the name suggests, the job search website features jobs from both shipping and offshore industry. The website also has a strong presence on various social networking websites.

4) Vacanseas – A website with a unique name and an easy to use search feature. Definitely worth registering.

5) Job Ships – Provides job opportunities mainly from the Asian subcontinent. Has a variety of companies listed with jobs updated regularly. Features a variety of ship jobs.

6) Maritime Jobs 4 You – A dedicated Maritime Industry job portal which even features dredging, towing, offshore, and shore based jobs.

7) Vcrew – One of the active maritime job portals online; provides jobs listing for a variety of shipping ranks and fields. Important for finding ship jobs for all ranks.

8) Seafarer Jobs – A maritime job website mainly for the Asian Seafarers.

9) Sea job – Yet another website which features maritime jobs focused on Asian subcontinent.

10) Fast Stream Recruitment Group – Fast stream recruitment is a renowned name in the marine industry. The website features a variety of maritime jobs opportunities from shipping and maritime industry.

11) Maritime Union – Maritime Union gives you a free service to find maritime jobs according to your criteria and apply for as many possible jobs.

12) Maritime Jobs – It offers jobs from all categories like HR, Project Engineers, Shoreside and Vessel operations.

13) Sea Career – Sea Career offers maritime jobs onboard offshore DSV, AHTS, PSV & ROV support vessels including tankers, passenger, container, general cargo and other specialized vessels, as well as shore side vacancies within the maritime sector.

14) Jobs at Sea – Provides global maritime job listing on engine, deck, hospitality, and technical areas.

15) Oil Careers – Lists both offshore and shipping jobs. One of the most active websites online for maritime jobs.

16) All Cruise Jobs – Focuses mainly on jobs from the cruising industry, this website is frequently updated with maritime jobs.

17) Maritime Career – Offers job listing options for ship jobs and a variety of maritime fields. However, not a very active website.

18) Sea Job Hunt – A fairly new job site that is gradually picking up. A number of ship jobs are listed.

19) Maritime Employment – Provides job listing of offshore, seagoing, and shore-side jobs. The portal is not dedicated to a specific region, but features jobs from around the world. The salient feature of the portal is that it’s free for both employers and job seekers.

20) Jobs in Maritime – Focuses on maritime jobs for different sectors primarily based in UK.

21) gCaptain Maritime & Offshore Jobs – gCaptain is a popular website dedicated to maritime and offshore sectors. It caters all levels of maritime and offshore jobs from all over the world.

Understanding Design Of Container Ships

The very first cargo ships were built to carry cargo in bulk. Even in most general cargo ships, wooden containers or boxes were used to stow unit cargo. But, with the inclusion of wider types of cargo, containerisations was deemed suitable for compact, fragile, and cargo requiring special care during transit. Hence, was felt the need to design special types of ships that could not only be loaded with these containers, but were also able to maintain the safe conditions of the contents of the containers.

In this article, we will discuss the design aspects of container ships. It is important to understand, from this article, how the design of a particular type of ship is dictated by the type of cargo, the ports on route, the functionality of the ship, and also the economic trends in the market. Also, before understanding container ships design, it is advised that you have a basic knowledge of fundamental ship terminologies, and those related to hull geometry (e.g. Block coefficient, Midship area coefficient, etc.)

Container Ships Design And Construction 

There are different categories of container ships, based on different ways in which they can be categorised. The most widely operating types are as follows:

Based on overall sizing-

• Based on volumetric capacity (In older days, container ships were sized based on their volume)
• Based on TEU (This is the modern day sizing parameter of a container ship. The TEU of a container ship is the number of twenty foot equivalent containers that can be carried by the ship.)

Based on Length, Beam, Depth, and Tonnage-

• Panamax
• Post- Panamax
• Suezmax
• Post- Suezmax
• Malacamax

 Based on mode of handling-

• Box container ship – This is the most common type of container ship design. They can be loaded only with marine containers, and cargo handling is carried out by quay side cranes that belong to the port authorities. Such ships always ply only on major container ports that are equipped with cranes.

• RORO ship – On roll on / roll off type of container ships, containers are rolled on and off the ships using heavy lift vehicles and fork lift trucks. These type of ships, in some cases, carry both vehicles and containers in different decks.

• LILO ship – Lift on / Lift off ships are equipped with their on cranes which are used to load the containers on and off the ship. These ships always ply only in smaller container terminals that are not equipped with container handling cranes, like the bigger terminals.

Based on Range of Service-

• Mother Ships – These are the larger ships, often above 10000 TEU capacity, that ply only between the major container terminals of a nation. These ships cannot enter smaller ports due to their large draft and overall size.
• Feeder Vessels – Feeder vessels operate between the major and minor container terminals, carrying containers to and from the mother ships. Often, these vessels are LILO type, because smaller ports are not equipped with quay-side cranes.

Container Ship Design – The Hull Geometry:

The first and the most prominent design aspect of any type of ship is the geometry of its hull. Before we understand why hulls of container ships have attained their characteristic shape, we should first notice the geometry itself. A visual comparison of the hull of a container ship with that of a bulk carrier or an oil tanker would clearly imply that a container ship’s hull has a finer formthan the other two. In other words, the forward and aft sections of a container ship are streamlined, and not fuller like that of a bulk carrier or oil tanker. Why?

Image for Representation Purpose Only; Credits: wikimedia.org

To answer that, we will need to first understand another aspect of the container industry. Goods shipped in containers are often of high value, and high priority. For example, if a marine diesel engine for a ship being constructed in a shipyard in India is to be shipped in from Germany, the shipment would be made in a container, and is a high priority shipment because the installation of the engine into the engine room is a step in the construction process that would determine the possibility of delays in the later stages of construction. Also, the equipment needs to be delivered without any impact or damage. Thus, container ships are tightly time bound ships. They have a very low turnaround time, that is, the time they spend at a port for loading and unloading has to be minimum in order to be able to call the next port without delay. It is due to this reason, container ships fall in the category of high speed ships. In order to achieve a high speed, the resistance of the hull needs to be minimized, which is obtained by a fine form hull. In other words, container ship hulls have low coefficient of buoyancy, ranging from 0.6 to 0.7.

Another notable geometrical characteristic of container ships is the high prismatic coefficient of the hull-form. That is, the hull section for most part of the length of the ship is almost rectangular. This is done in order to accommodate maximum number of containers below the deck.

Midship Section Of Container Ships:

One of the most important structural drawings that are prepared during the design of a container ship is that of the midship section. The midship section of a ship is prepared with a lot of design and functional considerations in mind, which include the type of cargo, stowage methods to be used by the ship, capacity of the ship, etc. In fact, a ship type is often identified by its midship section.

For a typical container ship design, the midship section is shown in the following figure. What is however important, is to understand the drawing from a designer’s point of view. Some common features of the midship section of a container ship are discussed below:

1. All container ships are double bottomed, so as to allow for the double bottom spaces to be used as tanks.

2. Container ships are also longitudinally framed, because the variable loading conditions often result in large hogging and sagging moments, which result in high longitudinal bending stresses.

3. The shape of the midship section is almost box-like. In the words of a designer, it has high midship area coefficient, ranging from 0.75 to 0.85

4. The bilge strake is the angular plate that joins the inner side shell and the tank top plating. Since the presence of this plate would prevent the stowage of containers at the corner of the section, the length of this strake is kept to a minimum. In most recent cases, however, container ships are not provided with bilge strakes at all, in order to ensure maximum stowage capacity.

5. The most important structural feature of a container ship is the torsion box, which we will discuss in detail in one of the following sections.

6. Container ships are usually equipped with no hatches. That is, the ship has no continuous main deck running full breadth all along the ship. This open box-like structure (relate with the midship section figure), enables easy stowage of containers from the tank top to the highest level above main deck level. The only decks are within the double hull, which are more like stringers running full length, and provide passage way along the length of the ship.Torsion Box In Double Hulled Containerships:
   Let us start by recalling the shape of a water bucket. You would have noticed that the rim of every water bucket is always twisted outward. Why do you think this is done?
   Try cutting off the rim of the bucket, or for that matter, cut off the rim of a paper cup and try holding it with some liquid in it. You would notice that the paper cup would not resist the torsion. It would twist and eventually rupture. This happens because the entire structure of a bucket or a paper cup or any open box has a very low polar moment of inertia. This results in giving it a very low torsional strength. Thus, in order to strengthen open box like structures against torsion, additional material is added to their rims. In other words, one simply increases the polar moment of inertia of the cross section of the structure. But how is this related to a container ship?
   We know that the hull of a container ship is an open box like structure. When a ship is at sea, it is subjected to various wave loads. In one of the load cases, when the direction of the waves is at approximately 45 degrees to the velocity of the ship, port side of the forward section and the starboard side of the aft section would experience a wave crest at the same time, and vice versa. This results in a type of periodic loading which causes the hull to twist. This effect is called torsion, and is shown in the following figure.
   

   Fig. Torsion in a container ship moving in quarter seas.
   
   
   Imagine the effect of cutting the strengthened rim off the paper cup. The same effect when extrapolated to that of a container ship, would result in devastating failures of the hull structure due to torsion. In order to prevent this, the topmost edges of the port and starboard sides of a container ships are strengthened with high scantling web sections, creating a box like structure at every frame. This is called torsion box. A torsion box runs along the entire length of the ship from the aft peak bulkhead to the forward collision bulkhead.
   The following figure shows the torsion box of the double hull container ship. Note that the width of the web plate in the torsion box is higher than the web plate used around the passage way below it. Also, the webs at passageways are at a spacing of three to four frame spaces, but the webs of a torsion box would be present at every frame.

What Do Naval Architects Do?

The science and technology of the field that we today know as naval architecture, has developed significantly over the last hundred years or so. This period has seen huge progress in the design and manufacture of engineering products and the marine technology. The advent of naval architects has made it even more smooth and quick. Naval architects are the people on whose shoulders rest the responsibility of the conquest of human kind on the high seas.

A naval architect is basically an engineer by profession who creates designs, constructs the marine vessels of all kinds and manages this complex process. The vessels include all sorts of merchant ships like cruise ships, oil or gas tankers, cargo ships, ferries etc. Apart from these, work boats like fishing boats, tugs, power boats and yachts come under this category. Industrial usage machines like the off shore drills, used for the extraction of oil and natural gas, FPSOs and semi submersibles are also designed and developed by naval architects. In addition to the civil segment, this field also provides its services to the military purposes for making of war ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships and destroyers etc. This makes naval architect, a professional, who offers services to the society in a manner that is unparalleled.

Though the profession is engineering based, these professionals need to have some idea and knowledge of other fields of study as well such as artistic designing, creativity and management. This is because, the responsibilities of a naval architect include a lot of things that may at the first instance look to be not in the field of play. The manufacture and the subsequent maintenance of all the marine equipment and vessels require great coordination between the different departments and having a working knowledge of all these goes a long way in helping the task of a naval architect. Thus, a person in this capacity who works at any of the shipyard, consultancies, design firms, navies or any other government organisations, has to have managerial and team management skills. It helps combine the contributions of each team member to bring about the desired end product.

A naval architect integrates the above mentioned activities and manages the entire project. This is the reason why it is of utmost importance for the person to have good and more importantly effective communication skills both verbal and written. A logical and artistic mind, a sound communication with people of all the different kinds of professions whether engineering or otherwise, attention to detail, patient and sound judgment are just some of the attributes that are looked for in any prospective naval architect.

The profession of a naval architect is a very dynamic one and requires constant updating on every aspect. This is why, it is said by the greats of this field that, in this profession anyone who ceases to be a student of the industry becomes stagnant and resistant to grow. Right from the education to the training and later to the job, being a naval architecture itself it is a very interesting life especially as it throws new challenges and opens new doors of knowledge.

Who is a Harbour Master (Port Master)?

Harbour master is one career in the maritime industry which requires great skills and experience. The name defining it all, a harbour master is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee the proceedings of a port or a harbour.

Technically, a port master can be for both naval harbours as well as general commercial marine ports. However, the basics of this maritime job remain the same while the only change occurs in the authority under which the port master functions. In case of the former the navy is the authority concerned while in case of the latter, it is the port owners and the management committee.

Credits: DragonImages/depositphotos.com

In order to embark upon the maritime career of a port master, one has to primarily have the necessary working experience as a seafarer. Since the role is of a managerial nature, the port master has to reconcile both the operational and the managerial aspects of the domain quite effectively. Right from logistics of operations to even the most minute security requirements, the master of the harbour is required to carry it all with aplomb.

The job of a harbour master comes with great responsibilities. Anyone taking up this job should be ready for the following:

• Interesting job role with newer challenges
• Wider scope of responsibilities
• Learning new technologies and adapting to the constantly changing maritime world
• Dealing with emergency situations
• Showcasing great leadership qualities
• Willing to work in a team
• Display motivational qualities

One of the most vital challenges of the profession is to meet the stringent professional requirements. The method of operation in no two harbours is alike. Therefore the harbour master needs to be prepared all concerns pertaining to the port under his command. The marine industry is a sector that functions 24 hours in a day on account of its extensive global coverage. Thus the port master needs to be on his toes in order to ensure that the operations are carried out smoothly and without any hitches whatsoever.

In case of a harbour being one in a small waterway, the harbourmaster has to ensure that the navigational conducts have sufficient deepness so as allow easy passage of the vessels. Similarly, the port master is also in-charge of ensuring that the towing and tugging vessels are maintained in prime condition and ascertaining that the vessel helmsmen are qualified to steer these vessels.

Security details and verification of the functionality of the set-up security measures is yet another focus area of the harbour masters. In the present scenario, security requirements have been beefed up in ports and harbours. It falls under the ambit of the port master’s job role to take care that all security credentials are met by the vessels approaching the harbour, the harbour’s internal security system is place and there is no disruption whatsoever. Last but not the least, the harbour master has to ensure that the cargo operations at the harbour goes on smoothly and efficiently.

Just like any other profession, even harbour masters have their own not-for-profit organisation known as the IHMA – the International Harbour Masters Association. Through this organisation, the professionals can interact and integrate themselves for the betterment of the entire profession in the days to come.

How To Know If A Shipping Company Is Worth Working For?

Internet has made life so easy for all of us. Whether it’s shopping online or looking for a job from the comfort of your home, all the information is available at the press of a button. Today e-commerce sites offer lucrative discounts and an exhaustive detail of the products you desire to purchase. You also have the choice to read reviews about the services of an e-commerce website or the product of your liking which you intend to purchase. In other words, it is a well informed decision before you decide to hit the PAY button. Does the same criterion apply to maritime websites offering job opportunities?

There are hundreds of shipping companies advertising on maritime websites with attractive offers similar to those offered by online e-commerce websites. Other than their own fancy write-ups about themselves, you don’t get much feedback about the shipping company in the form of reviews from other seafarers who have already worked for them. So in spite of the large scale attrition some of these shipping companies with dubious backgrounds, these companies still manage to attract several seafarers to run their ships and businesses.

It is no great secret that the biggest anxiety of any seafarer on board is with regards to his wages. After a month’s hard work he expects his employers to fulfill their obligations of remitting his full monthly wages to his nominated bank account. Some seafarers are lucky to get their money in time, however, several unfortunate ones have to spend endless days and nights in deep anxiety when their wages are held back by their employers.

With the recent downturn in shipping industry, the local unions and ITF data bases are full of complaints from seafarers against their employers for either  non-payment  of their wages or for not relieving them in time or both. Several other types of complaints being received monthly by ITF offices worldwide are mainly related to:

1. Poor working conditions on board.
2. Threats from senior officers or employers for carrying out illegal jobs.
3. Unsafe or unseaworthy ships.
4. Unhealthy or inadequate Food

and many others…..

Today it is hard to define which shipping company is good and which is bad. Each seafarer has his own criteria of judgement and job requirement. Mostly, seafarers rely on word-of-mouth publicity from fellow seafarers or are attracted by the fancy advertisements when it comes to selecting a shipping company. In some cases for their own dire needs, seafarers take the first available job only to regret later. The fact is that the seaman fraternity is the most disconnected lot and there is no website or forum or online blog which can guide them about the working conditions on board, before signing their contract of employment.

Most seafarers today are aware of Flag of Convenience Ships. These Flag of Convenience ships or simply FOC ships are prime targets of the ITF.  The worst ones have a bad history of crew problems and trouble with port authorities. Their heavily paid executives and agents lure seamen with sugar coated words and their true identity is revealed only after few days of the seaman landing up either in their office or joining their ship. These ship owners survive on coercion, blackmailing and threats to seamen. They hold back wages of seamen and refuse to relieve them whenever  a seaman complains of poor working conditions on board  Or  disobeys illegal orders  Or acts as a whistle blower.

The dearth of good quality ship crew has been in existence for a long time now and the situation will not change for some time due to premature retirement of ratings and officers due to the growing menace of piracy. Sometimes the shortage is so severe that a job is settled between a seaman and shipping company on the phone itself. More affluent shipping companies arrange for video conferences. Commitments are exchanged on phone but the gamble doesn’t always pay off.

There is a saying that “Precaution is better than the Cure” and if seafarers follow these basic rules, they can save a lot of headaches for themselves and their families when joining a new shipping company.

1. Get as much information about the company, its promoter and his reputation from as many sources as you can. Don’t just get attracted to the big label.
2. Get information on the manning agent/executive responsible for all your benefits. Sometimes a good company but a bad manning agent/executive can ruin your life and career.
3. Never agree for a telephonic job agreement and do not commit unless you have secured all necessary information about the company or the person interviewing you.
4. Never join without undergoing a proper medical examination. There have been cases when seamen have returned back home after few days due to unknown pre-existing illness and had to pay heavily for their repatriation.
5. Read your service terms and conditions carefully prior signing your contract and never agree to sign your contract either at the airport or on board.
6. Clear all your doubts prior joining rather than asking questions later from other officers and Master on board. It may be too late to ask then.
7. If you are carrying your family, cover them with an overseas medical policy as they are not covered by the company’s insurance.
8. Check the company policy on sailing in pirated water. Check if you have the rights to sign off with full repatriation benefits in case you refuse to sail to pirated waters of countries such as Somalia or Nigeria.
9. You may be going on board for a long contract. It is always a good idea to find out about the kind of crew welfare existing and provided by the ship owner/manager on board. Does it exist only on paper?
10. If you are joining a FOC ship. Check with your local union affiliated to ITF about your minimum assured wages, benefits and rights on that ship and a directory of ITF offices worldwide. You may even access the directory online.
11. If you are required to do any in house courses do not accept computerized signatures on certificates provided by the manning office as you could land into trouble with port authorities.
12. Ensure that monthly wages agreed on telephone or email is the same as that on the contract.

There will be several other things you may have on your mind like contractual allowances, food, victualing on board.  Rather than asking and troubling the master on board your ship, joining a ship with a clear mind with all required information under your belt, will save you from all the headaches which otherwise would arise as a result of  lack of information exchange with the employers prior to joining.

Remember seafaring today is a tough and difficult profession. Join a ship armed with information and knowledge. Trust me – it’s not worth gambling with your career and your life.

Do you know any shipping company that take undue advantage of seafarers? How do you find out the credibility of the company you are working for?

The Profession of Ordinary Seaman (OS) on Ship

An ordinary seaman is the person who is assigned deck jobs as a trainee on ships. Working and gaining experience as a trainee followed by a couple of years as ordinary seaman allows an individual to get a promotion as an able seaman. The profession of an ordinary seaman (mostly known as OS) allows a person to work on the deck of a ship majorly.
The deck jobs include cleaning the ship, taking care of the paint-work, taking duty of the helm of the ship and standing guard whenever the situation demands. The difference between an ordinary seaman and an able seaman is the difference in the pay that is given to them. The concept of first distinguishing and separating an ordinary seaman from an able seaman came in the 18th century.

An ordinary seaman has the most menial jobs out of the entire category of merchant marine jobs. But in spite of such routine and a lowly job description, it has to be noted that an ordinary seaman’s profession is something that is well appreciated and admired. Absence of an ordinary seaman would lead to absence of hierarchy and dearth of a helping hand for other crew members.

Mandatory health tests are the primary requirement in case one wants to take up seaman jobs like that of an ordinary seaman. This is because merchant marine jobs like deck jobs require vigilance, alertness and complete physical fitness. In addition to these requirements, an ordinary seaman is expected to be on-his-toes round the clock in case any emergency and life-threatening situations crop up. Also, if an ordinary seaman is not able to perform these duties properly it would hamper his chances of getting chosen or qualified as an able seaman.

The average pay package for merchant marine jobs like that of an ordinary seaman is around $1,700. This is neither very high nor very low, though it can be said that the paying rate varies on the basis of shipping company, country to which a shipping company belongs, and crew members. However, the pay rate for an ordinary seaman is quite less when compared to that of an able seaman which is why every person who is employed in seaman jobs as an ordinary seaman makes every possible attempt to become an able seaman.