Most members know by now that I work at sea and am pretty passionate about the ocean. Beside my missus and children, my passions in life are being at sea and flying (Private Pilots License). The being at sea and travelling I get paid for, the flying I afford when the bank manager and missus let me!
Most of us at sea probably come across like Uncle Alberts (I must be related to that guy), and have a lot of salty old sea stories to tell, that nobody really wants hear.
Anyway, one that I'm involved in is a Government Careers at Sea initiative. We are heavily trying to encourage young people to take a career at sea, and because the career is not often publicised I thought if anyone here have children or grandchildren who are reaching school leaving age and not sure where to go, to at least consider it.
The UK remains a maritime national, and whilst a lot of fleet is registered in British Overseas Terratories (Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Gibraltar, Isle of Man etc), we still have a massive involvement in the licensing, classification, inspection, insuring and commercial operations of ships, mostly performed in London.
The UK is one of the few countries which is promoting seafaring as a career, and actively sponsors people to go to sea. Whether the students are 16 or 18 they can embark on a career at sea and be sponsored through all of the training, and obtain a HND or Degree in Nautical Science whilst receiving a salary at the same time! They can get then go onto get Masters Degrees in Marine Law, Naval Architecture or simply move into various management positions ashore if they decide not to pursue a career at sea after the intial 3 years.
If they do decide to stay at sea, they can expect a starting salary of around 30,000 a month which is complete tax free, and often working 6 weeks on / off or 3 months on / off.
The world has a shortage of Maritime Officers, both to work at sea, or to work in the management/insurance/operations offices in Shipping Companies. There is a major demand for a skilled workforce, and you can leave a job one day and find another job the next.
The tax advantage for seafarers is that if they spend 6 months out of the country a year (3 months for non seafarers), they are exempt from tax. This is something the government setup after the Falklands War to ensure that there is always a sufficient supply of qualified British Merchant Officers should the country need them in times of crisis!
Careers as Officers onboard ships can be as Deck Officers, Engineers or Electricians. You can obtain sponsorships with Cruise Lines, Offshore Ships, Superyachts, Container Ships, Oil Tankers, Military Supply Ships, Ferries etc.
If you know anyone who is of school leaving age, and interested in travelling for free, and obtaining a Degree that will allow open many doors for them, then this is a good career option. I don't know anyone who has completed a cadetship who has found themselves out of work. But i've seen friends go onto Captain cruiseships at 29 years old, be sponsored to retain as Marine Lawyers, become senior management in shipping companies or Owners Representatives of Super Yachts for Billionaires!
www.careersatsea.org.uk has all the information.
