So, is marine transportation a good career path? Marine transportation has become an increasingly important career choice for many people on cargo ships. With the growing demand from businesses and consumers alike, there has never been a better time to be involved in this field. However, it is crucial to know whether or not this is a good career choice before making any commitments.
To help you make up your mind, we’ve discussed some pros and cons of working as a marine professional. As with any career path, there are certain benefits and disadvantages to being involved in marine transportation. Keep reading to learn more about this rewarding field, as well as other alternatives that you may want to explore first.
Is Marine Transportation a Good Career Path?
Because of the significant value that it provides to American business, marine transportation is a terrific career option one should consider. According to the data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees in the marine transportation industry made a median annual compensation of $59,250.
You can get a job in the profession if you have completed high school and perhaps even have a certificate from post-secondary education. Most employers require a post-secondary certificate for entry. However, 35% of workers only need a high school diploma, while 44% already possess one.
Working in the maritime transportation industry may provide you with not only an exceptional income but also tremendous advantages and a one-of-a-kind learning experience. In addition, you will either take part in excursions that take place on maritime boats or transport cargo products that people need while they are visiting new regions.
What Are the Jobs Available in Marine Transportation?
Here are some jobs available in marine transportation:
Marines Surveyor
Annual Salary: $112,455
Marine surveyors investigate vessels used for water transportation. Surveyors go through every inch of a ship to verify that it complies with all the relevant standards and is safe to sail. Besides this, they monitor the loading and unloading of goods from ships.
Marine Engineer
Annual Salary: $82,735
Ships’ machines are under the care and supervision of marine engineers, who are also responsible for their maintenance and repair. This is an excellent field of work to pursue, particularly if the engineering aspects of shipbuilding pique your interest.
In a wide range of ships, boats, and offshore buildings, marine engineers specialize in the primary propulsion engines and auxiliary equipment and systems. They are also responsible for the designing, installing, operating, maintaining, and repairing of these components.
Radio Technician
Annual Salary: $61,900
A radio technician is a trained professional who is a specialist in the design, installation, and maintenance of radio station transmitting systems. Your job as a radio technician requires you to choose and maintain the hardware that is optimally suited for the radio program you are working on, as well as make any required electrical and hardware repairs.
Shipbuilding Engineer
Annual Salary: $83,000
Shipbuilding engineers are those who focus on the technical aspects of designing and constructing marine vessels. They are responsible for the engineering aspects of the shipbuilding process. As with every other discipline of engineering, they have a degree in shipbuilding requires a student to put in the equivalent of four years of classroom time before being qualified for employment.
Marine Technician
Annual Salary: $43,500
As a marine technician, it is your job to inspect, maintain, and fix the plumbing and electrical systems of boats, yachts, and other types of watercraft. It is important to deal with mechanical systems, fix damaged components and perform regular maintenance to maintain everything in working condition.
They also run diagnostic testing to uncover problems. In addition, we may ask them to do operational testing, update existing systems, install new systems, and make modifications.
Naval Architect
Annual Salary: $101,758
A naval architect is a kind of licensed professional engineer who is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, boats, and offshore constructions for both the military and the public. Utilizing your expertise in physics, materials, engineering, and architecture, using handle the equipment that is necessary for engineering businesses and boat builders.
Marine Mechanic
Annual Salary: $43,320
As a marine mechanic or boat mechanic, one of your responsibilities is to do maintenance and repairs on many types of boats and watercraft, including motorboats. You will work on several types of small engines, including gas and diesel, besides the mechanical and electrical components of boats as part of your job duties. You are required to understand mechanics and the ability to diagnose problems, zero in on the source, and find solutions.
For example, suppose you want to work as a marine mechanic. In that case, you need to have good manual dexterity since your job requires you to use your hands to manipulate equipment and other mechanical components.
Ship Superintendent
Annual Salary: $132,000
A ship superintendent ensures to carry out all the necessary repairs on a ship accurately, especially while the ship is in a dry dock. We consider this job to be one of the highest-paying roles in the maritime transportation industry. When they repair the ship at a shipyard or dockyard, it is the responsibility of the ship superintendent to manage and supervise the work.
Marine Welder
Annual Salary: $59,000
A marine welder must do welding operations while submerged in the sea while working on offshore equipment. While working with industrial customers in a variety of aquatic environments, they hone their skills in their chosen profession. For example, the American Welding Society normally confers certification for these skilled craftspeople, in addition to those conferred by other respectable organizations. As a result of their certification as divers, they can carry out hyperbaric welding at a wide range of depths.
Marine Painter
Annual Salary: $43,875
An individual who paints boats, ships, and other structures found in nautical surroundings is known as a marine painter. In this area of work, one of your jobs will be to paint buildings and containers using brushes and rollers. On occasion, you will also use specialized spray equipment. For example, when trying to prevent corrosion or construct a membrane that will seal the boat, it is sometimes necessary to use special ingredients.
Marine Service Manager
Annual Salary: $68,581
The management of boat repair work is the major function of a marine service manager. Marine service managers handle a variety of tasks, one of which is inspecting ships either while they are engaged in operations that take place at sea. They work side-by-side with the ship’s tradespeople to get these changes implemented, and they advise the ship’s owners or operators on any necessary repairs or safety upgrades.
Shipmate
Annual Salary: $71,219
A shipmate’s responsibilities may include serving as a crew member aboard a cargo ship, container vessel, transport ship, or other big watercraft besides their primary duties. Your level of expertise and the specifications of the ships on which you serve will dictate the responsibilities that fall within your purview as a shipmate. For example, they could ask you to help with driving the boat or navigating it, or the person who hired you might be in command of the systems aboard.
What Skills Do You Require to Get a Job in Marine Transportation?
Workers in the maritime industry need to possess a diverse set of practical skills to fulfill their responsibilities despite working in an unfriendly environment and under unfavorable conditions. This is because most of the jobs are difficult, and the working environment is unpredictable.
People And Communication Skills
You will need to communicate well with others. Working in the marine business sometimes requires going to various parts of the globe and talking to individuals from many walks of life.
Because of the work, you will need to develop strong people skills so that you can communicate cordially and competently with all individuals you come into contact with. It will be to your advantage if you are a good listener since this is an excellent method of understanding what others want and reacting appropriately. Therefore, it is in your best interest to exercise emotional self-control, particularly in situations of conflict with your coworkers or with strangers.
Coordination
Coordination of the hands and eyes is another important ability that everyone who wants to work in the marine transportation industry must have.
Officers and pilots are the ones who are to steer the ships. While they are doing this, they are continually scanning the horizon on the displays that are on the dash while also handling the different controls.
When it comes to transporting equipment and carrying out their everyday responsibilities, the engineers and sailors need to have excellent synchronization. When operating in threatening weather circumstances, which might force the vessel to rock on the rough waves, having this ability is quite helpful.
Crew members aboard commercial vessels or fishing boats can communicate with one another and pass on orders vocally. For instance, if a fishing line becomes tangled in a fishing boat, the crew will need to communicate with one another to guarantee that they can retrieve their catch.
As a result, strong hearing is essential in this line of employment, and one must pass a hearing test to get a license to operate.
Mechanical Skills
Having mechanical abilities is a desirable trait to possess.
You never know when you’ll run into a circumstance that calls for you to use tools and do some basic repairs, so having mechanical abilities might come in very helpful. A fundamental understanding of mechanics is essential for every member of the crew. However, it is important for those who will work in vital parts of the vessel, such as the engine department.
To load and unload the vessel, as well as move equipment and supplies within the vessel, and perform a wide variety of other tasks, a person must have both the mechanical aptitude and the physical strength necessary.
Great Vision
Anyone interested in pursuing a profession in the maritime transportation industry has to have strong visual abilities. To successfully carry out your day-to-day responsibilities aboard the vessel, you will need to have great eyesight. For instance, having strong eyesight as a pilot will allow you to properly scan the horizon and dock the ship in a safe manner, which is very important in crowded ports.
Because having a clear vision is a requirement for certification in this field, they often administer a vision test before the process.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Working in Marine Transportation?
Pros
While being away from one’s family is one of the most challenging aspects of the work, sailors have access to vital privileges that other professions may not have.
Exceptional Wages
Exceptional Wages, these salaries could be exempt from taxation, which would make it easier for you to put money away and achieve your monetary objectives. So while you are at sea, not only will you not have to worry about the prices of food and housing since they are all taken care of, but you will also have more money available to spend on other, more essential things.
Good Long-Term Prospects
In addition, the experience you will have gained working on the seas will provide you with a competitive edge when you hunt for positions inland since employers in land-based industries are aware of the physical and mental fortitude that is required to function in maritime environments.
It Gives You A Unique Job Experience
There are a lot of occupations available today that run from 9 to 5, and most of them need you to sit at a desk for long stretches of the day. It broke this monotony up by the marine sector, which offers a one-of-a-kind working experience in an atmosphere that is always evolving. It also means that you will interact with individuals of a variety of nationalities and have experiences that may not be available in other types of careers.
It Enables You To Travel The World
Working in this field allows you allows you to experience a variety of fascinating cultures and delectable cuisines from all over the globe, which is one of the most compelling arguments in favor of choosing to do so.
Cons
Working in this business offers many opportunities for growth and advancement, but it is not without its share of problems.
It Can Be Dangerous
While working on board a vessel, a crew member has a significant risk of suffering some injury because of the high number of potential hazards. This may place, for instance, if a member of the crew suffers from seasickness, slips and falls on a surface that is damp, or sustains an injury when transporting heavy supplies.
As marine transport employees venture out on open water, they are also subject to the very real risk of being attacked by pirates. This leaves them vulnerable to attack by pirates, who may board the ships, hold the crew as hostages, and compel their compliance with their demands.
Restricted Interaction With Friends And Family
When you are working at sea, you may find that the demanding work hours leave you with very little time to interact with your friends and family back on land. However, because of the time that you will be gone, this may place a strain on your family and the ties you have.
High-Pressure Environment
Even if some individuals can flourish in these sorts of circumstances, it is possible that, for most people, they might be exceedingly tough since there is no tolerance for mistakes. This is because making errors when at sea might put one at risk for serious harm or even death.
Exhaustion
Working aboard a ship at sea exposes the crew to several challenging conditions, such as dealing with inclement weather and other aspects of the environment that are difficult to foresee. To make it through this atmosphere, one must possess a high level of resilience, both physically and emotionally.
Final Words
Those who are interested in marine transportation jobs may find it beneficial to pursue a marine transportation career. This is a fun, interesting, and demanding line of work, and there are a wide variety of places to work and chances to pursue. The maritime transportation sector will continue to grow as the world’s population and the number of goods that need to be moved from one place to another both rise. Hence, both contribute to the ongoing expansion of the maritime transportation sector.
In the end, you will earn a decent living, see the globe, and interact with people from a variety of cultural and social backgrounds if you choose a career in the maritime transportation industry.
Also, since you’re already browsing which career paths are good and which are not, you may as well check out “Is Transportation a Good Career Path?“
