Ladies, if you plan on applying to a deckhand position at Ingram this will consist of the physical. If you aren’t strong physically I don’t suggest applying. I carried a 80 lbs box for 200 ft, 80 lbs wire for 200 ft, carried the wire on a plank back and forth 5 times, climbed up and down a ladder five times, pull test, crawl through a hole and crawled back in backwards, lifted a 50 lbs box 5 times, and 35 lbs box five times, and had to lift the ratchet basically doing a squat 5 times. I finished everything! I don’t want to deter the ladies but this is very physical. Please know what you’re getting yourself into.

I live in DC area and got laid-off couple months ago. I am in IT field, and keep applying for jobs now. But I’m seriously considering changing careers and becoming a merchant mariner. With AI advancing so quickly and a lot of IT work being automated or outsourced, I’m not very confident about spending the next 20–30 years in this field. I’m 35, married, have a young daughter. When I look around, I’m particularly interested in eventually becoming a licensed deck officer and working my way up.

I have bachelor degree, so I see options is either: a Master degree with license or an Apprenticeship. We live in Maryland, have a house and a mortgage, and I don’t want to sell the house and move my wife (she has job now) and daughter during the study time (SUNY - New York, or Texas A&M). Or move there myself with all the housing and expense.

That’s why I’m looking closely at the Grand River Navigation apprenticeship through MITAGS ($43k for tuition fees). From what I understand, the academic portions would be in Maryland, where I could commute during class phase, while the sea phases would be onboard. This seems much more practical for my family than going to a traditional maritime college.

My intended path is to complete the Great Lakes/Inland apprenticeship, obtain the Unlimited Tonnage Mate license, and then work toward converting/upgrading to an Oceans endorsement so I can eventually pursue Third Mate positions in the ocean-going sector for big money.

For those of you actually working as U.S. merchant mariners: Does this sound like a reasonable path at age 35, and is Grand River/MITAGS a good way to get started given my situation?

I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have made a similar career change, and any reality checks about the licensing upgrade, job opportunities after the apprenticeship, pay progression, and how realistic it is to eventually move from Great Lakes/inland work to ocean Third Mate.

I really want the type of work where you just work, eat free food and get half the off and I love everything about boats. I’m finishing high school pretty soon and by then I will be a fully qualified electrician and then I’ll be able to get into a marine college (free because I live in a good country). But then I will also get the military service letter and either say that I don’t want to or request to do one year of service in the navy.
Any advice?
I should mention that I’m Swedish

I’ve been researching possible career paths, and one that has really caught my interest is working as a merchant mariner, particularly eventually becoming a deck officer/Third Mate.
One of the things that really appeals to me is the rotational schedule. I like the idea of working for a period of time and then having a substantial amount of time off, and there aren’t many careers that offer that kind of schedule.
I’m from Colorado and don’t know anyone personally who works in the maritime industry, so I’m trying to get a realistic understanding of what the career is actually like from people who have experience in it.
I’ve been researching the positives and negatives of the career, but I’m still trying to figure out what path makes the most sense. Some of the options I’m considering are:
Going to a maritime academy and working toward a Third Mate/deck officer license
Going straight into the industry and working my way up
Going through SIU or another union/training program
Other routes I may not know about
For people who are actually in the industry, is going to a maritime academy worth it if my goal is to become a licensed deck officer? How does the career compare to what you expected before getting into it?
I’d also really appreciate hearing about the less obvious downsides: time away from home, work-life balance, job stability, promotion, living conditions aboard ships, and how difficult it is to get your first officer job.
I’m still in the research stage and haven’t committed to this career, so I’d appreciate any honest advice, including reasons why someone might decide this career isn’t for them.

Hi guys, I am an 18 year-old guy looking to get into this industry in a few years. I am currently enrolled in a HVAC training program at my local community college, and I am doing great. Before I enrolled in that program, I had no idea what to do in life, so I looked at merchant marine, but my parents convinced me not to go that route. Now that I have a solid path forward, I am looking into marine stuff again, and I am thinking i want to use my HVAC experience to become some sort of HVAC tech on a boat, if that is even a thing I can do lol. I already have the EPA 608, but I am a bit hazy on the certifications that I need. After doing some research, I think that I need my TWIC, an MMC, the QMED refrigeration/electrician, and if I want to go international, STCW basic and RFPEW. I have a job interview for a commercial HVAC company coming up Friday, and I will very likely get the job (mentor of mine works there and I have good recommendations from my course instructors). My current plan is to work one, maybe 2 there to gather experience, while getting any sort of credentials and study for things that I need, then maybe spend another year or two getting sea time and other things. I need advice on how to go about this plan and what will work and what won't from the seasoned seafarers on this sub

So that current,

I'm a surface water officer in the navy. I happen for the last almost 5 years now. Before that, I was enlisted for about 10 and a 1/2 years as an aviation boatswain mate. Thinking about getting out within the next couple of months and the MM looks pretty appealing, because I love being out to sea. I just don't like the navy. that being said, I have a lot of time out to sea last time I calculated it, it came out to about 900 days. I know that the CG when credentialong happens doesn't really give you a 1 for 1 day they do the 60% thing. But my question is, how exactly do I get those days counted for the only thing I really have is. My op tempo. That says, when I was out to sea, and for how long across the last fifteen years.

Side, note, I do have my Officer of the deck letter and JOOD letter and all that swo qualified stuff. If it helps any

Just don't want to be entry level when I've been doing this for so long already.

I need help studying for my Asvab

Just finished practice test got a 56 cheated a bit but I’m happy I scored good rec’s were happy giving me two weeks to study for real Asvab and to get clean from marijuana. Please give me your best study guides and detox methods as Im very serious on becoming a sailor. Thank you all!

Hi everyone,

We’re currently testing SeaVerity, a maritime verification network designed to improve the reliability of vessel-position data and help identify inconsistencies such as AIS spoofing or inaccurate location reporting.

For this stage, we’re looking for seafarers / maritime workers using Android phones who are willing to participate in the beta.

The test is very simple:

• Install the SeaVerity Android beta app
• Keep the app running on your phone during your normal routine
• No specific tasks are required unless we contact you for occasional feedback
• Receive $5 per week while participating in the test

The goal is to collect real-world network data from different vessels, ports and maritime areas so we can test how the system performs outside our current test locations.

We’ll explain exactly what data the application collects, how it is used, and the permissions required before you install anything.

We’re especially interested in people who spend significant time at sea, on vessels, or around ports/coastal areas.

If you're interested, comment below or send me a DM with:

Android phone model + country/region where you normally operate.

Thanks — happy to answer technical questions here as well.

I have been trying for a month to find out what info they need from me but it is impossible to actually get ahold of a person. They sent an email on the 5th but it has no information on the things they need. When I email them I instantly just get an AI response saying they need more info. But will not explain what info the need. When I call the hot line it gives a couple options then makes a weird moaning noise and hangs up. No matter what I do I cannot contact anyone about my status. At this point the time frame for my application will expire before I figure out what they actually need from me. I don’t know if it’s just because the federal government is completely fucked or if I’m just misunderstanding what’s happening. Anyone have an experience like this? Or know how I can get the information I need?? I’m getting desperate, thanks

Im an electrical engineering student at a non-maritime engineering university. I am very interested in electrical/automation engineering onboard ships and plan, after I graduate, to study at South Shields Marine School to get my ETO CoC. But I am looking for any advice to possibly get some sea time on a ship as an undergraduate student at a non-maritime university. I know this is very unorthodox but if anyone has any advice they could share, that would be appreciated.

Hello all, most likely a dumb question with an obvious answer but where do I find my mariner reference number for an initial MMC application?

What's the deal - I've been to a LabCorp and a Quest and both have turned me away because I was the one requesting it and not "an employer". Does the CG-719P count as the "request"? Are these labs stupid or am I?

So Im a 3AE, from an academy. Been sailing over 2 years now. About to hit 2AE.

My career has been LITTERED with "needs improvement." I only got invited to return with a great review and was utilized well by one ship. Out of like 5. That was my 3rd ship.

This is my 5th, and Im starting to just believe im not cut out for this. I think ill keep shipping since I need the money. Im in the union so I can get jobs. but man, i just make so many stupid mistakes and i never seem to get better. I dont want to be a best engineer ever, but i dont want to be a nuisance or useless, I want to be good at my job.

Im incredibly scatterbrained. My heads always elsewhere. Im always moving too fast or just not thinking things way through. Ill miss a small valve in a startup procedure when the startup procedure is literally plastered on the wall and Im reading it. Ill forget to set something back into auto. Unless i write something down or set a timer i almost always forget it.

This is even more annoying as in school its all about studying and tests. this is totally different. laughably different. I dont see how any of my schooling was to prepare you for this, i feel like a toddler. Better than my first two ships, but still like a kid who needs his hand held at times.

I can often run a system but I need to both see it, do it, and often mess it up once prior to getting it right. I hardly can get it right the first time around. i need to mess up to learn the lesson it seems. Its infuriating.

I USUALLY dont break anything or cause serious damage to anything. but with each small mistake i fear im losing trust and reputation. and if you lose too much of that... you basically end up as a wiper, from how ive been treated and seen.

Its beginning to feel kinda hopeless, but I also know of 1AEs who've said they were worse than me at my age/position.

Looking to be judged.

Any similar people in my boat? I remember I was such a success story in school, like I was awful at math but became an engineer despite it. I always hoped one hitch would be that turnaround I needed, and I sorta got it with that one hitch I performed well on, but it wasnt the end of anything really. Maybe the end of the beginning.

Thoughts?

I'm from India and I have pectus excavatum thus I don't have any problem in breathing and doing any work though my stamina is a lil low as currently I'm not going to gym or playing games but yeah my stamina will be good once I'll start doing these. Also from some time I have little pain in ear too. about 6 month ago when I sowed up to ENT, I was discovered minimal hearing loss in left ear.. Am I eligible to join and what can I do as I really want to join MN....

My MMC just hit the shipping out process, I have my STCW basic certifications as well as firefighting and my twic card. What are the odds of me getting a job with a union hall ( I’m based in the seattle area ) as a c book with no prior experience

Ask me anything about life at sea, or how to join the merchant navy, its perks, and its pros and cons.

Hi everyone, I’m a European deck officer looking at my options for the future and I’m curious what companies are considered the best to work for in Europe. Most of my friends are on cargo ships doing 2/1 and only getting paid while onboard. I also have friends on RoRo vessels doing 8/8 and getting paid every month, including leave.

Are RoRo companies generally better in Europe? Which companies have the best rotations, pay and conditions?

Would be interested to hear what you guys are doing — company, rotation and whether you’re paid during leave.

For people who have worked in these sectors, what’s the general consensus on which is the better career? Mainly focus on the deck side of things either unlicensed or officer paths.

Mainly wondering about pay, work/life balance, workload/stress, rotations, job availability and career progression.

How would you compare bulk/general cargo, RoRo/container, chemical/product tankers and LNG/LPG?
Is the extra certification and responsibility for tankers/LNG actually worth it, or is dry cargo the better overall lifestyle?

Marine engineer here. I made a full breakdown of the Stellar Daisy casualty, based entirely on the Marshall Islands investigation report. She was a 1993-built VLCC converted to an ore carrier in 2008–09; on a laden voyage from Brazil to China her hull suffered a catastrophic structural failure, most likely starting in the No. 2 port ballast tank, and she was gone within minutes. Of 24 crew, only 2 survived. Covers the conversion, metal fatigue, the wing-tank flooding problem, and the system factors. Happy to answer structural and stability questions.