Shore Job opportunities

Introduction: 

Merchant navy is an amazing career and presents highly attractive prospects, remuneration and responsibilities at a young age. These roles provide mariners with a chance to thrive, progress, discover, embark on exciting journeys, and earn esteem simultaneously. Yet many mariners are drawn to shore jobs due to challenges such as:

1.EMOTIONAL DIS-CONNECT

Being a mariner, officers lead a nomadic life, constantly journeying across the globe.  consequently, they are often distanced from their families. During critical junctures, establishing an emotional connection with their loved ones becomes a challenge, fostering a lingering sense of isolation and lot of  Mental stress.

2.RESTRICTED GROWTH

Reaching the pinnacle of their maritime roles, individuals with an ambition for growth often find themselves wanting to extend their horizons. This urge drives them to leave their current positions, seeking fresh avenues in other industries that align with their quest for both personal and professional development.

3.INHERENT RISK

Sailing jobs offer remarkable excitement and adventure, but they also come with inherent risks. The likelihood of sustaining injuries, including severe ones that pose life-threatening risks, remains substantial. With constant exposure to water and limited access to land, mariners carry a subconscious fear of potential life-threatening situations.

4.HEALTH ISSUES

The merchant navy demands a harmonious balance of mental and physical attributes. Any physical injury or health concerns render mariners unfit for duty, necessitating their departure from the profession.

A lot of mariners due to the above and many other reasons  look for other avenues ashore. Many times and most persons take the first available opportunity without delving too deep into it. In this blog, we will try and show various shore job opportunities where a mariner could get into so that “you could take a well informed professional decision”.

Following are some of the shore fields where a mariner could get into:

1.Commercial shipping operations: 

Commercial shipping/ business shipping involves fixing of vessels with a certain cargo they carry and ensure a commercial viability and smooth operations throughout. It involves the following departments:

a) Pre-fixture

b) Operations 

c) Post - fixture

Some of the roles a person can work is:

• Broker (Cargo, vessel, Sale & Purchase)
• Charterer
• Voyage Manager
• Claims executive to HOD

and many more

2.Ship management:

Ship management holds significant importance within the global shipping sector. It encompasses the management of fleets and individual vessels.
It is carried out by enterprises that utilize vessels from external companies or those owned independently.

Some of the department/role where a mariner can work is:

• Technical Management 
• Maritime Training
• Operation
• Manning
• Quality and safety 
• Vetting
• Vessel Performance
• Legal department
• Voyage Optimization

3.Agency and logistics 

A shipping agency or maritime agent is an individual acting on behalf of the ship's owner or charterer while in port. Their responsibilities include Booking vessels in and out of the port, submitting information on crew and other passengers to the local immigration authorities, clearance of all the documentation regarding vessels etc.

Following are the roles where a person could work :

• Business Development
• Operations
• Technical management
• Cargo Planning
• General management 

4.Ports and Pilotage 

Ports in the merchant navy are vital junctions where global trade converges. These maritime hubs handle loading, unloading, and customs procedures for cargo and passengers. They link sea routes to land transportation, ensuring smooth logistics. Economically crucial, ports generate revenue, support industries, and enable crew changes. Some hold strategic significance, contributing to national security.

Within ports, a mariner could work in the following roles:

• Pilot – Pilot ensures safe passage of ships into and out of harbour. This is achieved through the activities of licensed mariners known as pilots. 
• Port Operations 
• Business Development
• General management
• Cargo planning

5. Marine Survey

The marine surveying sector encompasses a range of entities, including independent local marine surveying firms, as well as established professional bodies such as the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) and the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS Global). Within these entities, marine surveyors offer specialized insights pertaining to the safety and valuation of marine equipment, covering a diverse spectrum from private yachts to cargo vessels. This is a very fast field but a mariner could possibly help in the following surveys:

• P & I survey
• H & M survey
• Classification Survey
• Marine Warranty
• Bunker Survey
• Draught Survey
• Cargo Survey
• Port Captaincy
• and numerous other surveys

6. Maritime Law

Maritime law encompasses the legal framework governing maritime affairs, including issues related to shipping delays, lost packages, cargo damage, and disputes arising from incidents such as ship collisions or accidents.

After doing maritime law a person could enter into many field and some of the more prominent one's are:

• Maritime Claims
• Maritime lawyer 
• Arbitrator
• Expert evidence

7. Shipping and Non-Shipping Entrepreneurs

Shipping entrepreneurs are individuals who venture into the maritime industry, overseeing the operations of ships, cargo, and logistics or involved in providing services. These entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in creating disrputs which ultimatley benefit the industry . 

Non-shipping entrepreneurs, on the other hand, are individuals who engage in businesses that are outside the maritime industry. They may provide essential services and products that contribute to the overall efficiency and functionality of the maritime sector.

Briefly the process for looking out an shore jobs can be:

Option 1

• Work diligently
• Apply for different roles
• Hope for an interview
• Hopefully get selected
• Try out a job 
• If it suits, it’s amazing--- if not, try something else

Option 2

• Shortlist fields where you could go
• Take guidance from experts in these fields to choose the Top 2-3
• Enhance skills
• Build Network
• Brand yourself through customized CV and LinkedIn
• Apply only to selected jobs
• Get job of your liking 
• Excel and Grow
• Enhance Skills again

Both choices are viable, yet the success rates vary. Option 1 for shore jobs is favored by 90% of individuals, but only a mere 5 to 6% reach the pinnacle due to insufficient guidance. On the other hand, option 2 for shore jobs journey, chosen by 10% of people, offers comprehensive support, boosting their success rate to an impressive 75%.

S&B conducted a webinar on how to approach these shore job opportunities and can be seen here

Conclusion 

In the ever-evolving maritime industry, opportunities abound for maritime officers seeking to make a mark beyond the waves. While the allure of the merchant navy remains strong, the allure of shore jobs has also captured the attention of many mariners. Balancing tradition with innovation, the maritime landscape offers an array of exciting career avenues, from commercial shipping operations, shipping agencies to legal expertise.

This journey from sea to shore, laden with possibilities can be made convenient and hassle free through our mentoring program or through various other services offered at Sea and Beyond

Check out the process for guidance

or write to us on education@seaandbeyond.com or

call/whatsapp: +91 8928896420 or +91 9326970603