Maritime Career Pathways
First steps to maritime careers
Inland, near coastal, and ocean going careers
require three steps:
Step 1: Obtain a TWIC
(Transportation Worker Identification Card)
Step 2: Obtain U.S. Coast Guard approved training
(maritime training school, academy, or college)
First steps to maritime careers
Inland, near coastal, and ocean going careers
require:
Step 3: Obtain a Merchant Mariner Document
(U.S. Coast Guard professional mariner identification)
Inland Service: Tug & Barge
Requires: a work rotation of 14 – 28 days away from home and 7 – 14 days at home
Deckhand
Requires: No classes or degree
Recommended classes:
- Basic Safety Training
- Deck Familiarization
- Engineering Familiarization
- Up to $130 / day
Tankerman
Requires: 40 hours of class
- Tankerman operation (math & physics)
- Pollution prevention
- Maritime law
- Firefighting (16 hours)
- First aid / CPR (8 hours)
- Up to $270 / day
Apprentice Mate
Requires: 360 Days of experience
at sea (sea time); 104 hours of class
- Navigation (attend to general daily
problems, rules of the road)
- Safety
- Maritime law
- Environmental
- Up to $225 / day
Mate (Pilot of Towing Boat)
Requires: 540 days of
sea time; additional required
classes
- Navigation and piloting
- Watch standing
- Vessel familiarization
- Maneuvering & rules of the road
- Safety & emergency response
- Environmental Protection
- Up to $350 / day
Master of Towing(Captain)
Requires: 360 to 1080 days
sea time
- Officer in Charge of Navigational
Watch (OICNW)
- Additional required classes
- Up to $800 / day
Near Coastal Service (Oil Field Support; Crew & Supply Boats)
Requires: a work rotation of 28 days away from home and 14 – 28 days at home
Ordinary Seaman(Deckhand)
Requires: entry level position; no
classes or degree (unlicensed)
Recommended classes:
- Basic Safety Training (40 hour)
- Deck Familiarization
- Engineering Familiarization
- Up to $170 / day
Able Bodied Seaman(A/B)
Requires: 360 days of sea time
- 40 Hour A/B Class
- 32 Hour Lifeboat Class
- 40 Hour Basic Safety Training
- Up to $270 / day
Master100 -1600 Ton
Requires: 360 to 1080 days sea
time
- Officer in Charge of Navigational
Watch (OICNW)
- Many college level classes
- Up to $800 / day
Ocean Going (Ships & Tugs)
Months away from home
Weeks or months at home
Cooks & Stewards
Requires: no classes or collegedegree
Recommended classes:- 40 hour basic safety training- Up to $170 / day
Ordinary Seaman(Deckhand)
Requires: entry level position; no
classes or degree (unlicensed)
Recommended classes:
- Basic Safety Training
- Deck Familiarization
- Engineering Familiarization
- Up to $170 / day
Able Bodied Seaman(A/B)
Requires: 360 days of
experience (unlicensed)
Recommended classes:
- 40 Hour A/B Class
- 32 Hour Lifeboat Class
- 40 Hour Basic Safety Training
- Up to $270 / day
Third MateUnlimited Tonnage
Requires: 1080 days of
experience (licensed officer)
- 3 years of service in the deck
department, training courses &
on-board exams
or
- Attend a training institution
- Up to $500 / day
Second MateUnlimited Tonnage
Requires: 360 days in Charge of
Navigation Watch as 3rd Mate
(licensed officer)
- Officer in Charge of Navigation
- 3rd in command
- Up to $650 / day
Chief MateUnlimited Tonnage
Requires: 360 days in Charge of
Navigation Watch as 2nd Mate
(licensed officer)
- Senior on-board operations officer
- 2nd in command
- Responsible to the Captain
- Up to $800 / day
MasterUnlimited Tonnage
Requires: 360 days as Chief Mate
(licensed officer)
- Commander of the vessel
- 1st in command
- Master Mariner's license
- Up to $1,200 / day
Citations
Schacter, Mitch; San Jacinto College, Director, CPD, “Maritime Career Pathways” handout, September 16, 2013
http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/checklists/default.asp National Maritime Center, United States Coast Guard, Mariners checklists, MCP-FM-NMC5-20
(04), September 16, 2013 http://www.maritimejobs.com/JobShow.aspx?JobShow=105079Maritime Jobs; MCP-FM-NMC5-20 (04) Military Sealift Command job; September 16, 2013,
http://www.punaridge.org/doc/journals/Careers/Able-Bodied%20Seaman/Default.htmNaidah Gamurot; Position: Able Bodies Seaman (Mariner 2), October 22, 1998, September 16,
2013https://www.google.com/search?
q=twic+card&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eQg3UtquJsi82gWy6YDIAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1172&bih=602&dpr=1#q=seaman+papers&tbm=isch&imgdii; Google Images, Seaman’s papers, September 16, 2013
http://www.nycitywoman.com/columns/sometimes-great-lotion; NYCity woman, Nancy Weber and Ellen Stern, “Skin Care, Sometimes a great lotion – Pamela Hepburn, 62, licensed tugboat captain”, © 2013 NYCitywoman, all rights reserved, September 16, 2013
Citations
EU Naval Force Celebrates International Women’s Day By Highlighting The Significant
Contribution Of Women To Operation Atalanta; http://eunavfor.eu/eu-naval-force-celebrates-international-womens-day-by-highlighting-the-significant-contribution-of-women-to-operation-atalanta/;March 8, 2013 - 12:06; September 16, 2013