First voyage by Third Officer
Automatic translation
Many Ukrainian graduates of maritime academies who have already completed a couple of contracts or completed their cadet practice are wondering how they can improve their position and go to work at sea as the Third Officer.
Most often, such a question begins to mature among those sailors who have already worked the required number of months for a working diploma. They begin to expect from the ship-owner company (especially if it was in this company that they gained their experience) steps towards meeting, that is, an increase. However, very often they continue to wait, go to the 5th, 6th contract, but there is still no offer with an increase. What do experienced sailors recommend?
Change of company
First, the most important point is not to despair and not give up. In any case, if the shipowner is in no hurry to promote you from the OS or AB position, although you have shown your zeal and desire to learn on the bridge in every possible way, then you should seriously consider changing the company. However, why we immediately said that you should not despair - since you will already try for another position in another company (in fact, as a 3rd assistant, for example), not the name of work experience in this position, then, it is quite likely that the search process may be delayed. This does not mean that you should forget about your ambitions and stop looking for your place in the sun.
The second important piece of advice that experienced seafarers can give you is to apply for and monitor vacancies in mid-range companies. Firstly, they will be more loyal to the fact that you have no experience, and secondly, if you are hired, the shipowners will not immediately throw you on a ship with a huge deadweight and responsibility. Experienced sailors advise you not to twist your nose and apply for vacancies with not the highest salary, because now the main task for you is to gain experience and register in the sailor's passport. In the future, already having the basic and proven skills of working in such a position, you can either get a promotion in the same company, or you can count on more pleasant offers in the future from other ship-owning companies.
Naturally, as such, there is simply no list of shipping companies ready to provide you with a proper offer. Therefore, in any case, the presence of connections and acquaintances in crewing or other contacts among the officers will greatly help you with your job search. Do not forget the opportunity to move to another company, remaining a conditional AB and in the next contract to get a promotion to third assistant. It is often possible to learn about the company's policy regarding promotion in service even before the signing of a full-fledged contract, either from crewing or from seafarers who have already gone to sea under the supervision of these shipowners.
Consent to short-term contracts
It is worth noting that if you have not been able to find a suitable offer for a long time, then one of the options would be to agree to short-term contracts for river-sea vessels. In terms of the level of salaries of the third assistant, a gradation can be noted in the range of 1500-2000 dollars. This is not so much, but not so little, given the need for work. This option for continuing your career will help you gain invaluable experience and will allow you to rely on profitable offers from other companies in the future.
Among the crewing services of Ukraine, you can find not so many offers for hiring on fires or river-sea vessels, however, Marine MAN Ltd ®, being the official agent of such shipowners as Sky Mare and KSSL, invites Ukrainian sailors to work at such courts. If you are interested in such a continuation of your maritime career, send your resume to cv@marineman.eu.
