Automatic translation
Ukraine is known all over the world as a forge of personnel for the officers of the merchant fleet. Young sailors, who are just ahead of their first voyage, are tormented by the obsessive question: how to get off at the start? After all, it is known that they don’t take anyone to officer positions, and I don’t want to start service as a private.
Crewing agency assistance
The knowledge gained during training plays an important role here, but this is only half the battle. To quickly get your first contract, you need:
choose a loyal crewing that will help start a career
write a CV or resume (yourself or enlist the help of a specialist)
prepare for passing English tests
collect all the necessary documents
The first point is, of course, key. Our Marine MAN Ltd ® counts on an influx of “fresh blood” so that the staff will help arrange everything. We have an English teacher who will prepare the applicant for the tests. There will be no insurmountable problems with documents. So, if you have a diploma of specialized higher education with good grades and a desire to serve in decent conditions, look for a junior officer's vacancy among the ads on our website and send your data.
Essential knowledge and skills
However, no patronage will help if you do not have the necessary knowledge. In order to cope with the position of a junior officer, the following categories of items will come in handy:
navigation skills
everything about the technical features of ship equipment
general navigation and pilotage course
knowledge of computer programs of the ECDIS system
fundamentals of maritime radio communications (GMDSS, COLREGs)
basic knowledge of meteorology
team skills
concept of organizing work on board
developed eye
high level of spoken English
But the most important thing is the ability to quickly determine the situation and make decisions based on the situation. Such a skill can only be earned by working experience at sea, as well as by carefully observing the actions of senior officers in non-standard situations.
What to focus on when doing practice
A naval officer will definitely need practical skills in ship management, including:
mooring and departure from the pier
anchoring and unmooring
overboard rescue
loading and unloading certain types of cargo
sailing on the fairway
Maneuvering is a creative process, everyone should feel it on their own. Reading manuals and technical specifications will not help here. Do not neglect the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills either during training or while working on the ship.
Expectations from the first position
Of course, you shouldn't expect too much from the first vacancy. An officer who has real nautical miles in his passport, even in the lowest position, will be paid a higher salary than a beginner. Save your financial ambitions for the third or fourth flight. In any case, you will receive much more than any young professional on land. So don't just refuse the manager's suggestions in vain. After the first experience, you can definitely go on a voyage on a ship of another company, and also ask for a small increase in salary.
However, too much to underestimate the "bar" is also not worth it. Be sure to study the proposed vacancy, ask more experienced colleagues on the forums about it, if you could not “dig up” the necessary information on your own. The main thing to find out is the year the vessel was launched. Working on older ships, you will not gain practical knowledge of automated systems. But this kind of work will allow you to get the practice of navigation and maneuvering, which you might not have had enough in the maritime academy.
