Container Ship Jobs
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Container ship: why they pay more here than on bulk carriers
Container ship — a vessel carrying cargoes in standard containers (TEU — Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, 20-foot container). Unlike a bulk carrier, where cargo operations take days, a container ship is loaded/discharged in 12–36 hours — and back to sea again. This pace defines everything: the rhythm of work, the workload on the crew and the level of salaries.Why salaries on container ships are higher than on bulk carriers:High intensity. A container ship calls at 5–10 ports per voyage. Each call means mooring, cargo operations, lashing/unlashing, departure. On a bulk carrier — 2 ports loading and discharging and a month of passage between them.Reefer containers. On large container ships — up to 2,000+ reefer sockets. Monitoring, repair, connection/disconnection — a huge volume of electrical work for Electrician and ETO.HV systems (6600V). Mega container ships are among the few merchant vessels with high-voltage MSB. For ETO and electricians — HV Safety Certificate is mandatory.Lashing. Securing containers is physically hard and dangerous work for AB and OS. Lashing rods, turnbuckles, twist locks — in any weather, at the height of several tiers.Global brands. The largest container operators Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM are corporations with clear standards, stable salaries and development programs.
Classification of container ships by size
Feeder vessels (Feeder, 500–3,000 TEU)
Small container ships for the “last mile”: delivery of containers from a large hub port to regional ports. Often geared with own cranes — the AB/Crane Operator position is in demand.Crew — usually 14–20 people. Frequent calls every 1–3 days. Routes: Baltic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Southeast Asia. With European operators — rotation 3–4 months.
Panamax (3,000–5,000 TEU)
Maximum size for the old Panama Canal. Today — the medium segment. Crew — 20–24 people. Gearless.
Neo-Panamax / New Panamax (12,000–15,000 TEU)
Optimized for the expanded locks of the Panama Canal since 2016. Width up to 51.25 m. One of the most demanded sizes on the market.
Post-Panamax (5,000–12,000 TEU)
Do not pass through the old locks of the Panama Canal, but pass through Suez. Global routes: Asia → Europe, Asia → East Coast of the USA.
Ultra Large Container Vessel / ULCV (15,000–24,000+ TEU)
Mega container ships are the largest vessels on the planet by cargo volume. Length up to 400 m, width up to 62 m. Crew — 24–28 people.
Which positions are in demand
Deck team
Captain vacancies (Master) — usually $9,000–15,000/month. On ULCV — may reach $18,000.Chief Officer vacancies (C/O) — Bay Plan, stowage, lashing supervision, stability. On average $6,000–10,000/month.2/O vacancies — navigation, ECDIS, passage planning. On average $4,000–6,000/month.3/O vacancies — safety, GMDSS, ISPS. On average $3,000–5,000/month.JO vacancies — On average $2,800–3,800/month.AB vacancies — lashing, mooring, watch. On average $1,500–2,200/month.OS vacancies — On average $1,000–1,600/month.
Engine team
Chief Engineer vacancies (CE) — usually $9,000–15,000/month.2/E vacancies — On average $6,000–9,000/month.3/E vacancies — On average $4,500–6,500/month.4/E vacancies — On average $3,500–5,500/month.JE vacancies — On average $2,500–3,500/month.ETO vacancies — reefer containers, HV 6600V, navigation, IT. On average $5,000–7,500/month. One of the key positions on a container ship.Electrician — reefer sockets, electric motors, lighting. On average $4,000–5,500/month.Oiler vacancies — On average $1,600–2,200/month.Wiper vacancies — On average $700–1,100/month.Cook vacancies — On average $2,000–2,800/month.Salaries are estimated, depend on the company, vessel size and route. Large liner operators Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM usually pay 15–25% above average.→ Submit CV for Container Ship Vacancies
Main engine: what a mechanic should know
Container ships are vessels with the most powerful engines in the merchant fleet because they need high speed — 18–24 knots.Feeders: MAN B&W 6S50ME-C, Wärtsilä 6RT-flex50 — 8,000–12,000 kW.Panamax / Post-Panamax: MAN B&W 8S70ME-C, 9S80ME-C — 25,000–40,000 kW.Neo-Panamax: MAN B&W 10S90ME-C — 50,000–55,000 kW.ULCV mega: MAN B&W 11G95ME-C / 12S90ME-C — 60,000–80,000 kW — the most powerful marine engines in the world.Modern ULCV are increasingly equipped with dual-fuel engines MAN ME-GI on methanol or LNG — the container industry is moving toward decarbonization EEXI, CII. For Junior Engineer — experience with dual-fuel on a container ship = a competitive advantage for years ahead.DG: usually 4–5 × medium-speed units MAN L-series, Daihatsu, Wärtsilä W-series. On ULCV — total DG power may exceed 20 MW.
Documents for work on a container ship
A container ship belongs to the dry cargo fleet — special tanker or gas endorsements are not required.Ratings: STCW BST + PSCRB + AFF + DSD.Deck officers: CoC II/1+, GMDSS GOC, Radar/ARPA, ECDIS, Medical First Aid.Engine officers: CoC III/1+.ETO: CoC III/6 + HV Safety Certificate mandatory on vessels with 6600V — almost all large container ships.Additionally valued: IMDG Code Dangerous Goods for Chief Officers, CSS Code for deck officers.
Largest container operators
Liner operators own vessels and routes: Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, ONE Ocean Network Express, Yang Ming, HMM, ZIM.Third-party ship managers manage vessels for owners: V.Ships, Bernhard Schulte, Columbia Shipmanagement, Anglo-Eastern, Thome Group.According to JobMarineMan experience, third-party managers more often recruit Junior Officer and Junior Engineer — liner operators often have their own cadet programs.Check — Shipowners Directory.→ Choose a shipowner in Shipowners Directory
Find a job on a container ship through JobMarineMan
Verified shipowners.All sizes. Feeder, Panamax, Neo-Panamax, ULCV.All positions. From Wiper vacancies to Captain vacancies.Direct hiring with no fees.→ View all container ship jobs
FAQ
What is a container ship?
Container ship — a vessel for carrying standard containers TEU. From feeder vessels 500 TEU to ULCV 24,000 TEU. The second most important type of dry cargo fleet.
What are salaries on container ships?
Higher than on bulk carriers. OS — usually $1,000–1,600, AB — $1,500–2,200, 3/O — $3,000–5,000, ETO — $5,000–7,500, Captain — $9,000–18,000. Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM — usually 15–25% above average.
What is lashing?
Securing containers: twist locks, lashing rods, turnbuckles. The main physical work of AB and OS in port — 6–12 hours at each call. Regulated by CSS Code.
What are reefer containers?
Refrigerated containers with their own cooling unit. On ULCV — up to 2,000+ sockets. Monitoring and repair — work of Electrician and ETO. Brands: Carrier, Daikin, Thermo King, Star Cool.
What is the rotation?
3–4 months on European feeders. 4–6 months on large lines. Depends on the operator.
How is a container ship different from a bulk carrier?
Pace: a container ship calls at 5–10 ports per voyage bulk carrier — 2. Speed: 18–24 knots bulk carrier — 12–14. HV systems: on ULCV 6600V. Reefer containers. Lashing. Salaries higher by 15–25%.
How to apply quickly?
Upload CV through JobMarineMan — direct contact with the shipowner. The manager will contact you within 1–2 days. Shipowners Directory and Global Vessel Database.
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