Marine Link
Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Maritime Careers / Shipboard Positions

The maritime industry offers a vast array of career opportunities, each playing a crucial role in the global economy. From navigating the high seas to ensuring the smooth operation of ports and shipping lines, maritime careers are diverse and dynamic. This article explores the various career paths available in the maritime industry, the skills required, and the benefits of pursuing a career at sea.

Deck Officers

·  Chief Officer (Chief Mate)

·  Second Officer (Second Mate)

·  Third Officer (Third Mate)

·  Boatswain

·  Able Seamen

·  Ordinary Seamen

·  *Deck cadet

 

Steward’s Department

·  Chief Steward

·  Chief Cook

·  Steward's Assistant

·  Baker

·  Head Waiter

·  Head Barman 

 

Engineering Positions

·  Chief Engineer

·  Second Engineer (First Assistant Engineer)

·  Third Engineer (Second Assistant Engineer)

·  Fourth Engineer (Third Assistant Engineer)

·  Fifth Engineer (Junior Engineer)

 

Engineering Department

·  Oiler 

·  Greaser

·  Wiper 

·  Utilityman

·  Motorman

·  Pumpman

·  Machinist

·  Electrician

·  Refrigeration Engineer

·  Tankerman

·  *Engine Cadets

 

Staff Positions  (hold USCG Certificates of Registry)

·  Junior Assistant Purser

·  Senior Assistant Purser

·  Purser

·  Chief Purser

·  Medical Doctor

·  Professional Nurse

·  Marine Physician Assistant

·  Hospital Corpsman

·  Pilot

·  Radio /Electro-Technical Officer (FCC license)

 

Professional Certifications and Credentials

·  Able Seaman

·  Celestial Navigation

·  Coastal Navigation

·  Firefighting

·  First Aid & CPR

·  Flashing Light (visual communications)

·  Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS)

·  Master Mate

·  Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV)

·  Radar Observer

·  Seafarer's Training, Certification and Watchkeeping

·  Tankerman

·  Terrestrial Navigation

 

Shipyard Jobs

·  AutoCAD Operator

·  Draftsman

·  Designer

·  Estimator

·  Marine Engineer

·  Naval Architect

·  Scheduler

·  Secretary

·  Technical Writer

·  Training Instructor

·  Painters

·  Crane Operators

·  Electrician

·  Machinist

·  Mechanic

·  Pipe Fitter

·  Purchasing Clerk

·  Safety Officer

·  Environmental Officer

·  Tool Room Clerk

·  Quality Assurance Engineer

·  Drivers

Tags: Shipboard Positions Maritime Careers

© St. Louis Regional Freightway/We Work the Waterway

FreightWeekSTL Panel Highlights Building US Inland Waterways Workforce

A recent FreightWeekSTL panel highlighted how expanding awareness of maritime careers…

Source: WISTA Norway

Trygve NĆøkleby Receives 20th WISTA Norway Leadership Award

WISTA Norway has named Trygve Nøkleby, Managing Director of the Bergen Shipowners Association…

Future Navigators - students. Ā© LR

Lloyd’s Register Announces Nigerian Future Navigators Schools Program Pilot

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is launching its Future Navigators Schools Programme pilot in Lagos…

Ā© We Work the Waterways

We Work the Waterways Provides Workforce Development Efforts to Maritime Consortium

We Work the Waterways (WWW) is serving as a workforce development and engagement…

Odegaard Fields (c) Crowley

Maine Maritime Cadets win Crowley Scholarships

Cadets Anna LaDue and Odegaard Fields from Maine Maritime Academy have been awarded the Thomas B.

A Modest Proposal for a Museum on the History of Containerization

The SL-7 was a class of high-speed steam containerships built for SeaLand in the early 1970s…

Ā© angeldibilio / Adobe Stock

MARAD Designates More Centers of Excellence for Maritime Training

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced…

The BMCC's 2023 Nassau graduates. (Photo: The Bahamas Maritime Authority)

More Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps Grads Are Opting for Shipping Careers

The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps (BMCC), which was first established by The Bahamas…

Lungiswa Nyembezi is Servest Marine’s branch manager, a division of the facilities management company Servest.

More Needs to Be Done to Improve Gender Equality in the Maritime Sector

Maritime transport is the backbone of international trade and the global economy.

Ky Robillard, 6th grader. Louisiana Key Academy, Baton Rouge; Jamaree Washington, 9th grader, Franklin Senior High School, Franklin, Jordan Savoy, 9th grader, Lafayette High School, Lafayette, Joseph Mitchell, 8th grader, Iberia Middle School, New Iberia, Gabrielle Adams, 8th grader, Louisiana Key Academy, Baton Rouge. (Photo: Jonathan Lopez)

Louisiana Students Take Mississippi River Tour Field Trip

Dozens of South Louisiana middle and high school students eager to learn about careers…

Ashish Anilan (left) - Sustainability Leader, in BV’s Southeast Asia Zone; David Barrow (standing) - Vice President, Marine & Offshore, South Asia Zone; Koh Shu Yong (right) - Director of iCARE (Photo: Bureau Veritas)

BV Opens Innovation and Sustainability Hub in Singapore

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Singapore (BV) has launched a new Center of Excellence…

UK Invests in ā€˜Maritime and Me’ Diversity Program

UK Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani has pledged £730,000 (about $910,000) in Government…

Related Articles

The Growing Threat of Piracy on the Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea, which stretches from Senegal to Angola, has become a major hotspot of piracy in recent years. This has had a significant impact on maritime trade and regional security.

Narco-Submarines: The Hidden Depths of Drug Trafficking

Narco-submarines, the clandestine vessels used by drug traffickers, represent one of the most sophisticated and elusive methods of smuggling drugs across international waters. These semi-submersible and fully submersible crafts are a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of criminal organizations in circumventing law enforcement efforts. This article delves into the history, construction, operation, and interdiction of narco-submarines, highlighting their impact on global drug trafficking.

This week’s key shipbuilding industry updates

U.S. Rebuilding Shipbuilding Industry with Policy and InvestmentThe U.S. government is launching a new era for shipbuilding, with a focus on industrial base renewal, national security, and economic growth. Key developments include:The establishment…

Armed Robbery at Sea: Navigating The High Seas of Crime

The vast, open oceans have long served as conduits for commerce, adventure, and exploration. However, along with the grandeur of maritime activities comes inherent risks, one of which is the specter of armed robbery at sea. Also known broadly as maritime piracy, this menacing threat envelops not just the economic marine highway but also the lives and safety of those who navigate it.

Maritime Contracts

Contracts between vessel owners and charterers concerning the water transportation of goods are technically known in admiralty law as "contracts of affreightment". The charterer agrees to pay a freight charge for cargo space. The voyage, amount of cargo space…