r/maritime • u/WojtekMySpiritAnimal • Apr 24 '25
Hi everyone. I've been on this subreddit for some time and noticed that a large amount of posts coming through are of people unsure of how to find resources relating to the Maritime industry . What I'm posting is by no means comprehensive, but it should point you in the right direction.
Feel free to comment any insights or tips to help expand this post. Thanks.
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Regardless of what you want to do, this should be your top priority. It is essential to have or they won't even let you on the docks.
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For those of you new to being on boats, you'll want to select "Entry Level" and "Original" in section II. If you decide to stick with this career path, you'll be seeing this form again.
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There is a short form version of this, the CG_719KE, that is less comprehensive, but it will not allow you to take Wheel watches or Engine room watches. If your plan is to go beyond the deck or galley, use the 719K.
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*ONLY if you've had prior time on vessels*
During this period would be ideal to fill out your seatime letter and sending it in. This is essentially a vouched statement from prior captains/companies you may have worked under attesting to days you've spent on board vessels. As you advance into this career, seatime goes hand in hand with attaining higher ratings.
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*To be filled out if you have a history of legal troubles more severe than a traffic violation, though like the form says, this is optional to do. If you have priors and don't fill it out and they find out though, well...
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Pretty straightforward. Use the above site to send payment for all related fees.
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Now that you have all this filled out, send it in! I personally recommend taking hi-res photos of the documents and emailing them as it seems to be processed faster, but physical mail works just as well.
The NMC does well to keep you in the loop of any missteps you may have had on your forms, and will notify you when it's being processed.
With all of that done, you should now have your TWIC and your MMC. Barebones credentials for getting started, but at the very least, you'll meet the minimum requirements for smaller commercial operations.
For those of you who have already attained these and have some seatime under your belt, here are some references for assisting in exams. I've used most of these, and they certainly help when bucking for those higher licenses.
Prior to any meaningful ratings/licenses, you're going to want to take a basic training course. This satisfies both STCW and USCG requirements and is the foundation of your licensing. These are IN-PERSON courses, as the material covered is in practical use and application of equipment and scenarios that will be encountered onboard vessels. I suggest googling "Basic training courses near you maritime" to find a course you can take.
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\It should be noted, these pertain to USCG licenses, not STCW (international), though there is overlap.*
I actually got my AB through them. The coursework was easy enough to get into, and the exam was relatively painless. A good choice if maritime schools or solo-studying isn't an option for you.
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These guys offer a variety of different courses above and below deck, and in-person/online. Very smooth experience with them.
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This archaic layout of a site really is the best for studying the higher exams. Gives a complete breakdown on solutions to problems and has pre-made tests for each area specific to your licensing.
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Capt. Chris is an awesome guy, and all of his course layouts are extremely detailed, with videos diving in to each topic. Top tier for its price, and if you're unfamiliar with the material, he does well to ease you into it.
I can say that I would not have passed my 1600ton licensing had it not been for his courses.
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Great for on the go studying on your computer and your phone. Gives you the ability to select test sets for specific ratings and burn through the question list you'll be facing at the REC.
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If you're unable to do an in-person class, which is recommended, this site will get you USCG certified in a pinch.
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This site has postings in all varieties in locations all over the US. At the very least, good place to scroll through to see what's out there.
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For my area, this is where the majority of logistics companies will post their job openings for deckhands/mates/etc.
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Quite a few companies have job postings on their website that are difficult to find elsewhere. If you have a local carrier/operator, try browsing their website for postings. This extends to social media accounts of various companies as well.
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If you're wanting to get seatime, but having trouble making headway with a tugboat or transport gig, commercial fishing vessels are always looking to hire. For owner/operator operations, the requirements boil down to:
Do you work hard?
Do you give off the impression you're going to murder the crew while everyone is sleeping?
In all seriousness, walk down to the docks in the nearest city with a decent commercial fishing scene, and just chat up the boats. This is how I started my career on the water, and it really is that simple. The work can suck, but as a former captain once told me, "An adventure is just the fond remembrance of suffering".
Tour boats are another good entry-way to get seatime, and while the barrier is slightly higher than some commercial fishing vessels, it's a good option to see if working on the water is a fit for you.
Granted, there is an entirely different chain of going about things via academies, but I have no experience in that world, so my scope is only what I've personally done.
Hope this helps!
r/maritime • u/MateChristine • Aug 05 '21
There are many ways to join the AMERICAN maritime industry! Merchant Mariners join in the maritime industry in one of three ways: a maritime college, an apprenticeship or by “hawsepiping”. Your pathway into the industry is typically guided by which department you want to work in and what kind of vessels you would like to work on. Most vessels have 3 departments onboard, the Deck department, the Engine department, and the Stewards department. The Deck department navigates or steers the vessel and is responsible for the cargo and safety equipment, including lifeboats, fire-fighting equipment and medical response gear. The Engine department operates, maintains, and repairs engines, boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery. The Stewards department prepares and serves all the meals onboard, they also order the food and conduct general housekeeping. Like the military, the maritime industry has officer and unlicensed roles.
Maritime colleges offer students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a Third Mate (deck officer) or Third Assistant Engineer (engine officer) license. There are 6 state run maritime academies and 1 federally funded academy. The curriculum for all 7 colleges is 4 years, including sea phases during summer or winter vacations. Tuition and other costs depend on each school and your in-state/out-state residency.
Maritime apprenticeship programs offer a variety of opportunities. Some are designed for unlicensed roles, others are designed for apprentices to earn licenses. Check a separate post on maritime apprenticeships. Both maritime colleges and apprenticeship programs are designed for candidates with little or no prior maritime experience. Some apprenticeships are free, others have a cost. See the FAQ on apprenticeships for details on several popular programs.
You can join the American maritime industry by obtaining your Merchant Mariner Credential through the US Coast Guard and taking the required entry level courses. You would then find employment through a maritime labor union or working for a company directly. With sea-time, courses and exams you can ‘work your way up the ladder’ to become an officer; this is known as “hawsepiping”. To obtain an entry level Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), you must be a US citizen or a permanent resident, pass a drug test, provided a medical screening/physical and Transportation Worker’s Identification Card (TWIC). TWIC can be obtained from the Department of Homeland Security. If you are interested in working on vessels that operate internationally, you will need to take a “Basic Training” course and apply for a Basic Training STCW endorsement. Merchant Mariner Credential and Basic Training endorsements are obtained from the National Maritime Center of the United States Coast Guard. More information, forms and applications can be found at www.Dco.uscg.mil/nmc or at local Regional Exam Centers.
r/maritime • u/rainythrones • 2h ago
looking into pursue marine engineering and of course get usgc licensed, do any campuses allow spring enrollment for starting, i have heard many only allow fall start which i believe would be too late to get into now
r/maritime • u/chucky5150 • 3h ago
Question for y'all's
Currently hold 1600 Mate upon towing & oceans.
Able to update to 3rd Mate 2000 GRT.
Kind of confused as to what that gets me in the real world. I haven't seen job postings for mates greater than 1600 but less than 2000.
But need tonnage of greater than 1600 to be able to remove the limitation.
Is this where one could count the tonnage of the barge (dry bulk / ATB) and upgrade that way?
Just curious how somebody who has gone down this path did it.
r/maritime • u/Internal-Dust4940 • 18h ago
Two ships badly damaged by attacks in the Black Sea ran aground on Turkey's coast over the weekend, the latest in a string of stricken vessels piling up as strikes on Black Sea shipping continue.
On August 30, the product tanker Golden Sapling beached near Alacham in Samsun province after drifting unmanned for four days. The Hong Kong lagged, Chinese owned tanker was struck by a drone on August 26, roughly 90 nautical miles off Sinop. The deck house and bridge were badly burnt. Her 21 crew were evacuated by the Greek ship Maran Pythia before the abandoned tanker drifted onto the Turkish coast.
Hours later, a second ship appeared on a Turkish beach. The Russian-flagged Omskiy 107 grounded at Alacali Beach in the Sile district of Istanbul. The crew abandoned it. For nearly four weeks the 108 metre cargo ship, built in Romania in 1981 and operated by Moscow based Avomar Shipping, had drifted south-west across the Black Sea after being attacked near Novorossiysk in early August. Images from the scene show the bridge area gutted by fire.
Turkey's foreign ministry summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to protest the attacks. MSC has suspended its Novorossiysk container service, according to Maritime Executive.
r/maritime • u/Smooth_Window75 • 4h ago
US Based Mariners: for those who have been around for a while as a Sr. Officer, which union would you consider the best/most convenient for picking up RELIEF jobs only, as CM or Master?
Thanks!
r/maritime • u/DasYossif • 14h ago
Saw Viking Neptune leaving Tallinn yesterday. Out of curiosity wanted to check how far she has got. Seems like there is something happening?
r/maritime • u/Internal-Dust4940 • 15h ago
Before the conflict, around 150 vessels were transiting the Strait of Hormuz each day.
Now, in a current 50-km snapshot around the Strait, 158 vessels are detected, but only 38 are moving. The remaining 120 are stationary or moving at very low speed.
Some of the vessels currently recorded as moving:
• H7 SMB8 — IMO 9339442
• ARROW LADY — IMO 9304215
• POSEIDON ECO — IMO 9169770
• AFRICA STAR GUARDIAN — IMO 1169334
• FARAHI 1 — IMO 7613442
• ARMAN 10 — IMO 9084360
• KAISER — IMO 9299472
• MARLIN — IMO 1080980
• HASNA — IMO 9212917
• HARAPAN PERDANA IX — IMO 9826201
• HANI 30 — IMO 9616890
• SOUMAR — IMO 7808592
• SELENIA — IMO 9286437
• DAS 1 — IMO 9817432
• LITTLE CYGNUS — IMO 9946233
• BGP COMMANDER — IMO 9647057
• TARLAN — IMO 9141106
The difference is striking: from roughly 150 daily transits before the conflict to just 38 moving vessels in this current snapshot.
How much longer can normal traffic remain disrupted?
r/maritime • u/MarineTraffic • 13h ago
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Vessel activity through the Strait of Hormuz declined sharply on 31 August, with five confirmed crossings, down 50% from 10 the previous day, according to MarineTraffic data. Four vessels entered the Middle East Gulf, while one exited. The crossings followed a mix of Iranian, Omani and negotiated routes and included two shadow-fleet vessels and one sanctioned vessel. By contrast, activity through Bab el-Mandeb remained broadly stable, with 35 confirmed crossings, up 2.9% day-on-day. Nineteen vessels entered the Red Sea and 16 exited, with no dark transits or new IMO-confirmed attacks recorded.
r/maritime • u/Fun-Feedback-1408 • 17h ago
r/maritime • u/Maleficent-Half-2231 • 17h ago
Anyone here work on tankers in Canada, either Great Lakes or Atlantic?
I’m an OS with SIU and have noticed a few tanker jobs coming up on the dispatch board. Thinking about getting my tanker familiarization but wondering if it’s actually worth it.
How’s the pay compared to regular cargo? Is the workload/cargo work noticeably harder or more stressful? And does tanker experience help much with moving up from OS/AB?
Would appreciate hearing from anyone who’s actually worked on them.
r/maritime • u/xdzer • 21h ago
would i have to get my stretched ears sewed shut before attending a maritime college or would just keeping the plugs out of my ears be enough?
r/maritime • u/Small_Government_143 • 10h ago
r/maritime • u/david2882 • 20h ago
Trying to find a refer tech to ask some questions about the job. Curious what day-to-day life is like as a reefer Tech on a US container ship as well as if some of the numbers I've heard of for pay are realistic.. MFOW or SIU
r/maritime • u/JustFranklin223 • 16h ago
Hello,
I’m currently completing a master’s thesis in international commerce on strategic Incoterms selection and its impact on maritime transport risk, cost and control.
I’m looking for feedback from professionals involved in shipping, freight forwarding or import–export, and I’ve prepared a very short online questionnaire about Incoterms in maritime and multimodal transport. It should take no more than 5 minutes to complete, and all responses are treated as confidential and used only for academic research.
Your participation will directly help deepen this research and strengthen the quality of the results I can present.
If you’re willing to help, you can access the questionnaire here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeahr-nEufqeEEAf9yBj_qbCWIxbg3oi9Lk3DDoCP96vPmZtg/viewform?usp=header
Thank you in advance for your time and support.
r/maritime • u/Pretty-Oil-3593 • 19h ago
Is this reality for marine engineers are they going to loose their jobs in future due to ums class lng powered and dual fuel ums ships?
r/maritime • u/Milluhgram • 1d ago
As the title states, I’m looking to connect with other IT or cybersecurity professionals working in the U.S. maritime industry, whether that’s blue-water or brown-water operations.
This is mainly regarding the USCG Cybersecurity Final Rule. I believe I have a solid understanding of the requirements at this point, but I’d be interested in hearing how others are handling the practical side of implementation.
I’m especially curious about how you’re documenting drills and exercises, tracking annual cybersecurity training, handling training records for vessel personnel, and what platforms or processes you’re using overall.
No company names, proprietary information, or anything sensitive is needed. I’m mainly looking to compare approaches and make sure I’m not overlooking anything as I continue to solidify our program.
If anyone in the maritime IT/cybersecurity space is willing to share their experience or have a brief discussion, I’d appreciate it.
r/maritime • u/ResolutionFine8985 • 1d ago
So I’m 25 and looking to pivot I have an desk based engineering degree that I haven’t used as I’ve been travelling. I’m from the uk. I absolutely love adventure sports such as surfing rock climbing mountain biking and scuba diving and want to do these sports all over the world. I just simply don’t agree with having 4 weeks off a year and that being it. I think I want a hard high paying hands on career that gives me decent blocks of time off and money to do all these things. I would also like to work with like minded outdoor adventure folk!
My options so far.
Helicopter mechanic - 3 years + training and can maybe look at rotational / seasonal roles.
Marine engineers. 3 years as cadet and then can get a rotational roles maybe? I’m worried I won’t like the people on this.
Can anyone give me insights into these field or others that have allowed you to live an awesome life.
Thanks!
r/maritime • u/adamemuir • 1d ago
Hey guys,
Flying into Japan soon. I’m flying to a ship hoping to do around 5 months. I’m an avid zynner and I KNOW that it’s very hard to find zyns over there so I’m going to fly with around 60 cans. Is Japan going to give me a hard time? Plan on taking them in my personal bag
r/maritime • u/poopypants2161 • 1d ago
Resigned with pending diciplinary paperwork. Re applied but got denied for past employment. It's been 4 years. How do I appeal? If my write up was COVID related
r/maritime • u/bricksNbricksNbricks • 2d ago
Spotted today off the RI/CT coast
r/maritime • u/andmel • 16h ago
NCS Live is my free hobby project mapping Norway’s offshore fields, platforms, pipelines, vessels and helicopters. Once upon a time a crossed the pacific in a sailboat, but these days I'm sitting behind a desk making this map in my spare time.
I’ve added an experimental feature that checks live AIS every five minutes and flags:
Last night, it detected the trawler ASTRID apparently fishing 52 metres from Langeled, booo, the gas pipeline to the UK. It also flagged a large vessel slowly following a cable route near Troll.
A flag doesn’t imply wrongdoing. AIS and route data have limitations, and I’m expecting false positives.
If you know about AIS, fishing or subsea infrastructure, I’d really appreciate your feedback—or a tag to someone who might help test it.
r/maritime • u/u02dn16 • 1d ago
Has anyone done an interview for Maritime costguard agency marine surveyor? If so, what to expect? I have a video interview coming up (UK)
