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Career possibilities at sea
The maritime sector offers a wide
variety of challenging career opportunities, with specialist and
modern skills, which are highly transferable at sea, in the shored
based maritime related industries, as well as outside the maritime
sector.
The merchant navy is a collective
term for the shipping industry that includes passenger ships (such
as ferries and cruise liners), container ships, tankers (oil, gas
and chemical), bulk carriers and other specialised vessels.
Seafarers on board a ship form three distinct groupings:
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deck officers who are assigned
to the deck department, in which the highest position is the
master,
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engineer officers who are
assigned to the engine department, wherein the highest rank is the
chief engineer and
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ratings assigned to supporting
tasks (watchkeeping duties and/or catering services). All these
functions work in fact as a team to ensure the safe operation of
the ship and delivery of its passengers or cargo.
Officers and ratings are trained
to perform specific roles on board ships. Their education, training
and certification are conducted according to minimum international
requirements laid down by the Convention of the International
Maritime Organisation on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW Convention).
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