Below are some questions I have received together with answers I have sent. I have deleted all names and some details that could identify the person asking a question.

General Enquiries

Question: [ No SUBJECT Line ] im a graduate of marine transportation can i apply to your company as a cadet thank you

Answer DO NOT leave SUBJECT line empty. Your enquiry can easily be taken as spam and is deleted straight from the in-box. Or some big agents / employers have an e-mail system that delivers the e-mail directly to certain persons, depending on the text in the subject line. When that is empty it cannot be forwarded by the system and isn't accepted at all.

When you apply for a job then in the Subject line you type: Job application - Position applied for - Your name: Family name, first name.

I'm neither recruiting agent nor employer. For cadet training go to "Ship Cadet Training"

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Question: (no text)

Answer: Don't send any application like this. It' so easy not to notice any attachment and then delete the "empty" message. I have done that many times myself and the recruiters are all very busy people.

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Question: I'm a 3rd marine engineer in Sri Lanka & have work experience for 5 years. I would like to migrate to Australia. Can I find a suitable job from there.

Answer: May I suggest you contact your nearest Australian Embassy / consulate for that enquiry. They can give you more complete information.

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Question: PLEASE FIND THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT.

Answer: You don't say at all what kind of position you are looking for. As you have completed an "air hostess" course, I'm wondering are you male or female? Are you trying for job on Cruise ships, Superyachts, Cargo Ships, or Offshore?

First go to Advice to Newcomers to Ship Work. Once you have the necessary certificates and documentation and can decide on what kind of ship and what kind of job you want then you go to: How to Write a Maritime Job Application see also section "Cover letter".

Then you go to the webpage where you expect to find the kind of jobs you are looking for. And start applying to the listed agents / employers. Always state straight away what position you are applying for, which of course means you apply only to currently open vacancies.

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Question: yes ,my name is .. ... im a commercial fisherman for 20 years ,im wanting to get something new in my life ,im single 39yars old and love to travel can you tell me or point me into the right direction on how ill get started at this, i have thousands of hours on the sea and cannot find where to begin

Answer: Changing from one sector to another is very difficult nowadays. Moving from one kind of job to a different kind of job within the same sector is not so difficult. Which means any new job within the fishing sector is what you should look for. Because your job experience isn't very relevant for anything else.

For instance on cargo ships or private yachts the STCW documentation / certificates are different compared with fishing boats. You could, however, consider job with fishing somewhere in the Pacific. I've heard the ladies over there are just wonderful. With 20 years as fisherman, I suppose you could look for a job as consultant or fishing "expert" or something like that.

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Question: Perhaps you can point me in the right direction. I`m aware now, after a few weeks of looking for offshore work, and being of the no experience variety, that it is near impossible. So, I`ve managed to find a few entry level floorhand courses, but they`re all so FAR away! ...I`m in South ... . Where should I look and do you think just a safety, offshore course ( BOSIAT and HUET ) are good enough to secure a job, or should I ideally do the entry level course?

Answer: Now I don't know about any entry level courses in ... . As you say they are far away - like in ... . Then as a female, I hope you have had a bunch of bigger rough brothers. The workers on the rigs are not exactly the loving and polite kind of men. Mostly they are the kind that think the top of manliness is to slap you on the ass with some sexy comment. You would have to be physically strong and of a technical mind with a lot of skin on your nose. If you can give "tit for tat", go ahead.

BOSIET and HUET courses are not for you to choose whether to take or not. They are mandatory on most offshore oil rigs as insurance company requirements. Which means they don't guarantee you will get a job but neither will any pre-employment courses guarantee you anything either.

The entry level job is called a "roustabout". A floorhand is somebody who's been promoted from roustabout ( a few years experience on rigs ) up to the drill deck. Get offshore career and job descriptions    2.7 MB.

Do you have any experience with any mechanical work? Without that I would say your chances are very close to nil. If you have some suitable work experience you could try to get on a maintenance crew. It would be easier for you to work with same men all the time, even if going around to different platforms.

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Subject = Marine FAQ enquiry [9 attachments, 3.4 MB]
Question: I would like to apply for a positon as a ROV PILOT TECH. with your company. I can be reached on this email address or tel: [ New Zealand ]

Answer: You send me a job application from "Marine Jobs FAQ" page. On that page I have several times in bold pointed out I'm neither recruiting agent nor employer. I'm advising people to read my page How to Write a Maritime Job Application. On that page and on Maritime FAQ page I several times point out don't send open applications, apply only to current vacant positions. On every jobs page I state clearly: "Go to the job listings on each website below and check for new opportunities". STILL YOU SEND ME AN APPLICATION.

On the application advice page I advice not to send all documents with the first application, just the CV / resume only. You attach 9 (nine) documents, total 3.4 MB. Because you are the most stubborn individual I have encountered for a very long time I'll copy your application and this answer to the FAQ page, may be somebody else will believe I really mean what I write on my pages.

As you are so stubborn that no advice applies to you and obviously you know very well everything, I REFUSE TO FURTHER ADVICE YOU NOT TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. You are welcome to go ahead: don't read anything on any employer's webpages, just send your open application with all attachments to every e-mail address you find - may be if you are very lucky you get one job before you are old enough to retire.

Cargo Ship Job

Question: I am writing to express my interest in applying for vacancies at your organization. Based in Ghana West African, I am holder of Motor Vehicle Technician Three City & Guilds. also completed I.M.O Mandatory Short Courses from Regional Maritime University Ghana and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate from British Council, IELTS Australia and University of Cambridge.

Answer: I'm neither recruiting agent nor employer. Second, if you want to work on a ship, go first to Advice for Newcomers to Ship Work.

To work on a ship you need the "Basic Seafarer's Course" + Seaman's Book + Passport + Seaman's Medical ( fitness ) certificate.

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Question: Thank you for your mail and advices, but please try to find a job for me. Please see attached for my CV.

Answer: I already told you I'm not a recruiting agent. You have to find a suitable agent / employer by yourself from my listings and apply for your job by yourself. Go to Cargo Ship Job Links. On that page there is one ... recruiting agent, try that one for instance.

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Question: I have spent many hours searching the Internet for employment and have sent many dollars for the guides. Were talking 3 months, 18 hour days, $1700.00. I am exhausted and still have not secured a job.

I would like to direct my resume to a company that is hiring a Maritime Electrician, or an offshore supply boat as a QMED unlicensed Engineer. If I qualify for an oil rig position that would be acceptable also. I have all my qualifications and I am available ASAP.

As you will see I have been with the Major Shipping Unions but I no longer wish to sail with them. I am looking for something in the way of a Tramp Steamer that pays well and the voyage will last anywhere from a few months to 1 year.

Answer: First I had a look at your CV. Why are you hiding your birth date? Is it very close to 60?
Second, just listing onboard jobs 20-30 years ago doesn't have any meaning because the possible documentation from that time isn't valid anymore. To get a job onboard - as an electrician - you shouldn't be over 50 years of age. Of course, if you are already employed onboard a ship when you reach that age - that's no problem. It's when you are over that and try to find a crew position with a new employer you will notice there's suddenly a barrier. This is in most cases due to the insurance companies, it could cause the employer a higher insurance premium if employing such an "old" new employee.

Being a long time with the seamen's unions can in the US some times rise a red flag at the employer's office - is this a union man? There are really no "Tramp Steamers" any more. Almost all cargo to and from US goes and comes by container, except for dry bulk and oil ("wet" bulk ). You must have a current USCG ( US Coast Guard ) license to work on a commercial vessel nowadays.

Also your CV, please change the file name from "Complete CV" to "family name,first name-CV.doc". With the current file name it's possible somebody applies with the same employer / agent and gives his/her CV the same file name and yours is overwritten in the employer's / agent's data base. You must also include your personal details: place and date of birth, passport + seaman's book numbers and expiry dates, expiry dates for all other valid STCW documents as well as seamen's medical certificate. Usually a list of employment / employers for the last five years is enough.

Go to: How to Write a Maritime Job Application and also look at the "Example Application" for additional ideas.

Offshore

Question: TRAIN TO APPLAY TO A CATERING AT THE RIGS .WHAT TO DO?

Answer: You enrol at a cooking school / hotel restaurant school, then you get yourself a job as ( Night ) Trainee Baker / Trainee Cook, or Assistant cook at a 3-4 * (star) restaurant for 2-3 years. That should be enough work experience for the rigs. Then you get your BOSIET + HUET + offshore medical ( fitness ) certificate and apply with a Offshore Catering Company. GO to Offshore Catering Jobs. For certificates go to: Offshore Training and Certificates.

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Question: I came across your website while looking for jobs in the offshore oil industry. Thank you for so much useful information. I found this paragraph most interesting - "Occasionally job opportunities for ( radio ) communications operators on offshore oil rigs, Marine Assistants and Port Engineers. A radio operator / officer must possess a GMDSS certificate".

Somewhere else I read that a radio operator can make around $62,000 a year. I was wondering where in the UK would I be able to find an opening for this job? I'm willing to show up in person for an interview or to apply. I can't seem to crack it on Google, so I was wondering if you have any tips or sources on where to start.

Answer: You can for instance apply for a job when you see it listed - if you have the competency and necessary certification. To get a GMDSS certificate you contact a Navigational School / College, they are the ones running these courses. To find that one you look in the good old telephone book - Yellow pages.

Somebody may be earn that much but you can win on lotto too - can't you? A much more probable monthly income would be about 4-5.000 $ per month ( which isn't much less ). There are not very many "radio Operator" jobs because very often it's the rig Medic that handles it on his stand by hours. It's an easy and boring job and very few employers take somebody to a rig if he's not occupied all the time. I don't think it's worthwhile to take the certificate with the intention to start a profession.

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Question: I am 32 years of age and i am looking for a job that would allow me to work offshore doign just about anything. I am an American, but i want to move to a different country, so this is why i am thinking about offshore work as a career. I am willing to be gone for days, or months at a tine, as long as i get some time off. Any information u could give would be greatley appreciated,

Answer: It's not that easy to start working offshore. Especially not right now with some oil production being cut down. The possible entry level jobs would be roustabout ( hard physical labour ), galley hand ( "washing dishes", pealing potatoes ), storekeeper, cabin steward ( cleaning cabins, washing people's clothes etc.)

If you have a background in welding / electrical work / instrumentation repair / hydraulics etc. then you can seriously think about it. Otherwise I wouldn't recommend, you would waste your time and money trying.

As American it wouldn't be easy for you to get work permit in some other countries because American government doesn't easily grant work permits to foreigners either ( very difficult to get ). Anyway, those entry level jobs ( roustabout ) usually goes to somebody local, for instance those in the Mexican Gulf to Americans and those offshore Brazil to Brazilians, etc..

If you think you still wanna try, go first to Offshore Training and Certificates.

You need a lot of certificates before you are allowed even onto the rig. These are all mandatory and note that if you want to work outside USA you must have Internationally valid certificates, i.e. OPITO approved. USCG ( US Coast Guard ) approved certificates are not valid outside US waters. Without proper certificates it's useless even to apply. This is so even if the employer is American, but if the geographic location of the rig is outside US waters then International rules apply.

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Question: I was hoping that perhaps you could give me some guideance. I am 43 years old, French but speak English fluently. The job situation at the moment is dire. I want to work offshore and am prepared to take the OPITO test. However, do you have any suggestions on who I can contact to work offshore land or platform based. I have a crawler crane ticketNVQ2 plus my CPCS is this ok for platform work? Or do I need a different exam and if so what is it and where can I take it.

Answer: Your crane operating experience is sure good work experience to start from. There is, however, a big difference between a land crane and an offshore crane. Offshore everything moves all the time - in several directions at the same time. Even you are on a fixed platform that's steady, when picking up some cargo from a supply boat, that boat isn't tied up to the rig and it's moving up and down with the waves and possible back and forth a little bit as well as sideways because of the wind and/or current + corrections in the position. If you are on a barge the barge will also be moving at the same time and very often in a completely different rhythm ( it's bigger ) and in different directions.

You need a special offshore crane operators certificate, preferably at least "Sparrow level 2", more info on Offshore Training and Certificates. Please note in addition you must also have HUET + BOSIET + offshore medical ( fitness ) certificate. You find information about all these on the page I mentioned.

Once you have HUET + BOSIET + crane operator's certificates you can for instance contact Bourbon, which is French and one of the bigger offshore operators. You find a link to their website on Offshore Job Links.

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Question: We would just like to enquier how we should apply for available vacancy's We are Emergency Personnel and are intrested to work on Oil Riggs If you could please assist us we are Located In South ... and are Registerd EMT-B and EMT -I

Answer: Please go Offshore Medical Job Links.

Please note, to work as a rig medic you need an offshore medic's certificate. More info on the page mentioned above. Also necessary BOSIET + HUET courses and certificates from a OPITO approved training centre. I believe you can get these in ... . Further you need offshore medical (fitness) certificate issued by an authorised doctor. More info on certificates on Offshore Training and Certificates.

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Question: May I have the privilege to apply as a MEDIC DOCTOR in your company. I have been in practice for fourteen years now. I am a specialist in Orthopaedics and trauma. It is my desire for a change to be employed offshore. Hoping that I could be a part of your dynamic company.

Answer: Sorry, I'm neither recruiting agent nor employer. Although your medical specialty is well suitable on offshore oil rigs, be aware during a medics stand-by hours and when no accidents around the medic is often expected and required to fill his/her working hours with other non-medical work. Go back to Offshore Medical Job Links. Read the details on medic duties in the upper part of the page. I know some doctor who resigned as medic because, as he said it was below his "dignity" to service and maintain the firefighting breathing apparatuses. "I'm a DOCTOR !!"

There is also the possibility of going as a doctor on some onshore remote sites, whether oil drilling or mining, where more of your capabilities would come to fuller use. May be you would be over-qualified offshore. On that medical job page, scroll down the page until you get to the bigger picture of an oil rig, there you find "frontiermedical", which for you could be an alternative solution. It's the last of the employer listings.

Offshore survival and medical fitness certificates are required only offshore where the rig or the floating unit is in the water off the coast. Onshore sites doesn't require the same.