British Merchant Navy Employment and Careers, Jobs at Sea

The British
Merchant Navy

Merchant Navy

As an island nation, we depend on the sea for 95% of our trade and for our security.

A career at sea in the Merchant Navy, or the fishing industry is both challenging and rewarding, and can lead to a wide range of other careers in the maritime sector ashore.

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Merchant Navy Careers Handbook
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The Merchant Navy is an overall generic term for the civilian shipping industry consisting of companies operating a wide variety of ships.

Ranging from small tugs, coasters and ferries through to the large ocean going tankers, bulk carriers, container and cruise ships, including supply and support ships operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) for the Royal Navy.

Current rates of pay are excellent and UK home leave is very generous.

There is no central recruiting agency and it is necessary to approach individual shipping companies direct. That's why you will need the Merchant Navy Careers Handbook to help you join-up. You get the know-how of who to contact and where to look - essential to your success.

You get genuine "inside knowledge", because the Handbook is produced by a veteran Merchant Navy Seaman who began his sea career as an engine-room rating.

Now you might easily locate your golden opportunity. You will also receive a significant list of shipping employers with contacts, addresses and direct telephone numbers in the latest edition of Merchant Navy Employment and Careers Handbook at just £17 by download pdf file.

Certain Royal Naval experience and qualifications can be accepted and contribute towards Merchant Navy qualifications. Full details are included in the latest edition of Merchant Navy Employment and Careers Handbook.

For more particulars of life at sea order the latest edition of the Merchant Navy Employment and Careers Handbook at just £17 for same day download.

Entry Level? Join as a Rating

There are opportunities for entry as a rating. These are specifically with either the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; one of the British ferry companies such as P&O Stena, P&O Portsmouth, P&O North Sea Ferries, P&O Irish Sea Ferries, Stena; or the numerous companies of the offshore support fleets.

Join as a Trainee

Trainee seamen, motormen and catering assistants are sponsored by their employers through their new entry courses in Sea Survival, Firefighting and Survival Craft before going to sea.

There are also other entry-level opportunities for cooks, stewards, carpenters, electricians, mechanics, etc.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary also recruits a number of trainee communications ratings each year, for which specialised training is given at HMS Collingwood – a Royal Navy shore establishment.

Opportunities exist for ambitious ratings to qualify, in time, as Officer of the Watch for which some financial assistance or scholarships are available.

Join as an Officer Cadet

Deck (Navigating), Engineer and Electro Technical Officer Cadets

There are two training routes to become an officer in the Merchant Navy:

GCSE/A level entry

Applicants (who should be between 16 and 20 years old and have obtained training sponsorship from a shipping company) require a minimum of 4 GCSE passes (or equivalent) at Grades A-C, including mathematics, English, a physical science and a further academic subject. Entry at A level or H grade for accelerated training requires a minimum of a pass (A-E) in mathematics or physics.

Successful applicants are offered an integrated programme of college based education and ship board training leading to NVQ, National and Higher National awards as well as statutory international professional qualifications issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Much more detail is included in the Merchant Navy Employment and Careers Handbook, so download it today.

Degree entry is yet another route to entry at "Officer" grade:-

Degree courses leading to a BSc in Merchant Ship Operations or Engineering are offered at various specified Universities.

Much more detail is included in the Merchant Navy Employment and Careers Handbook, so download it today.

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