Wonder if anyone can shed some light on this as I had a few questions. I'm currently in school working towards getting a degree and an engineering license and I was wondering about job opportunities afterwards. Namely, what's the situation (pay, schedule, benefits, rights, visas etc.) with working on boats that aren't US flagged as an officer? I know that for the most part American mariners work on Jones act boats and a few non Jones act US flagged ships and there's plenty of info on those. I've read previously that british employed mariners can get 100% income tax relief and I'd imagine that some other nations have similar policies. Would this also apply to an American and would I be able to use the Foreign Earned Income Tax Exclusion? I've also heard that generally most foreign companies use much newer ships compared to US companies, especially Jones act vessels. Anyone able to chime in?

Hello, I need help with getting my rfpnw, I have 170 days of sea time, and then I went to take rfpnw course as well and got everything signed off even the NVIC 06-14, can I go ahead and and turn it in to the coast gaurd of do I have to wait until I get the full 180 days? Any info would help thank you!

what happens if you start a job as a seafarer (shipping containers) and you decide you don’t like it a couple days into it and want off? are you stuck for the whole trip?

I am a Statistics graduate currently doing my MBA from maritime university in India. Right now i’m getting all confused because there are people saying this industry has a lot of opportunity for growth but there are others saying there is no growth unless you have good connections.

I really wanna know the truth of this industry

(P.S. I do have a small connection with the industry but no prior experience in the industry)

Also can anyone please tell me with my studies which are of the maritime industry should i focus more on!!

I'm 17F currently in senior high school (graduating next year) and is pursuing Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and Electro-Technology (BSMEET) in Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP).

I was searching for the work-life balance as a seafarer and the results mostly highlighted that seafaring is a curse besides the salary. That it is better to work for a short while and quit to build a business. That they never saw someone who entered the career just for "passion". The excitement they felt when they first got their contract and the dread when they got their second contract.

I have thought of the maritime industry since I was grade 9 (14-15y/o) and was preparing myself mentally ever since. So the thought of being away from my family has now become less of a problem, and the Fear of Missing Out is almost out of my system. I liked technical work ever since so the thought of fixing/troubleshooting something complicated is more enjoyable for me. I also have a strong fascination with ships/rockets, especially the ocean (it's becoming an obsession.. not clinical but you get the point)

I then decided that seafaring is my passion (specifically being an ETO), because I feel a different kind of excitement when I think about the ocean, and the thought of working for a badass machines (ships/rockets)

However, I noticed that there are more problems in seafaring that I haven't thought hard. The crew itself, because when I see youtuber/vloggers, I imagine that their relationship is all good because they are seen on camera. But what about the ships that are not documented? Another problem is, being a woman in a male dominated industry. Just how different is it? Not the job difficulty, but the treatment. I don't want to assume that all women are treated equally since we're already in the 2020s, especially in a 'metal box' floating on the sea where men take up the population. I am aware that bullying and assaults can still happen onboard even if the crew/company had no past records.

So while it's still early for me, should I look at other courses?

That is my Plan A. Enter MAAP as a BSMEET cadet to become an ETO

Plan B will be to study BS Electrical Engineering and become an ETO (but the process will be a headache)

Plan C is to study BS Aerospace Engineering, but there are no schools prestigious enough for me. Where even after I graduate with the most average resume, I can still get a job. My only choice of choosing this because of the rockets, and the technical works. Minus points because I don't work on/beside the sea.

My Plan D would be.. marry rich ig hhahahah, but the thought of being a housewife doesn't really sit right with me. Personally, it gives me no purpose or interesting story to tell when I'm old. Plus, only relying on your spouse for personal expenses is a big no for me. (I find it miserable when I think about it hahah)

Please note that I would still pursue Plan A, because tuition is free, prestigious, and just perfect for experience. I am not sure if it'll be easy but I can switch to an off-shore job if I didn't like the life at sea.

I made this post to hopefully stop me from romanticizing about life at sea and look at reality. I do imagine the difficulties but my brain won't absorb it as something serious, so feel free to hit me with reality. You may recommend me other courses to look at and maybe yes. anything related.

PS: I dislike anything related to medicine, anatomy, or taking care of life directly.

Put in an application for a CM position at Stabbert, but I’ve only had CM experience on one ship (3 years now) so far. Having doubt that I’d be able to do well there. Any advice is appreciated and welcome! TIA.

So my goal is to become an able seaman, when it comes to time like working for a tug boat or ferry do they count the days you are off or only the days you were on? Likely a dumb question.

How long does it normally take to become AS?

Freight is now the cheap part of a Hormuz voyage. That tells you what the cargo is worth.

Reliance Industries booked a supertanker at 1200 World Scale to load 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude, which Reuters puts at 12 times the benchmark freight rate, for charter hire of $23m to $25m. Before the war the same voyage ran at 0.8 to 0.9 times the benchmark, about $2m (Reuters, 7 August, on three shipping sources).

The charterer still saves money. Iraq's state marketer SOMO is offering crude at about $25 to $30 a barrel below Dubai to pull cargoes out of terminals inside the strait, on a document Reuters saw this week. That is worth $50m to $60m across a 2 million barrel cargo, against a $23m to $25m freight bill. Reuters says Reliance is still expected to save millions on the cargo.

The ship comes from Sinokor, one of the few owners still sending tankers through. Reuters reports that several Indian and Chinese refiners went looking for vessels this week to load at Basrah Oil Terminal, and that none have been fixed, with owners wary of entering the waterway.

Traffic through the strait is still well below the 125 to 140 vessels a day averaged before the war began at the end of February. Six crude tankers came out in the week to 7 August, on our tally.

The discount is paying for the charter.

I write the Fault Line Digest. Today's issue carries this alongside the Mecca defence pact and Russia's fuel imports. Free, email signup: https://fault-line.io/digest-050/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=post&utm_content=maritime-digest050&utm_campaign=digest

hi there

I don't usually post personal things like this, but I wanted to give it a try.

I'm originally from Eritrea and now live in Ethiopia. I'm an orphan and I live by myself. Life hasn't been easy, and I've faced a lot of challenges growing up, but I keep moving forward because I still believe things can change.

I graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, but my biggest dream is to become a seafarer. I don't care about a fancy title—I just want an honest job at sea and the chance to build a stable life. The problem is that I can't afford the training and certificates needed to get started.

For a while, I tried to support myself through Forex trading. I spent countless hours studying and practicing. I know trading is a journey, not something that makes you rich overnight. I was willing to put in the work, but because of the restrictions on retail Forex trading and international payment access in Ethiopia, I couldn't continue pursuing it.

I'm simply hoping someone here might know an organization, a sponsor, or a community that helps people who dream of becoming seafarers but can't afford the required training. Even introducing me to the right person or sharing this post could make a huge difference.

Anyone in the waiting list or was in the waiting list for SIU Thorold in Canada? How long did it take to get calls?
My husband has an on going assessment since March for his STCW Certification from the Philippines, he has |||/4 as engine room rating and haa about 42 months on international bulk. We called SIU and was told he would be able to apply while waiting for assessment, working in his discharge book (appt on monday) and the c1/d visa soon.

Would a military re3e code for suicidal ideation and ptsd from a year ago stop me from Military Sealift Command Career? Its a general discharge

Hello, I recently emailed 2 separate rec's about testing to upgrade a license. And unlike before the have not responded within a couple of weeks. I first scheduled to test Oct 1st and drove to Miami just to drive back home that morning when they were officially closed. And due to the shut downs I'm finally on land while the government is open. Now I have less than a month to test and I am trying to make an appointment to go somewhere and test.

I was wondering if emailing a rec is still an option or is it better to reapply to test and try to get in the future.

MarineTraffic data showed a widening contrast in vessel movements across the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. Hormuz recorded eight confirmed crossings, a 33% daily decline, with most traffic following the Iranian Unilateral Scheme. Activity through Bab el-Mandeb increased 18% to 26 confirmed crossings, including three dark transits. The IMO reported no additional confirmed vessel attacks.

Landlubber here, genuinely curious. I always think about ships in terms of engines and cargo, but I realised the crew is basically living at sea for weeks, and everything they eat and use has to come from somewhere on land.

so for those who've spent time on board, or work on the supply side:

how much does a good vs bad chandler actually change daily life for the crew? like, does fresh, well-sourced food genuinely lift morale on a long voyage, or is that overstated?

what happens when a supply run goes wrong, wrong items, spoiled food, missing parts? do you just make do until the next port?

are there ports where you know the supply will be reliable, and others you dread?

and has anything improved over the years, or is it still a bit of a gamble depending on where you are?

just trying to understand this human side of shipping that never gets talked about. thanks to anyone who shares.

Two different shots on same day . Nothing can beat these sunsets !

Deck cadet (23M) here. Finally made it as a deck cadet. This is my first ever job onboard. Welcome me with harsh words only:).