[Kwadwo Marfo]

Thank you very much for this discussion. It is worth noting that the marine engineering sector is not so different from other entry level field engineer disciplines. It is harder to gain an entry opportunity than to maintain a spot in the sector, however, this statement is relative. Relative in the sense that, companies, charterers and other key influential stakeholders may sometimes have a preference to the nationality of engineers they want. They may prefer to select and train specific nationals so even if you are qualified and have the required skills set, you may not gain entry.

There are some companies now who have actually studied the trend of decline in the available manpower and the dire consequences this will have in the near future. These companies are now trying their best to have a multinational blend of nationals, races and cultures as it is the only to help augment for the decline in manpower available.

Thank you.

[Tim Robertson]

Thanks for this analysis @Blaq

[Ifunanya Kanu]

Thank you Tim and Caroline for this very pressing question.

The International Maritime and Labour Organizations have been decrying the dearth of qualified seafarers for a good while now, and as someone who has received hundreds of rejections in the course of my two year job search, I believe this is a sad misrepresentation of facts on the part of these reputable organizations. But to what end? The pipeline from operational/entry level positions to management levels is relatively straight forward, therefore investigating why the entry level pools are so saturated while companies seem to struggle with filling the management level positions should be a very simple process.

Shipping companies are trying to avoid the responsibility of training qualified personnel yet expecting to reap a bountiful harvest of management level seafarers.

To put it practically and realistically, getting your practicing license as a marine engineer is an investment you are not sure to reap returns on. You spend a good amount of money to do your basic and advanced training courses, then additional amounts for your practicing license examinations and certificate. Armed with your license which qualifies you to apply for jobs as a junior engineer, you enter into the fray only to realize that there are so many more people with the exact same experience and certificates applying for the same jobs, all at entry level positions, all desperately grappling onto crewing managers, globally. Your cadetship experience only counts if you it is done onboard a more specialized vessel like a tanker so if presented with the gift of choice, always choose cadetship onboard more specialized ships as it is more likely to pay off in your job search later on. The cadetship experience onboard these is sometimes counted as valid experience when applying for junior engineer positions onboard the same types of ships. Other vessels often demand experience in the rank you are applying to. Months of experience. Sometimes 6, 8 or even 12 months in rank experience for these entry level jobs. How can you get experience without working and how can you work without experience you ask? That is the conundrum of a saturated job market, where the employer whistles the tune and all applicants dance in a confused frenzy.

My best advice to anyone looking to join the maritime profession is this, “Do not put all your eggs in one basket.” Do away with the idea that it is only onboard a ship that you can work in the maritime sector and look into other ways you can work in the sector as an engineer. Get valuable skills that are required in associated areas and pivot to ensure you do not waste your time chasing elusive opportunities onboard ships.

Many shipping companies handpick their cadets straight out of maritime academies for their fleet. When hiring to complement their crew, many companies also have preferences to boost their appearances and bottom lines. Hiring from certain countries requires more expensive flights and visa processes that many are not willing to shoulder. Covid-19 forced many companies to have a more diverse and open hiring process but a return to normalcy has also meant a return to status-quo hiring processes.

While this may all seem like a bleak forecast of the sector, this is the reality I have witnessed in the last two years. Some others have had more successful outings and their stories can inspire hope in the hearts of young engineers. I encourage such engineers to speak of their own experiences and how they have navigated the sector as well.

Mentors are also very helpful if you can get them. A good mentor can shape your career and give you a good headstart by informing you of the pitfalls and opportunities in the industry.

Have a nice day everyone 🤗

[Tim Robertson]

Hi Ifunanya. This is a very detailed analysis. Would you like The Field Engineer to publish a version of this as a blog to get this more publicity?

[Ifunanya Kanu]

Oh of course Tim please do go ahead and publish it😄 I would be grateful. Although I know this may be a bit of a controversial take as some seafarers have had markedly different experiences, I think anyone contemplating entering the field needs to know all the sides, both good and not so great. Please let me know if you require any more information. Thank you.

[Caroline Gregory]

Thank you to Monica Nancy Candny for this response giving advice to young engineers at the start of their marine engineering careers.

My advice to young engineers is that they have to start looking at the big picture.

Meaning looking out of the box for example in few years to come if they don’t want to sail what can they do to work on shore but still working in the maritime sector.

At some point as an engineer, we don’t want to work on board for the rest of our lives mainly we females.

Try to start taking certification courses relating to the maritime industry add it to your CV for the future.

Be curious to get different experiences because at some point in your life it will help you.

Keep reading manuals of equipment and machinery, Update yourself with the current situation or solutions that the maritime industry is facing or have invented to protect our ecosystems and Ozone layers for we humans.

Try to figure out what you really want to become in the few years to come.

Try to ask people who have experience in the maritime industry for guidance and mentorship it might help you.

And always have one or more plans for your life.

And don’t forget to work safely and keep protecting our marine environment.