To become a sailor, individuals must have physical and mental strength, experience on a boat, and specialized skills. Obtaining a Merchant Marine Document and researching available jobs can help land a position. Experience is crucial for safety, and the Navy is a good option for gaining it. Finding a job can be done through classifieds, speaking with boat captains, or asking at local docks.
The lure of the sea is strong for some, as the classic figure of the sailor and his crew is ingrained in the public imagination. The first step for anyone seeking a life at sea is to get a job as a sailor. To find a sailor job, an individual must have a mentally and physically strong carriage. Experience on a boat is preferred in most cases, as life at sea can sometimes be dangerous, and individuals place their lives in each other’s hands. Once a person decides they have the experience and skills required by the job, finding a sailor job can be as easy as looking through the classifieds or asking boat captains about available positions.
The self-assessment is perhaps the most important step in finding a sailor job. Interested parties should research the types of jobs available. Fishing boats, barges and tugs are just a few of the types of sailing vessels that need sailors to operate. Charter boats and cruise ships have slightly less physical demands, and a seaman’s job often becomes more customer service than physical work.
Jobs on tugboats, fishing vessels and freighters require someone who is physically strong, mentally capable of working virtually non-stop and resourceful. Sailors in these positions must be able to act quickly in an emergency and improvise when equipment fails. Some jobs require specialized skills. Fishing vessels, for example, require sailors to understand the ins and outs of catching and cleaning fish. Before applying for a job on a specific boat, prospective sailors should consider whether the physical demands can be met for that specific job.
If the decision is made to start life as a sailor, there are some steps that can help you land that first important sailor job. A Merchant Marine Document (MMD), or Z-Card, must be obtained from the Coast Guard before looking for a job. While this is only a necessity when working on ships over 100 tons, it can make a deckhand more useful for shipping companies where it may be necessary to transfer to a larger vessel.
Experience is essential for landing any job and is considered extremely favorable for anyone applying for a sailor job. Inexperience can create dangerous situations, particularly in situations where sailors rely on each other for safety. Anyone who has watched a documentary about crabbing or lobster fishing has seen firsthand how one misstep can spell danger for everyone on board. Experience can be found in simple jobs around local ships or even working for a relative who owns a boat. For those seeking lifelong careers on the boat, the Navy is an excellent option for sailors to gain the experience and discipline that employers seek.
When some experience is available, finding a deckhand job is like finding any other position. Potential applicants should look for desired listings and speak with boat captains. Another source of employment is to go directly to the source and ask at the local docks to see if anyone is hiring. As with any job, candidates must be prepared to provide detailed accounts of experience and character.
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