Employment on a cargo ship?

Question

Lately I have been curious about cargo ships. What do you have to do to get a job on one of those giant cargo freight ships that one might see in a harbor? What sorts of things would one do working on one of those ships?

Answer 1

Most US-flagged ships larger than 1600 gross registered tons are staffed by the various maritime unions. I wish I could say "this union does this thing", but in fact all of them overlap in so many areas that the best you can do is look at all of them and see which is most likely to have the program you want. They are all looking for new people. So, in no particular order, Google these--

Sailor's Union of the Pacific (SUP)

Seafarers International Union (SIU)

Inlandboatmen's Union (IBU)

Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA)

Master's, Mates and Pilots (MMP)

American Merchant Officers (AMO)

Answer 2

The entry level is ordinary seaman which requires an application to the CG along with a letter of employment from a company that owns ships. Google MARITIME CARGO SHIPS, CONTAINER SHIPS etc. and you should have a list of prospective employers.

Answer 3

You will need a PASSPORT and a "Z" card and you will have to JOIN THE UNION... and THAT is just for openers.  If you plan to work on a freighter you will also need survival training and passing a FIRE FIGHTING course.  Contact the nearest branch of the Coast Guard and they will tell you which Marine Safeth Office or MSO is nearest you... and then you can go talk to them for all the particulars.

Answer 4

First of all, most of the ships you see are not manned by American merchant seaman. They are foreign built and foreign registered ships which fly a "flag of convenience" and have an international, mostly third world crew. The reason for this is cost. Foreign sailors earn a fraction of what an American on-board an American owned, built and flagged ship makes.

That's why there are about 250 US flagged cargo ships left in the world today, out of a total of about 40,000 cargo ships in the world.

Despite what some posters have said, getting a job on-board a cargo ship is not easy.

You will have to go the the US Coast Guard and visit a Regional Exam Center (REC). The application includes having to take a physical exam, eye exam (they check for color blindness) and a DOT drug test. That will cost you about $100 or so. The Merchant Mariners Document also known as a Z-card will cost another $140. You will have to wait between 3-12 weeks. They will check your criminal history and driving record. If everything comes back OK, you will get your MMD. With that you can start looking for work. Except on deep-sea cargo ships you will also need STCW-95 Basic Safety Training (BST) and a valid passport.

BST class is 5 days and costs between $600-$1000 dollars depending on the school you go to. Another $100 for you passport and a few more months of waiting.

So far, approx. $940-$1340 out of pocket expenses and you still don't have a job. If you go to the largest of the unlicensed seaman's unions, the SIU (Seafarer's International Union) you will have to take another physical and drug test, about $250 and then go and wait at a Union hiring hall everyday till you get a job, which could take several months if shipping is slow and you have entry level ratings and no union seniority (Don't worry, you will be entry level and you won't have seniority). If after all of this you get shipped out you will go to a ship for 30, 60, or 90 days.

There you will do the lowest jobs there are like: chipping rust, painting, cleaning toilets, assisting the AB's handle lines, and maybe you'll be allowed to hang out on the bridge when you aren't working. In the engine room you will still chip and paint, but also wipe up and clean oil leaks, change out filters, help the engineers with any projects and sweep and mop all the times as well as clean the toilet. Entry level in the galley will sweep, mop, cut and dice veggies, wash linens, and make beds.

If you are still interested in a life at sea (it's not all bad) check out the links below.