Career Guides

Tides, weather, tight berths, and a community that depends on you. What does a day look like for the master of a…

What does a working day actually look like for an Able Seaman on a Dover-Calais ferry? We follow the watch from the…

What is a solo bridge watch in the mid-Atlantic really like? We follow an Officer of the Watch through a deep-sea day…

What does a day look like skippering a Crew Transfer Vessel to an offshore wind farm? We follow one shift from pre-dawn…

Superyachts look glamorous from the outside. What does the job actually feel like from the deck? We follow a deckhand through a…

Can't decide between deck and engineering? We break down the career paths, salaries, day-to-day life and CoC routes for both sides —…

Considering both the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy? We compare pay, lifestyle, career structure, job security and what life actually looks like…

Isolation, fatigue, family separation — life at sea takes a mental toll. Here's what the research says, what support exists, and how…

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is your bill of rights at sea. Here's what it guarantees on pay, working hours, rest, repatriation,…

How to write a maritime CV that gets shortlisted — the exact structure recruiters expect, common mistakes that get CVs binned, and…

Which STCW certificates expire every 5 years, the two revalidation routes, what happens if they lapse, and how to avoid an expensive…

The essential reference guide to maritime terminology — navigation acronyms, vessel terms, rank titles, STCW and regulatory abbreviations explained clearly.

Where to complete STCW, CoC, and maritime training courses in the UK — major MCA-approved centres by region, what each offers, and…

The honest guide to passing your MCA oral examination — what examiners assess, subject areas by level, how to prepare, and what…

How UK merchant navy cadet sponsorship works, which companies sponsor cadets, what the SMarT scheme is, and exactly how to strengthen your…

Everything you need to know about a DP maritime career — IMCA certification scheme, sea time requirements, which vessels use DP, pay…

How to start a superyacht crew career with no experience — entry routes for deck and interior crew, qualifications, how to find…

How to get into offshore wind maritime work — CTVs, SOVs, entry requirements, GWO training, key employers and what the UK's 50GW…

The IMO non-mandatory MASS Code entered effect 1 July 2026. What autonomous shipping means for seafarers, what the ROC is, and where…

The UK maritime sectors expanding fastest in 2026 — offshore wind, autonomous shipping, green fuels, cybersecurity and cruise. What each means for…

The ENG1 medical is the first thing you need for a sea career. What it tests, where to get it, what it…

The complete maritime career ladder — deck officer and engineer progression from Rating to Master, realistic timelines, salaries and shore-side routes explained.

Real UK seafarer pay figures for 2026 — deck officers, engineers, offshore wind, superyachts. Plus the Seafarers' Earnings Deduction explained.

The key UK maritime employers across ferry, offshore wind, specialist marine, and ports — who they are, what they operate, and where…