Career Guides

Every MCA and STCW qualification explained — from OOW Certificate of Competency to Master Mariner, with sea service requirements, supporting certs and…

Where UK maritime careers are centred — Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dover, Portsmouth, Liverpool and London. What each hub specialises in and who…

Everything you need to know about Marine Society apprenticeships — all five pathways, entry requirements, pay, and how to choose the right…

The Merchant Navy Pledge is the maritime industry's equivalent of the Armed Forces Covenant. Here's what it means for seafarers, veterans and…

On 11 May 2025, a deck fitter suffered 85% burns during hot work on MV Calobra. MSIU Report 08/2026 reveals why —…

Complete guide to becoming a Merchant Navy officer — cadetship routes, STCW training, MCA certificates of competency, and how to get your…

Everything seafarers need to know about working overside and aloft safely — risk assessment, permit to work, PPE requirements, weather limits, and…

MAIB, MSIU, NSIA, IMO circulars, MCA Marine Notices — how to find maritime safety reports, subscribe to safety flashes, and use incident…

Every STCW certificate explained — BST, AFF, PSCRB, PDSD, Medical Care — with costs, approved providers, renewal timelines and what each rank…

Up-to-date maritime salary benchmarks by rank across merchant navy, superyacht, offshore, workboats and fishing sectors for 2025.

Isolation, watchkeeping fatigue, loneliness, relationships, and suicide risk at sea — with every support resource and helpline available to seafarers worldwide.

The SED 183-day rule, half-day counting, HMRC HS205 form, benchmark rates and how to claim tax relief as a UK seafarer working…

Everything you need to get your first superyacht job — STCW BST, ENG1, CV format, dock walking, agencies, and how to stand…

What MLC 2006 requires in your Seafarer Employment Agreement — rest hours, wages, repatriation, medical care, and how to report violations.

Roles, pay, BOSIET and HUET requirements, rig medicals, DP certification and the route to OIM in the offshore oil and gas sector.

C1/D US transit visa, ETIAS, Schengen, Australian MCV, UK Seafarer Visa — the complete guide to seafarer immigration and what documents to…

Complete guide to Dynamic Positioning certification — Nautical Institute and IMCA frameworks, sea time requirements, approved simulator training and the DPU pathway.

What to pack, what to expect on your first sea phase, how to handle watch culture, senior officers, and the reality of…

Merchant navy, offshore, superyacht, workboats, fishing — an honest sector-by-sector comparison to help new entrants choose the right maritime career path.

How to find a Merchant Navy cadetship sponsor — SMarT funding, MNTB, deck and engineering routes, application tips and the top sponsoring…

Up-to-date superyacht salary ranges by role and vessel size, including tips, tax arrangements, and what affects your pay as superyacht crew.

MCA oral exam structure, syllabi, preparation strategy, HELM requirements and the full rank progression timeline for UK deck officer tickets.

GWO certification, CTV and SOV roles, MCA Boatmaster requirements and career paths in the fast-growing offshore wind sector.

Step-by-step maritime CV format, what recruiters scan in 8 seconds, common mistakes that cost placements, and templates for each sector.