Merchant Navy officer

Merchant Navy officers deal with the hands-on challenges of engineering and navigation while sailing the seas, putting their specialised skills to good use

The Merchant Navy is the collective name for the UK's commercial shipping industry. It is composed of individual companies who are responsible for their own recruitment and training.

As a Merchant Navy officer, you'll be employed on the many types of vessels that make up the UK commercial shipping industry. These include:

• ferries and cruise ships
• cargo container ships
• oil, gas and chemical tankers and other bulk cargo carriers
• specialised supply, support and rescue vessels - including support for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Officers usually work in either the deck or engineering department and your role will primarily be as a leader and manager, although you'll still be expected to perform practical tasks with your colleagues. The larger the ship, the more managerial your role is likely to be.

Types of Merchant Navy officer

Merchant Navy officers usually specialise in one of three main areas:

• Deck (navigation) officers - responsible for navigating the ship, planning routes, monitoring weather conditions, overseeing cargo operations, and ensuring passenger safety. They also maintain legal and operational records such as the ship’s log.
• Engineering officers - manage the ship's mechanical, electrical and propulsion systems. They operate and maintain engines, power generation, refrigeration, pumping and fuel systems, and ensure all machinery runs safely and efficiently.
• Electro-technical officers (ETOs) - focus on the ship's electrical and electronic systems, including communication, navigation, control and power systems. On some vessels, these duties are combined with those of engineering officers.

All officers share responsibility for leadership, safety and administration on board, but the emphasis of your role will depend on your specialism and the size and type of vessel.

Responsibilities

As a navigation or deck officer, you'll need to:

• navigate the vessel using a range of satellite and radar systems and equipment
• check weather and navigation reports and take appropriate action
• coordinate the safe loading, storage and unloading of cargo
• manage the care and safety of passengers (if you're working on a ferry or cruise ship)
• supervise the operation and maintenance of deck machinery, like winches and cranes
• manage ship communication systems
• monitor and maintain safety, firefighting and life-saving equipment
• oversee the ship to ensure that the highest levels of health and safety are maintained
• maintain legal and operational records such as the ship's log
• keep up to date with developments in maritime legal, commercial and political matters.

As an engineering officer, you'll need to:

• operate and maintain the mechanical and electrical equipment on board
• manage power generation and distribution systems, as well as refrigeration plant, ventilation and pumping systems
• monitor, repair and upgrade systems and equipment, such as air compressors, pumps and sewage plants
• implement regular equipment inspections and maintenance programmes
• keep up to date with developments in the marine engineering field.

The role of electro-technical officer (ETO) may be merged with the engineering officer's job on some vessels. However, you'll typically need to maintain the electronic and electrical equipment on board, making the ship's safety and efficiency your priority.

All officers will need to undertake essential administration, including budgets, accounts and records of stock, cargo and passengers, as well as manage the work of ratings and provide training and support for officer trainees.

Exact duties will depend on your rank and the size of the vessel.

Salary

• Training salaries for officer cadets are typically between £12,000 and £18,000, with tuition, on-board food and accommodation included. Shore-based accommodation costs are deducted.
• Starting salaries upon qualification for junior officers are usually £28,000 to £35,000.
• Progression to the rank of captain or chief engineer can lead to salaries of £50,000 to over £100,000, depending on the type and size of ship. Salaries on foreign-going ships (at least 183 days per year out of the UK) may be tax free.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Work is based at sea, on board ships that operate year-round. Shifts are usually four hours on duty and eight hours off.

Although extensive travel is part of the job, opportunities to go onshore can be limited due to ship-board responsibilities and rapid turnaround times in port.

Most companies provide generous leave, often on a one-for-one basis, e.g. two months’ paid leave after a two-month voyage.

What to expect

• On-board living conditions are usually of a high standard, with good leisure and other facilities. Due to such close living and working conditions, you'll need to work well within a team.
• Weather conditions may make working uncomfortable, for instance the heat of the Persian Gulf in summer or the North Atlantic in a winter gale.
• The long periods of time spent away at sea can have a major impact on your family life, hobbies and interests. However, most companies provide a generous holiday allowance on a one-for-one basis, for example two months' paid leave after a two-month voyage. Tour lengths vary from company to company.
• Qualification as a Merchant Navy officer can lead to opportunities throughout the marine industry.
• Merchant Navy officers are subject to the Merchant Shipping Act. The Act sets strict limits on blood-alcohol levels and drugs are forbidden. Random testing for alcohol or drug abuse is common.

Qualifications

There are three main academic routes into officer cadet training, all of which can lead to an MCA Certificate of Competency (the essential licence to work as an officer at sea).

These are:

• Degree route - You can take a full BSc/BEng honours degree in nautical science, navigation, maritime operations, or marine/mechanical engineering. This is more academically demanding and is not an essential pathway to take.
• HNC/HND route - You can enter with GCSEs (or equivalent) and progress through a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in nautical science or marine engineering, combined with sea service.
• Foundation degree (or professional diploma in Scotland) - requires A-levels or Highers (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications). This is a common entry point for cadets.

Courses last between three and four years, depending on whether you follow the navigation (deck), engineering or electro-technical officer pathway.

On completing your course, you’ll receive either the Officer of the Watch (OOW) or Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) Certificate of Competency from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). This qualifies you to work on board any merchant ship worldwide.

For entry to an HNC/HND, you’ll usually need a minimum of four GCSEs/Scottish Standard Grades, including English, maths and science. For foundation degrees/professional diplomas or honours degrees, you’ll also need A-levels or Scottish Highers. Some sponsoring companies may also accept alternative Level 3 vocational qualifications.

If you already hold a degree in mechanical engineering, you may be eligible for exemptions from parts of the engineering officer training - check with the MCA.

You’ll also need a maritime sponsoring company to cover training course fees and living costs. Most cadets are sponsored by shipping or training management companies, though a limited number of charitable organisations also offer support.

Before starting your training, you must obtain an ENG1 medical fitness certificate from an MCA-approved doctor, which includes eyesight and physical fitness tests.

All cadet programmes combine classroom study with sea placements. Voyages typically last between two and three months. You’ll usually spend around a year at sea for deck officer training or eight to nine months for engineering officer training.

In addition to cadet degree/HNC/HND routes, there are apprenticeship- and modern apprenticeship-style routes in Scotland, Wales and England. These include rating apprenticeships (e.g. Deck or Engine ratings), Modern Apprenticeships in Maritime Occupations (Scotland), and pre-cadet/ foundation cadetship programmes in Wales. These provide an alternative or preparatory path toward officer training for those who start at Level 2-3 or equivalent vocational qualifications.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• decision-making skills
• the ability to remain calm in difficult situations
• teamworking skills and the ability to lead, motivate and inspire confidence in others
• written and verbal communication skills
• mathematical ability
• knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems (for engineer officer roles)
• an interest in technology
• resourcefulness, adaptability and flexibility
• confidence, enthusiasm and self-reliance.

Work experience

There are various organisations that offer opportunities to get involved in sailing activities prior to applying for training, such as:

• Ocean Youth Trust
• Tall Ships Youth Trust
• Sea Cadets
• boating and sailing clubs.

Involvement in activities such as The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award will help you develop excellent teamworking skills and strengthen your application.

Employers

At sea, Merchant Navy officers are employed in an engineering or navigation capacity, on a range of sea-going vessels. These include the following major types:

• oil, gas and chemical tankers and other bulk cargo carriers
• cargo container ships
• ferries and cruise ships
• offshore support vessels, designed for specialised roles.

Ashore, you may work in a management, administrative or operational role across a variety of business and commerce. Employers include:

• shipping companies
• marine insurance companies
• maritime regulatory authorities
• maritime training and recruitment companies
• port operations, including pilotage.

There are also opportunities to get similar work with overseas-based shipping companies.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Careers at Sea - for a list of Merchant Navy training companies
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
• Nautilus Jobs
• Sea Career

Contact shipping companies directly for details of their sponsorship schemes and vacancies. Most companies take on a specific number of cadets every year. The companies vary widely in their size and nature, offering different types of working environments.

Specialist recruitment agencies, such as Clyde Marine Recruitment, remain a common route into the sector. You can find a list of maritime recruitment agencies at Maritime UK.

Professional development

Most officer cadets gain employment on completion of training. Once in post, you’ll develop further skills and experience on the job, under the supervision of more senior officers.

The Merchant Navy provides a structured progression route from the Officer of the Watch certificate to chief mate/second engineer, and ultimately to master or chief engineer. Progression to each rank allows you to gain higher-level academic or vocational qualifications alongside MCA certificates of competency - issued by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Colleges, universities and specialist training organisations provide training courses in areas such as personal safety, safety legislation and personal survival techniques. The Marine Society also offers a range of qualifications, from GCSEs to Masters, enabling you to continue your education while working.

Membership of bodies such as The Nautical Institute or IMarEST supports professional recognition, networking and CPD.

Career prospects

Qualification as a Merchant Navy officer can lead to opportunities throughout the entire UK Merchant Navy fleet, and there are also opportunities to work for shipping companies based overseas.

With experience, navigation officers can progress to chief officer and then master (captain), while engineering officers can advance to second engineer and then chief engineer.

Some Merchant Navy officers remain at sea, while others move ashore into management, training or regulatory roles.

Opportunities in the wider marine industry include ship surveying, port and harbour management, maritime law and insurance, and higher education teaching and research.