Finding Deep Sea Jobs

**New3M** · March 9th, 2008, 10:47 AM

After reading the site for a while, it is obvious that there are many seasoned sailors out there to whom I would like to pose a question:

How do I get a deep sea job?

I’ve been perusing the various maritime employment websites, including the one here on gCaptain. There is only one 3/M job offered, and it’s only a partial sailing job – they also want you to spend time in the office. I have nothing against that, but it’s not what I want to do. I’ve earned my 3/M Unlimited license, and I want to sail on it for a while, hopefully earning my Master’s license in a bunch of years. But that’s hard to do if I can’t get my foot in the door.

So if anybody knows anyone who his hiring 3/Ms for deep sea work or works for a company who is looking for somebody, please let me know. I’d appreciate it.

Thanks,
New3M

**wmoser** · March 9th, 2008, 04:56 PM

From my experience, it takes a month or two from posting resumes online and sending out resumes for the HR people to actually respond to them. I left my last job and started posting on job sites and religiously following job boards and didn't hear anything for a month and a half. Then all of a sudden I got probably 8 or 10 replies. I'd say post your resume online and be patient. The HR people don't ever seem to be in as big of a rush as we are to get working. Also, check out the maritime academy job boards. A few of them don't require passwords. And remember there are more academies and job boards than just the one you graduated from.

**cmjeff** · March 9th, 2008, 10:16 PM

Just keep calling the HR departments till they are sick of you. Seriously.

**sirius** · March 9th, 2008, 11:52 PM

ohh there is no such thing.. At least 100,000 merchant navy officers are about to be short for this year. Shipping industry is booming. Believe me.. in these days we are as precious as gems. no need to rush! keep patient. brgds/sirius

**jpseeber** · July 18th, 2008, 02:23 AM

Can any one help a guy out trying to get on ANYTHING as an AB except MSC seems everyone is hiring from these labor companies to avoid liability costs.Ive been working my butt off with resumes and phone calls for a month.

**El Capitan** · July 18th, 2008, 03:31 AM

JP - Have you thought about heading to the Gulf of Mexico, and giving the oil patch a try?

**Capt_Anonymous** · July 18th, 2008, 12:41 PM

JP - If you're near Seattle, walk into the IBU hall. If you want to work tugs you'll be on a boat the next day probably.

**john** · July 18th, 2008, 04:08 PM

It'll cost you but Captain Kelly Sweeny has been very successful placing people with his new company Maritime Headhunters. Otherwise El Capitan's advice will probably be your best shot.

**voyagergibbs** · July 29th, 2008, 12:53 AM

<DIV>Anyone know where entry level jobs are in the oil patch?</DIV>

**Skoidat69** · August 26th, 2008, 07:34 AM

How much does Kelly Sweeny's Headhunter service cost? Does anyone know people who have been place by them?

**tengineer** · August 26th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Skoidat69, "How much does Kelly Sweeny's Headhunter service cost?" You could ask them, I'd bet they'll tell you.

**Skoidat69** · August 27th, 2008, 07:52 AM

To New3m, I talk to some guy with transatlantic lines and they are looking for a 3/m really soon. the ship is running to japan, korea and little islands in the Far East. It's a small tanker chartered to msc. It pays $275 a day but it goes to cool places. If I didn't just get married and need the money, I'd take it cause it's going to some cool places. Tim

**anchorman** · August 27th, 2008, 08:23 AM

$275/ day? As long as people continue to work for those kind of wages, they'll continue to pay those kind of wages! I would propose working for a company that pays closer to $600/day - Then take vacations to look at the "cool" places from the confines of a cruise ship balcony, and my biggest worry in the world would be the baby umbrellas hitting my nose.

**dougpine** · August 27th, 2008, 10:48 AM

$275/day!!!!???? Kelly Sweeney just placed 4 50 ton masters in jobs paying $550/day. Yes, I wrote "50 ton masters". You'd be crazy to take $275/day, no matter how "cool" it is. Anchorman is right! Hold out for what you're worth.

**New3M** · August 27th, 2008, 11:11 AM

Thanks for all the input - I've got my information out to about 5 companies that aren't unionized, but all of them say "Thanks, fax us some stuff, but oh, we have no positions available." I think I'm just going to go join MEBA and sit around for a while.

**Capt_Anonymous** · August 27th, 2008, 11:17 AM

Are you set on deep draft? Towing companies are looking for people. Kelly could get you a gig tomorrow.

**New3M** · August 27th, 2008, 11:22 AM

I know that a lot of the tug companies are hiring right now, but I really want to sail deep sea for a while - I'd love to move my license up, and I just can't do that on a tug.

**Capt_Anonymous** · August 27th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Hey, no problem. Have fun sitting on the beach. Have you been to MSC, or NOAA? How about Mercy Ships? They don't pay but you'll get your seatime fast.

**New3M** · August 27th, 2008, 11:31 AM

MSC isn't hiring any 3/Ms right now, because they overhired way to many over the past year, and they haven't had enough people leave yet to be hiring more. NOAA isn't looking for anybody either, and as for Mercy Ships, well, I have a pretty good amount of student loans to pay, and they start calling in November. I don't know - MEBA seems like an OK route right now - a friend of mine was waiting for about a month and just landed a gig on a Ro/Ro, making some pretty good money.