Marine transportation is the transportation of goods by sea. It is one of the most important means of trade and commerce. The marine industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% over the next five years, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.
The global marine transport industry was worth US$2.4 trillion in 2018 and is expected to reach US$3 trillion by 2023. The report also revealed that Marine Transportation accounted for about 13% of total economic activity in 2018 with an average contribution per employee of US$1,000,000 per year, which was nearly twice as much as other industries such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing sectors.
Marine transport jobs are highly competitive and require skills in a wide variety of fields including engineering, navigation, meteorology, business administration
The world is made up of two types of people: those who spend all their time at sea, and those who spend all their time on land. As we all know, those who spend all their time at sea are called mariners and sailors, and they’re responsible for the transportation of goods by water. The other group, which we’ll call “landlubbers,” are responsible for transporting goods by land.
In this article, I’ll be focusing on the former group because it’s an exciting career path that will likely have you spending considerable amounts of time away from home—which can be both good and bad. But if you like to travel, or just love being outdoors, this could be the perfect job for you!
16 Best Paying Jobs in Marine Transportation
1. Maritime Pilot
If you’re a licensed mariner with extensive experience working in an ocean-going capacity, consider becoming a maritime pilot. You’ll be responsible for guiding large vessels through treacherous waters and into or out of ports. In addition to having excellent navigational skills and knowledge of the local waterways, you’ll need extensive knowledge of commercial vessels and their capabilities.
You can expect to earn around $66,000 per year if you are employed by the government or private sector as a maritime pilot. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on where you go to work and how many hours per week/month you choose to work (it’s possible to earn up to $100k+/year!).
There’s also plenty of room for advancement within this career path–if all goes well during your first few years as a maritime pilot, there may be opportunities down the line for promotion into higher level positions like senior maritime pilots (who supervise junior staff) or even station managers (who oversee entire departments).
2. Chief Engineer
Chief Engineer is the highest-ranking engineer on board a ship, and as such he or she is responsible for the engineering department. The Chief Engineer supervises all operations, maintenance, and repair of all shipboard machinery and systems including boilers and auxiliary equipment.
He must also ensure that proper procedures are followed for safe operation of his vessel. In addition to his duties as chief engineer, he may have other responsibilities depending on what type of vessel he commands.
For example, if you work as a chief engineer in an oil tanker or cruise ship then you will also be responsible for maintenance of lifeboats while if you work on an oil tanker then you will be in charge of loading operations.
In addition to all this responsibility it is important that your knowledge in your field remains up-to-date by attending regular training courses which means there are lots more responsibilities too!
3. Ship Captain
The captain is the highest rank in the deck department and is responsible for the safety of the vessel and all crew. As such, they are also responsible for navigation and cargo, as well as ensuring that these tasks are carried out safely.
4. Master Mariner
A Master Mariner is the highest rank in the Merchant Navy. To become a Master Mariner, one must have earned both a Certificate of Competency and a Certificate of Proficiency.
The requirements to become a Master Mariner are:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must pass two exams: Deck and Engine Room. Each exam costs $200 to take, though you can buy them together for $300. If you pass both exams within 2 years after taking them, they are free; otherwise they cost $200 each time you retake them until you pass both exams or reach your 60th birthday (whichever comes first).
5. River Boat Pilot
River boat pilots are responsible for the safe navigation of a ship or vessel on a river. To achieve this, they must have extensive knowledge of local rivers and their waters, as well as an understanding of how different vessels operate.
River boat pilots must have a license issued by the Federal Maritime and Fisheries Agency (FMA). The FMA is the governing agency that oversees all marine traffic in the United States.
The main responsibility of river boat pilots is to ensure that any ships passing through their area are safe to navigate, including inspecting them before they enter and leave port.
They also work with pilots who carry out inspections on board each vessel so that they can give accurate information back to them about what areas may pose safety risks during transit.
6. Cruise Ship Captain
A cruise ship captain is a high-paying position, but it requires a lot of experience and knowledge to obtain. Cruise ship captains must have excellent leadership skills and be able to work in stressful situations.
Cruise ship captains must also have at least five years of experience in marine transportation, as well as some post-secondary education or training in order to apply for the job.
7. Cruise Director
As a cruise director, you’re in charge of the guest experience on board your ship and all its activities. You are responsible for entertainment, food services, and safety. Cruise directors often have a background in hospitality or management because they need to be able to manage large groups of people who are traveling at different times and with different needs.
Cruise director jobs often require an extensive amount of experience managing hotel operations and overseeing multiple departments like marketing, sales, reservations/reservations agents (RAs), food & beverage (F&B) services, promotions & public relations (PPR).
8. Marine Operations Manager
As a Marine Operations Manager, you are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a marine transportation company. You have an eye toward safety and efficiency, and your team works to ensure that cargo is delivered on time while complying with regulations.
The job requires both technical skills and people skills. While you’re keeping things running smoothly from behind the scenes, you also need to be able to lead by example and motivate your employees.
The pay range for this position is about $77,000-$93,000 annually depending on industry experience level or years at the company (though it’s possible that salaries could be even higher).
9. Offshore Installation Manager
The offshore installation manager is responsible for overseeing the installation of oil and gas platforms. This is a high-paying job that requires experience, but it comes with many benefits.
- You will be in charge of ensuring that your team’s workplace safety is taken care of
- You will work with a variety of industrial equipment, so you will need to know how to use them all effectively
- You must be careful with chemicals and other materials used in the workplace
10. Marine Superintendent/Vessel Manager
A marine superintendent/vessel manager supervises the day-to-day operations of a ship. This can include supervising crew members, cargo, maintenance (e.g., machinery), loading and unloading, navigation, safety and other tasks.
11. Technical Superintendent/Vessel Manager
As a technical superintendent/vessel manager, you will supervise the engineering department of a marine transportation company. You will oversee the maintenance of the vessel and its equipment and ensure that it meets all classification requirements. Additionally, you will be in charge of overseeing all technical aspects of the vessel such as navigational systems and its propulsion system.
Additionally, you must have knowledge about crew training and safety procedures as well as being able to handle emergency situations that arise on board.
Finally, your duties include overseeing operation of the vessel from arrival to departure including handling cargo management issues which can include loading/unloading cargoes onto ships or coordinating with terminal managers if there are no berths available at any given time.
12. Terminal Manager/Port Authority Manager or Harbor Master (US)
Terminal Manager/Port Authority Manager or Harbor Master (US)
Terminal Manager/Port Authority Manager or Harbor Master (US) is a popular occupation in the Marine Transportation industry. Terminal managers are responsible for overseeing their teams and ensuring that the facility runs smoothly in order to meet customer demands and maintain compliance with local laws and regulations.
They oversee all aspects of operations at a terminal, including managing staff, ensuring safety standards are met, controlling costs and planning for growth.
With an average salary of $72K per year, this job is well paid but requiring many skills like good communication skills, ability to manage multiple tasks at once and ability to enforce rules on others effectively.
13. Marine Engineer Officer or Marine Engineer
in Charge of an Engineering Watch (UK) / Chief Engineer Officer (US) / Engineer Officer Of The Watch (EOOW) (India) / Engineer In Charge Of A Navigational Watch (EICNW) (India)
The Marine Engineer Officer or Marine Engineer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (UK) / Chief Engineer Officer (US) / Engineer Officer Of The Watch (EOOW) (India) / Engineer In Charge Of A Navigational Watch (EICNW) (India), is responsible for the operation and maintenance of machinery on board ships
. As part of this role, you will be required to maintain a thorough knowledge of all systems that are required to keep your ship at sea, including engines and boiler plants.
The work environment for a marine engineer officer will vary depending on the type of ship they are working on. On smaller vessels, such as tugboats or coastal ferries, there may only be one engine room available on board; whereas large commercial vessels often have multiple engine rooms along with other divisions within them such as propulsion control centers and electrical control centers which provide power for air conditioning units throughout different sections of these types large ships like cruise liners or cargo vessels which need lots more electricity than smaller boats due to their size alone
require large amounts of energy output so they can function efficiently while also providing adequate heating during colder months too when colder temperatures occur outside where they operate their business activities while traveling across oceans around various locations around world due to higher demand from travelers who want more space onboard versus smaller ships where less people tend travel together aboard vessel without needing much space since not many people want go
14. AIS Technician/Marine Traffic Controller
If you are interested in the maritime industry, AIS technician could be the best job for you. The Automated Identification System (AIS) is a global tracking system used to track marine traffic and warn ships of danger. It uses GPS technology to determine the position, identity, and speed of vessels at sea.
The AIS is used by many organizations including:
- The U.S Coast Guard
- Maritime industry companies
- Military organizations
15. Surveying Supervisor/ Surveyor Supervisor
- A degree in surveying
- Licensure through state or federal agencies
- Experience supervising other surveyors, including on-the-job training and mentorship from the manager in charge of your particular branch.
- Training to become certified by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) or Land Surveyors Board (LSB), which requires rigorous testing and continuing professional education.
- Travel to remote locations around the United States, as well as time spent out at sea.
- Responsibility for ensuring that all surveys conducted are accurate and meet industry standards; if you have a problem with one of your survey teams, this falls on your shoulders whether it’s their fault or yours. The same goes for any delays caused by weather conditions or equipment malfunctions—if someone gets hurt due to poor planning, it’s still on your record until proven otherwise by an investigation committee made up of members from both the LSB/NSPS and MSHA (mining safety agency).
There are lots of good jobs in marine transportation but you need a degree
The job market is competitive and jobs are in demand, but you need to have a degree. The pay is good, but sometimes it can be stressful or dangerous if you work on a ship. These jobs require an associate’s degree or higher, and the training is long.
If you love the ocean, then this might be the right career for you!
Conclusion
There are lots of good jobs in marine transportation but you need a degree to be successful. If you have one, these careers will be open to you. If not, there are still opportunities for advancement within many organizations such as shipping companies and port authorities that offer these positions at entry-level rates with little experience required!
Check out what qualifications they require so that when applying for vacancies later on down the line it won’t matter if those aren’t perfect yet – just make sure your CV is well written and highlights everything important about yourself too!