A Career Afloat -- Gateway to Maritime Employment

There are a variety of ways you can start your maritime career:

With a career afloat you can work in many exciting locations:

Finding employment can be done through various maritime organizations:

Opportunities are available in one or more of the following shipboard departments.

Crewmembers of American merchant ships enjoy competitive salaries and benefits:

America's Merchant Marine has a proud and professional history of service to the Nation during:

National Apprenticeship Standards
The U.S. merchant marine consists of a fleet of privately-owned, U.S. registered merchant ships that provide waterborne transportation for cargoes moving in domestic and international commerce.
Employment on these ships is the responsibility of the owners and is handled for the most part by maritime labor organizations.
The level of seafaring employment is determined by the state of U.S. and world business conditions, and improvements in ship technology.
This site provides information on shipboard employment, and related maritime education and training programs.
Primary shipboard employment categories include high seas, Great Lakes, inland and coastal waters, and offshore and mineral operations.
The U.S. Coast Guard is the regulatory agency that is responsible for licensing and documentation of all U.S. merchant mariners. Prospective applicants for seafaring employment are encouraged to contact the USCG for licensing and documentation information.

For more information contact Pat Randall at (202) 366-4125 or email Pat.Randall@marad.dot.gov