Career Paths
Career paths for the British Merchant Navy with SSTG.
CAREER PATHS IN THE BRITISH MERCHANT NAVY
Career Paths in the British Merchant Navy
At SSTG, we understand that choosing the right career path is crucial for your future. The maritime industry offers a wide range of exciting and rewarding career opportunities, both at sea and ashore.
Whether you’re interested in navigating the open oceans, engineering the propulsion systems of vessels, or managing complex logistics operations, there’s a path for you in this dynamic field.
Here’s an overview of the key career paths you can pursue with SSTG’s comprehensive training and support.
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Deck Officer
Engineering Officer
ETO Officer
Why Choose a Career in Maritime?
A career in maritime is not just a job; it’s an adventure. It offers the chance to travel the world, experience different cultures, and be part of a global community. The maritime industry is essential to international trade and is constantly evolving with new technologies and regulations. By choosing a maritime career, you will be at the forefront of this dynamic and vital industry.
Start Your Maritime Journey with SSTG
SSTG is committed to providing high-quality training and support to help you succeed in your chosen career path. Our experienced team offers tailored advice and guidance to ensure you get the most out of your maritime training. Explore our training programs to find the right path for you.
Ready to embark on a rewarding career at sea or ashore?
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Our experienced team of recruitment and training officers can provide you with help and guidance on roles and vacancies and support in applying for sponsorship.
Operates standby support vessels.
Careers at sea with Boston Putford Offshore Safety Ltd.
Based:
Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Support Vessels in both the North Sea and other areas providing Emergency Response, Supply and Underwater Exploration/Construction services for the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry.
Ship Types Operated:
Standby
Company website:
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
Train as a deck cadet with Britannia Aggregates Ltd.
Based:
Northfleet, Kent.
Profile:
Operates a Marine Aggregate Dredger engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
CEMEX, an SSTG Member for 10 years.
Based:
Southampton, Hampshire.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Marine Aggregate Dredgers engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
Based: London, UK.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of container vessels on worldwide routes transporting a wide variety of cargoes.
Ship Types Operated:
Container
Company website:
Cadeler is a leading global partner in offshore wind farm construction, maintenance, and decommissioning.
Based:
Norfolk, UK
Profile:
Cadeler installs the offshore wind farms needed for the world’s energy transition. We do that with an unbreakable commitment to safety and skills developed through decades. It is why clients trust us to support them in setting a more sustainable course for our planet and its people.
We operate in the offshore wind industry. For more than 10 years, we have been a key supplier in the development of offshore wind energy to power millions of households.
Cadeler owns the industry’s largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels. Altogether, Cadeler offer its customers a fleet consisting of 11 modern, capable, and complementary vessels. The effective operational homogeneity of the fleet allows for substitution opportunities and increased vessel utilisation. Further, it strengthens the ability to service customers, continuously pushing the project boundaries in size and complexity to accelerate the green transition.
We have the expertise and capacity to handle the largest and most complex next-generation of offshore wind installation projects, as well as next-generation wind turbines (WTGs) and XXXL foundations. Ensuring flexibility and supply certainty in response to our customers’ need.
The offshore wind industry will play a key role in reaching our climate goals. At Cadeler, we’re on a clear mission to facilitate the world’s transition to a more sustainable planet built on renewable energy by being the key supplier in the development of offshore wind energy.
Ship types operated:
Jack-up
Company website:
Operates bulk carriers worldwide.
Alcedo Shipping Ltd.
Based:
London.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Bulk Carriers on worldwide routes transporting a wide variety of cargoes.
Ship Types Operated:
Bulk Carriers
Company website:
Operates container vessels for cargo transportation.
Deck Cadet Training with Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd.
Based:
London.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of container vessels on worldwide routes transporting a wide variety of cargoes.
Ship Types Operated:
Container
Company website:
Operates survey and research vessels.
Deck and engineer cadet training with Gardline Ltd.
Based:
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Profile:
Best in class provider of Marine Geophysical, Geotechnical and Environmental Surveys.
Ship Types Operated:
Survey
Company website:
wwwGlobal Marine Systems Ltd Operates a fleet of Cable Repair and Installation vessels.
Based: Headquartered in Chelmsford, Essex.
Profile:
Global Marine is part of the Global Marine Group and is a market leader in subsea cable installation and maintenance solutions to the telecoms sector, with a history dating back to 1850. We have a fleet of five Dynamically Positioned vessels that operate worldwide with one Charted vessel that predominantly installs fibre optic cables.
Dynamically Positioned (DP) vessel means that they hold position under their own power utilising main propulsion and thrusters.
Each vessel is equipped with a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) which is used to locate and bury the cable once repaired or laid.
Our vessels are located in the Far East, Europe, Caribbean and the US with operations run out of Washington in the Northeast of England.
Through Safety Leadership, Operational Excellence & Stability we aim to continually drive industry acceptance and commitment to common goals and a path to a sustainable future for global subsea communications.
Ship Type Operated: Cable Repair
Company website:
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd, an SSTG Member for 10 years.
Based:
Southampton, Hampshire.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Marine Aggregate Dredgers engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
Operates oil tankers.
Careers at Sea with John H. Whitaker (Tankers) Ltd.
Based:
Hull, North Humberside.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of oil tankers in the European area transporting fuel and oil products for ships and storage depots.
Ship Types Operated:
Tankers
Company website:
Operates cruise ships.
Saga Shipping Ltd, an SSTG Member Company for 15 years.
Based:
Folkestone, Kent.
Profile:
This company operates the following types of vessel. Click on vessel for more information:
Ship Types Operated:
Cruise
Company website:
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
Tarmac Marine Ltd, trains Deck and Engineer Cadet with SSTG.
Based:
Chichester, West Sussex.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Marine Aggregate Dredgers engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
Operates support vessels for offshore oil and gas exploration.
North Star Shipping (Aberdeen) Ltd, an SSTG Member for 10 years.
Based:
Aberdeen.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of support vessels in both the North Sea and other areas providing emergency response, supply and underwater exploration / construction services for the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry.
Ship Types Operated:
Standby
Company website:
Operates vehicle and passenger ferries.
P & O Ferries Ltd, trains Merchant Navy Seafarers with SSTG.
Based:
Dover, Kent.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of large Roll-on Roll-off Vessels between the UK and ports in Europe transporting passengers, their cars, and freight vehicles.
Ship Types Operated:
Ferries
Company website:
Operates specialist jack-up vessels for offshore wind industry.
Seajacks UK Ltd, trains Merchant Navy seafarers with SSTG.
Based:
Great Yarmouth, UK.
Profile:
Seajacks UK are an East Anglian based offshore installation company committed to building the world’s most advanced and versatile fleet of self-propelled jack-up vessels equipped to service the demands of the offshore wind industry. Our on and offshore crews work in full conjunction with all of our clients, looking to provide the most cost-effective solutions in the safest environments possible.
Seajacks has a fleet of 5 GustoMSC designed vessels, all capable of installing and maintaining offshore wind farms in harsh conditions. Seajacks fleet includes; Seajacks Kraken, Seajacks Leviathan, Seajacks Hydra, Seajacks Zaratan and Seajacks Scylla.
Seajacks utilise DP2 positioning for fast and efficient rig moves, with no need for tugs means there is year round operating ability in the harsh conditions of the Southern North Sea. The DP2 systems make all of the vessels fully capable of driving their four legs into the seabed, providing them with a steady platform and ensuring they remain uncompromised by the conditions of the sea below.
Seajacks Scylla is equipped with a 1500t leg-encircling crane, incorporate useable deck space of up to 5000m², and has 8000t of available variable load. Sailing at speeds of 12 knots or over, Scylla is outfitted with 105m long legs that have the ability to install components in water depths of up to 65m.
Ship Types Operated:
Jack-up
Company website:
Operates freight vessels for Irish Sea crossings.
CldN RoRo Ltd, trains ETO Officer cadets with SSTG.
Based:
Heysham, Lancashire.
Profile:
As a UK cadet you will complete your sea service whilst under training on the UK based vessels serving between the UK and Ireland. The company has a fleet of modern vessels concentrating on the freight market.
Ship Types Operated:
Ferries
Company website:
WISTA UK ( Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, UK)
Profile:
UK networking organisation whose mission is to attract and support women, at the management level.
WISTA UK are pleased to announce a joint venture initiative with the Maritime Educational Foundation for the sponsorship of up to three candidates to train and qualify as Merchant Navy Officers commencing in September 2024.
The training will involve studying at one of the specialist nautical colleges in the UK, and completing sea service on a range of ship types. The training will follow one of the established programmes and lead to a degree level-based qualification in addition to all the necessary professional training.
The available sponsorship will include all tuition fees paid, the cost of training at sea and a generous allowance paid throughout the training.
Successful candidates will need to support the aims and objectives of WISTA UK. Attendance at a small number of WISTA UK events interspersed throughout the training will be required to promote this initiative to the current membership and assist in the promotion that this opportunity will provide candidates in future years.
Interested candidates should apply here at SSTG in the first instance quoting WISTA UK as your choice of sponsor.
Company website: