Page 12 - I Ship: A Container Ship's Colossal Journey

Jobs on Land
Join the Crew! Shipping and Trading Jobs
Are you fascinated by shipping or how goods move
around the world? Here are some careers to consider if
you want to work at sea or in international trade:
Jobs at Sea
captain: the lead deck officer and commander of
the whole ship. The captain sets course to achieve
a safe and on time voyage, maintains logs of the
journey and cargo, and ensures the overall safety of
the crew and cargo.
deck department: crew members responsible for
the navigation and maintenance of the ship and its
cargo. They stand watch, navigate the ship, conduct
security rounds, oversee load and unload, and
communicate with the port and other vessels. Team
members include the deck officers, bosun, and able
bodied seamen (ABs).
engine department: responsible for operating,
maintaining, and repairing the ship’s engines,
machinery, and other major systems such as
electricity, lights, fuel, refrigeration, water, and
air conditioning. Team members include the chief
engineer, engine officers, qualified member of the
engine department (QMED), electrician, wiper, and
deck engine utility (DEU).
steward department: crew members who cook and
serve food for the crew and handle housekeeping
for the ship
cargo planner: a businessperson who calculates where
to place the containers in the ship and in what order to
ensure safety and fast loading and unloading
exporter or importer: someone who sells goods from their
country to other countries (exporter) or buys goods from
other countries to sell in theirs (importer)
longshoreman: a dock worker who oversees the loading
and unloading of containers onto or off the vessels
and any other intermodal vehicles in the terminal. They
ensure containers are undamaged and secure to keep the
crew and cargo safe on their journey. They work outside
year-round, regardless of weather, and may operate heavy
machinery such as cranes.
marine engineer or naval architect: both of these jobs are
performed by engineering specialists who design, build, and
repair ships. They use computers and other tools to help them
design vessels. Sometimes they go to sea to conduct tests or
maintain existing ships.
maritime pilot: a ship operator based at a port or canal with
expert knowledge of local waterways. The pilot boards ships
to help the crew safely maneuver narrow or shallow channels
and rivers during arrival and departure at ports and canals.
ship operator: works with a ship’s crew to ensure they
are on time and following the law. They report updates to
customers with containers on the ship, oversee the ship’s
schedule, calculate when and where to refuel, handle
important paperwork, and more.
train engineer: a train operator moving intermodal
containers on railways
truck driver: an operator of trucks moving intermodal
containers across land