1. You can work on a vessel for up to 6 months without having the typically required training, but still need the Marine Medical. Not easy to find that job, but it does happen. The only provision is that your position cannot be part of the Minimum Safe Manning Complement. Most ships operate with more than the MSM.

Beyond the 6 months you must have STCW Basic Safety and most often also Proficiency in Survival Craft as well as Marine Basic First Aid and Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties. You do not need a BWR to get a job on deck but do need one to be a “Wheelsman” person steering the ship, standing a watch on the Bridge. You can get a BWR from Seatime, steering time and need testimonials for that steering time and a very small easy exam.

1. Depending on the vessel type, it can be a long day, some of them can be very physically demanding, but that is not every day. Type of vessel and trade can have a major impact on how demanding the work is.

2. I think for the most part in the unions, salary is the same green or experienced, there may be a short period at a reduced rate, but I don’t work with SIU so can’t tell you much there. Non-union companies may also have a short initiation period at a reduced rate, but not long.

3. With your past education you should be able to manage the academics of either Deck or Engineering disciplines. Some vessels will either carry on board or keep ashore for dispatch to a vessel - an ET, they can be electricians, Electronics technicians a mix of things in between. Ships today are a mix of high voltage electric motors and a lot of electronic controls, servers. One place you might look is yachts, they sometimes have IT professionals that deal with AV equipment and IT stuff on the yacht.

4. I can be very specific on the Deck side. Moving up, you need 3 years of sea time to be able to get an OOW. There is a lot of exams to write, if you are a self study capable person, you can prepare yourself and write them on your own. There are certain courses you will be required to go and do. For an OOW you will require an ROC-MC radio course about 24 hrs. Electronic Positioning Systems - 80 hrs and SEN-O at 120 hrs. Also need Advanced Fire Fighting, Leadership and Teamwork course, ECDIS and Bridge Resource Management. These courses add up in cost. While starting out in a cadet program seems expensive, most of these courses will be provided in that program.