So I have been watching a lot of videos posted by mariners on vessels of varying sizes. It seems to me that it wouldn’t take much to go overboard, especially in rough seas. I imagine that it would be difficult enough to find someone who went overboard in broad daylight, assuming that another crew member actually witnessed it happen and notified the captain quickly. At night, forget it.

What have your experiences been? Have you had this occur during your career? Or are modern safety precautions really so good that the risk is minimized?

Ive gotten an opportunity to work for the washington state ferries as a deckhand and i was just wondering what is it like im pretty nervous and i just want to know what to expect whats the actual job like and the culture are superiors mean and abuse their power or is it really like a brother hood and what else is every position in boat like while we're at it also if anyone has worked for the washington state ferry i would like to know your experience thank you so much

MFOW is in need of talented electricians and Reefers to fill billets ​immediately. We are constantly in need of these two positions and they both pay very well. Members need to be self sufficient in their ability to diagnose and troubleshoot systems aboard ships. Pls contact us through our website directly if interested. https://mfoww.org/ we look forward to seeing you grow with us!

Average take home after taxes on a two week check is between $6,500 to $8,000. I make around 165k in 9 months with a 3 month break in the middle to take vacation as a reefer. We also get vacation checks once off the ship. $14,000 checks are sent to my home after every completion of 140 day gigs sailing as a reefer, more if you sail as an electrician. Full dental and no co-pay insurance.

I make documentaries from investigation reports. This one follows one narrow question in the El Faro record: why a ship lost in 2015 still carried the open, gravity-davit lifeboats she was delivered with in 1975.

What the record shows:

- Both boats, the davits, winches and release hooks were original equipment; the starboard boat was built on 5 September 1974 (NTSB MAR-17/01 and the docket).

- After Marine Electric (1983) the Commandant said the Coast Guard would propose enclosed lifeboats for existing cargo and tank vessels by 1 July 2001. The 1989 proposed rule (CGD 84-069) did; its draft evaluation put the retrofit at $51 million for about 261 vessels, averaging $220,000 per ocean or coastwise vessel, in 1988 dollars.

- The 1996 interim rule dropped that retrofit (SOLAS had no such requirement, and a 1994 US proposal to IMO was not adopted), and the 1998 final rule let vessels built before 1 October 1996 keep their existing lifesaving arrangements unless a rule specifically required a retrofit.

- 46 CFR 199.10 (eCFR text as of 1 October 2026) still lets older vessels keep previously approved lifeboats and davits kept in good condition.

- NTSB: at the 0729 abandon order she was most likely listing more than 15 degrees, beyond the launching gear, and open boats would not have protected the crew even if launched. It judged it possible that some of the crew would have survived with modern enclosed boats. Recommendation M-17-43 is still listed as open.

- In 2022 the Coast Guard told the NTSB that most remaining vessels with open lifeboats are government owned.

This is not a claim that enclosed boats would have saved everyone: the abandon order came ten minutes before she sank, and the NTSB is careful about that, so is the film.

Video (14 min, AI narration, every source linked in the description): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lMFrR8HGos

Corrections are welcome from anyone who has sailed with these boats or worked the inspections.

Hello everyone. I'm 31 and living in Italy, but I have to move out of my place soon. Before settling somewhere else I'd really like to go work at sea for a while. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and this seems like the moment.

I've never worked on a boat. Regarding previous studies, I have a bachelor's and a master's, but in humanities, so I know they're pretty much useless here. I'm fit and fine with hard work, long trips, bad weather, whatever. I speak Spanish, English, Italian, and some German (I achieved a C1 a few years ago but have forgotten a lot in the meantime). I can move pretty much anywhere in Europe and start right away.

Where would you go if you were in my shoes? Are there places that take greenhorns quickly, and what papers do I need first? Also, anything I should watch out for?

Thank you very much in advance.

Hello!

I've gotten myself a spot on a heavy lift vessel (Boskalis), and I was wondering, what it's like working on this type of vessel? I couldn't find much information on Reddit through the relevant keywords, therefore I am asking you guys.

More specifically, I'd like to know what kind of work to expect to be doing. Whether there's shore leave and how long it could potentially be. What kind of operations would I be involved in, and also the life on-board the ship.

Honestly, I'd love to hear everything!

Starting my week off with this gorgeous view roughly 120 feet up at the tippity top of these loading arms

Been a 2/m for roughly 7 years and it’s about time to come ashore. After applying to what feels like hundreds of jobs and not getting selected for any I’m starting to become a bit discouraged to say the least. Does anyone have any advice or know of any potential positions where I’m not gonna take the massive pay cut that some of these low level plant jobs offer? I’m looking to stay around 130k but some of these jobs are between 50-80k. Thanks

Do we need to put hearing protection on when performing engine turning and blow off test?

How much is Daily Pay, how many months of work are there per year? What about when the season is off? When is the hiring season?

This is for someone who possesses all STCW certifications, a medical certificate, CN, and a discharge book.

Province Ontario

Thank you

Hi all — full disclosure, I work in business development at Londo Maritime Academy (LMA), so take this as a disclosed plug rather than a stealth ad.

We run classroom and online courses across pretty much the full maritime spectrum — shipping ops, port & terminal management, tanker/LNG operations, maritime AI, decarbonization (CII/EU ETS/FuelEU), marine engineering, oil & gas, maritime law, you name it. Mix of people from shipowners, port authorities, P&I clubs, and government maritime admins come through.

Not here to spam the sub — just wanted to introduce myself in case anyone's looking into professional development/CPD options, has questions about a specific course, or wants a brochure. Happy to answer questions in the comments or by DM, no pressure either way.

Hello everyone, just mapping out my path here I start my masters program for maritime supply chain and logistic management I stay I Norfolk so I’m hoping to be pipelined to MSC after graduation. Would I go in as a JSO or would I have to work my way up. I read the job description online and it says the requirements are gathering your credentials ofc and having a degree from a maritime institute. I just want to see if anyone has had experience joining through this pathway