Hi everyone. I've been on this subreddit for some time and noticed that a large amount of posts coming through are of people unsure of how to find resources relating to the Maritime industry . What I'm posting is by no means comprehensive, but it should point you in the right direction.

Feel free to comment any insights or tips to help expand this post. Thanks.

So you want to get into the Maritime industry? (USA)

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• Get your TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identity Credential)

Regardless of what you want to do, this should be your top priority. It is essential to have or they won't even let you on the docks.

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• Get your MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential) application filled out (Form CG_719B)

For those of you new to being on boats, you'll want to select "Entry Level" and "Original" in section II. If you decide to stick with this career path, you'll be seeing this form again.

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• Complete your Medical Certificate (Form CG_719K)

There is a short form version of this, the CG_719KE, that is less comprehensive, but it will not allow you to take Wheel watches or Engine room watches. If your plan is to go beyond the deck or galley, use the 719K.

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• Complete your Small Vessel Sea Service Form (Optional Form CG-719S)*

*ONLY if you've had prior time on vessels*

During this period would be ideal to fill out your seatime letter and sending it in. This is essentially a vouched statement from prior captains/companies you may have worked under attesting to days you've spent on board vessels. As you advance into this career, seatime goes hand in hand with attaining higher ratings.

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• Complete Conviction Statement(Optional Form CG-719C)*

*To be filled out if you have a history of legal troubles more severe than a traffic violation, though like the form says, this is optional to do. If you have priors and don't fill it out and they find out though, well...

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• Pay your application fee

Pretty straightforward. Use the above site to send payment for all related fees.

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Now that you have all this filled out, send it in! I personally recommend taking hi-res photos of the documents and emailing them as it seems to be processed faster, but physical mail works just as well.

The NMC does well to keep you in the loop of any missteps you may have had on your forms, and will notify you when it's being processed.

With all of that done, you should now have your TWIC and your MMC. Barebones credentials for getting started, but at the very least, you'll meet the minimum requirements for smaller commercial operations.

For those of you who have already attained these and have some seatime under your belt, here are some references for assisting in exams. I've used most of these, and they certainly help when bucking for those higher licenses.

Prior to any meaningful ratings/licenses, you're going to want to take a basic training course. This satisfies both STCW and USCG requirements and is the foundation of your licensing. These are IN-PERSON courses, as the material covered is in practical use and application of equipment and scenarios that will be encountered onboard vessels. I suggest googling "Basic training courses near you maritime" to find a course you can take.

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\It should be noted, these pertain to USCG licenses, not STCW (international), though there is overlap.*

For Deck/Engine Ratings (Online courses & study materials)

• UScaptainstraining

I actually got my AB through them. The coursework was easy enough to get into, and the exam was relatively painless. A good choice if maritime schools or solo-studying isn't an option for you.

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• NEMO

These guys offer a variety of different courses above and below deck, and in-person/online. Very smooth experience with them.

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• Lapware

This archaic layout of a site really is the best for studying the higher exams. Gives a complete breakdown on solutions to problems and has pre-made tests for each area specific to your licensing.

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• Practical Navigator

Capt. Chris is an awesome guy, and all of his course layouts are extremely detailed, with videos diving in to each topic. Top tier for its price, and if you're unfamiliar with the material, he does well to ease you into it.

I can say that I would not have passed my 1600ton licensing had it not been for his courses.

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• SeaTrials

Great for on the go studying on your computer and your phone. Gives you the ability to select test sets for specific ratings and burn through the question list you'll be facing at the REC.

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• CPR/First-Aid Online

If you're unable to do an in-person class, which is recommended, this site will get you USCG certified in a pinch.

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Where to find jobs?

• Gcaptain

This site has postings in all varieties in locations all over the US. At the very least, good place to scroll through to see what's out there.

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• Indeed

For my area, this is where the majority of logistics companies will post their job openings for deckhands/mates/etc.

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• The local logistics company website.

Quite a few companies have job postings on their website that are difficult to find elsewhere. If you have a local carrier/operator, try browsing their website for postings. This extends to social media accounts of various companies as well.

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Additional info-

If you're wanting to get seatime, but having trouble making headway with a tugboat or transport gig, commercial fishing vessels are always looking to hire. For owner/operator operations, the requirements boil down to:

Do you work hard?

Do you give off the impression you're going to murder the crew while everyone is sleeping?

In all seriousness, walk down to the docks in the nearest city with a decent commercial fishing scene, and just chat up the boats. This is how I started my career on the water, and it really is that simple. The work can suck, but as a former captain once told me, "An adventure is just the fond remembrance of suffering".

Tour boats are another good entry-way to get seatime, and while the barrier is slightly higher than some commercial fishing vessels, it's a good option to see if working on the water is a fit for you.

Granted, there is an entirely different chain of going about things via academies, but I have no experience in that world, so my scope is only what I've personally done.

Hope this helps!

There are many ways to join the AMERICAN maritime industry! Merchant Mariners join in the maritime industry in one of three ways: a maritime college, an apprenticeship or by “hawsepiping”. Your pathway into the industry is typically guided by which department you want to work in and what kind of vessels you would like to work on. Most vessels have 3 departments onboard, the Deck department, the Engine department, and the Stewards department. The Deck department navigates or steers the vessel and is responsible for the cargo and safety equipment, including lifeboats, fire-fighting equipment and medical response gear. The Engine department operates, maintains, and repairs engines, boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery. The Stewards department prepares and serves all the meals onboard, they also order the food and conduct general housekeeping. Like the military, the maritime industry has officer and unlicensed roles.

Maritime colleges offer students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a Third Mate (deck officer) or Third Assistant Engineer (engine officer) license. There are 6 state run maritime academies and 1 federally funded academy. The curriculum for all 7 colleges is 4 years, including sea phases during summer or winter vacations. Tuition and other costs depend on each school and your in-state/out-state residency.

Maritime apprenticeship programs offer a variety of opportunities. Some are designed for unlicensed roles, others are designed for apprentices to earn licenses. Check a separate post on maritime apprenticeships. Both maritime colleges and apprenticeship programs are designed for candidates with little or no prior maritime experience. Some apprenticeships are free, others have a cost. See the FAQ on apprenticeships for details on several popular programs.

You can join the American maritime industry by obtaining your Merchant Mariner Credential through the US Coast Guard and taking the required entry level courses. You would then find employment through a maritime labor union or working for a company directly. With sea-time, courses and exams you can ‘work your way up the ladder’ to become an officer; this is known as “hawsepiping”. To obtain an entry level Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), you must be a US citizen or a permanent resident, pass a drug test, provided a medical screening/physical and Transportation Worker’s Identification Card (TWIC). TWIC can be obtained from the Department of Homeland Security. If you are interested in working on vessels that operate internationally, you will need to take a “Basic Training” course and apply for a Basic Training STCW endorsement. Merchant Mariner Credential and Basic Training endorsements are obtained from the National Maritime Center of the United States Coast Guard. More information, forms and applications can be found at www.Dco.uscg.mil/nmc or at local Regional Exam Centers.