from the Armed Forces to marine contracting
Many IMCA members already regularly recruit former members of the armed forces, so you will be following a well-trodden path by joining the marine contracting industry, where the opportunities, the variety - and, yes, the rewards - are all beyond the ordinary.
Some of the key skills acquired by those in the armed services are needed by our industry:
- Man management
- Project delivery
- Design, construction, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of electrical, electronic, hydraulic and mechanical systems and equipment
- Radio, communications and signals technology
- Survey and positioning
- Ship and underwater operations
These can be applied in a variety of offshore scenarios:
- In the construction area there are worldwide opportunities spanning all the engineering disciplines in major offshore oil and gas field developments, including installing new platforms, laying new pipelines and cables, as well as modifying and maintaining existing facilities - always with a cutting-edge approach to safety and environmental protection. It's here, too, that engineers can further develop their technical and professional skills in an industry in which processes and technology are constantly moving forward.
- Underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) offer another interesting career choice in which electronic, hydraulic and mechanical technology come together to create complex robotic vehicles capable of an increasing number of subsea tasks. It is estimated that new ROV spreads will require some 1200 additional personnel to operate them.
- Of course, offshore operations also depend on the officers and crews of support vessels, which are among the most sophisticated ships at sea - and some of the new vessels currently being built or on drawing boards give ‘sophisticated' a whole new meaning! An increasing number call for the unique skills of dynamic positioning (DP) to keep them constantly in the right place. Full crews are needed for literally hundreds of new vessels, and here we are talking of marine crews including bridge, engine room and DP watch keepers, electricians and others; and construction crews including crane and winch operators, welders, riggers and many other engineering-related disciplines.
- Then too the industry needs those involved with the earth sciences and physics to design and carry out hydrographic surveys; it also offers opportunities for electrical and electronic engineers; survey engineers and technicians; and virtually unlimited options for IT specialists since cutting-edge computer systems and digital data play an ever increasing role in just about every aspect of the marine and offshore industries.
Don't want to go to sea? No worries, there is a wealth of challenging engineering and project positions in shore-based offices completing the designs and project planning to support the vessels and offshore personnel.
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