from the Merchant Navy to marine contracting
Many IMCA members already regularly recruit former members of the merchant marine fleet, so you will be following a well-trodden path by joining the marine contracting industry, where the opportunities, the variety - and, yes, the the rewards - are all beyond the ordinary. There are opportunities for bridge, deck and engine room officers, as well as other crew.
- There are worldwide opportunities on vessels spanning all the marine construction operations needed for major offshore oil and gas field developments, including: installing new platforms; laying new pipelines and cables; installing subsea structures; modifying and maintaining existing facilities; support diving, ROV, survey and drilling services; providing accommodation; and more - always with a cutting-edge approach to safety and environmental protection. It's here, too, that mariners can further develop their technical and professional skills in an industry in which processes and technology are constantly moving forward.
- Many of these vessels are dynamically positioned (DP) to keep them constantly in the right place, requiring specially trained DP officers - a further opportunity for training and promotion
- 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! 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.
Don't want to stay at 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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