EDITED 2018 : THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF CHANGES IN REGULATION AND ALSO SOME OF THE INFO MIGHT NOT BE ACCURATE DUE TO ME WRITING THIS ARTICLE IN MY JUNIOR YEAR. I'D LIKE TO WARN EVERYONE. NEVER STUDY SEAFARER RELATED COURSES WITH LOAN/PTPTN/OWN MONEY (UNLESS YOU'RE FRICKING RICH). WITHOUT SPONSORSHIP, YOU WILL FIND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SECURE CADETSHIP AND ALSO GETTING YOUR FIRST JOB. COUPLED WITH OIL PRICE GLUT AND COMPETITION FROM CHEAP FOREIGN LABOR, LOCAL SEAFARER FUTURE IN THE INDUSTRY SEEMS BLEAK. EVEN THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AND EXPERIENCED SEAFARER ARE FACING DIFFICULTY FINDING JOB. AND SOME OF MY JUNIORS HAVE BEEN JOBLESS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

From my first thread, this is the new version of it since the last one some facts are outdated.
I'd like to introduce myself. I’m currently a student in one of the few maritime school in Malaysia. I took diploma in marine engineering. The purpose is that i want to encourage more Malaysian into this industry. The reward is good since seafaring command one of the highest paid job for diploma holder.

thread v1 : Begin Your Career As Seafarer V1

First of all, what is seafarer?

Seafarer is a person who carries various duties onboard ships. They will sail with the ship in order to transport goods that the customer want us to deliver. Divided into two department which are Deck Department and Engineering Department.


Benefits of becoming a SEAFARER

1) Rewarding career. Cheapest pay is around RM7500 for fresh graduates of diploma in foreign going ship. For near coastal, it’s about RM4000

2) Experience gained make it easier for you to apply job on oil platform since you have an offshore working experience.

3) Can save a lot of money. onboard ship, no need car. no need to pay rental for accommodation. free meal(every week can eat western). no need money to go to gym. onboard ship, gym is provided. got tv, some ship have internet facilities. some got pool/snooker table.

4) Upon earning your Certificate of Competency, it is as valuable as other certificate of same level such as Steam/Boiler Engineer certificate. Why is that so? Because these kind of certificates/license is not earn by just attending few days of course. To earn this certs, seatime/working experience is needed. These certificates doesn’t only show that you are competent. It’ll show that you are COMPETENT WITH EXPERIENCE as most other certificate doesn’t provide and show how experinced you’re in that current field.


Where can I study the courses?




Definition Of Marine Engineering

Marine engineers are the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems on board the vessel. Marine Engineering staff also deal with the "Hotel" facilities on board, notably the sewage, lighting, air conditioning and water systems. They deal with bulk fuel transfers, and require training in firefighting and first aid, as well as in dealing with the ship's boats and other nautical tasks- especially with cargo loading/discharging gear and safety systems, though the specific cargo discharge function remains the responsibility of deck officers and deck workers.

Sometimes, they are involved in the design and construction of these complicated systems. New design is mostly included within the naval architecture or ship design. The field is closely related to mechanical engineering, although the modern engineer requires knowledge (and hands on experience) with electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, chemistry, control engineering, naval architecture, process engineering, gas turbines and even nuclear technology on certain military vessels.

Definiton of Nautical Studies

As of Nautical Studies, you will usually work as person in charge of navigation, cargo loading & discharging, deck maintenance. And lots more.

I’m from engineering dept, so, I’ll try to update more later on.


Department & Rank
If you notice from the rank chart, Chief Engineer is actually the same rank level as of captain. Just that, Captain is the commanding officer in charge of all ship activities. He is head of department for Deck. Chief Engineer on the other hand is the head of department for Engine. Their rank are on the same level so do their payment, but captain commands exceed chief engineer in some matter.



-Credit to Dukerobin-


Salary(ASIAN RATE)



So far that's it for now more update coming soon regarding this matters. updates such career progression, future prospect, type of ship, company name list etc2, will be updated soon. If you have any question regarding this career, feel free to ask

This post has been edited by destroyer: Mar 26 2018, 07:07 PM

I'm currently in my 3rd year of me degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Considering all the options I have here. The pay seems good tbh

What is my career path like if i choose to become a seafarer?

you can take the MEBP prog in alam or singapore maritime academy. this year only 4 people join the course. all of them are sponsored by AET. MEBP program is a 6 month program in alam. after the completion of program, you need to sail for 12 month collecting ur seatime to sit for your license exam. then only you can go for engineer status.

btw. have you any idea how working onboard like? it's not a job for sissy

Yeah, i heard conditions are pretty harsh, staying away from friends and family for months, only having the sea to look at most of the time as well.
As i said, i'm considering my options.

So basically, despite having a degree in Mechanical Engineering, i can still still get my license through the MEBP programme? That was my only concern.
What is AET btw?
I've just came across this link, http://akademilautmalaysia.blogspot.com/20...-programme.html
Is the current programme similar to the one in the link?

u need the seatime to get ur COC. the bridging program is to comply with STCW requirement to equip urself with seamanship. it is also help you to secure sponsorship from shipping company since the cost is about rm27000.

So must know how to swim too?

can a man with diabetes become a seafarer?

A good thread.....I read the V1 since 2009.

So, TS now have finished your diploma????

Only 4 people can join or only 4 people joined?

not necessary when u want to join. but u have to learn and institution like alam do provide swimming class

can. as long it's controllable & manageable.


currently in my final sem. i've sailed from atlantic to caribbean and to pacific. nice voyage~~~


that one i'm not sure. but if i'm not mistaken, application for the course is reducing since most degree grads are not willing to go to sea.

Do your job need to be physically fit???

A very good stamina is required??

that depends. i've seen fat people go onboard also

Haha...but fat people does not mean they have low stamina....

And then for those wearing specs are not allowed to do nautical studies, does this apply to marine engineering??

AET = American Eagle Tankers

a subsidiary of MISC..

yep. nautical if u want to enter alam u cannot wear spec. more accurate is that it is correctable 6/60 if i'm not mistaken.


dats right.

So, for those wearing specs with quite high power, it is not suitable for them....

I am going to encourage my juniors to go for this...

the more the merrier!

However, with the current unstable economy, do you think that those big company will cut down the salary or number of seafarers that they need???

I mean job opportunities.

well... did u know that 90% of world trade go through sea? unless they invent faster and more economical trading method, there'll always be job opportunities for us. we can also proceed for career at shore.

Hmm...I do agree with you.

How about the selection to be a seafarer???

Like which school do you graduate...