I'm a seafarer for over 7 years. I was ex Alam, Now i teach there on my off days. I don't work for a Malaysian company cause they actually pay you crap salaries.

I'd like to point out, some of your threads are misleading, I don't know whether you realize, you are paid according to your nationality.
This is to make the market competitive, or else no european or develope countries citizens will be seafarers.

I just hope you guys know what you're getting yourself into. Life at sea is hard. Not to mention, all the pains you go through from being away from civilization. Yes, the money is good, not great.

The salary you qouted in the beginning can be misleading. You should qoute how much you make in a year. And how much holidays you get.
It depends the more you work, the more you gain.

If you don't have money and come from a middle or low class family, i suggest this career for you!
But if you're already rich, stay away!!

I'm not trying to demotivate you guys from not joining, but you better know what you're getting yourself into.


By the way i'm 29 years old, Chief Officer for a foreign company.

Think if i had a choice i would have paid for it myself. Regarding training wise, MISC is really good. They pay for everything, but then they own your sorry little ass for a long long time. However I broke my contract and left, now i'm in a legal jumble with them. But the money you earn elsewhere is good.

MISC will pay for everything, from your clothes to the food you eat. But the first few years you'll suffer. Not to mention sail and sail for a long long time. But the good thing is by the time you get back for your second round of studies, you'll be getting about 5 -7 k and they'll pay for your education for a year.

Then again if you continue in MISC, its not too bad. Easy life, easy work. Join other companies, they make you work until every penny you earn is worth it!

MISC -- Junior grads, 3rd officer to 2n officer... Start 3.5k - 7k a month.
Senior officer-- Chief Officer and Captains... Start 9k - 15k a month.
Don't be fooled by ppl qouting their salary to be more, cause they usually include leave pay. So basically thats what you earn monthly in a year.
You sail 6 months and 2 months holiday as a junior. Senior 4 months 3 month holidays.

Foreign companies
Depends how well you negotiate and what type of vessel you are from
(LNG pays the highest so far)
for instance Juniors get about 7k -9k (4 months work, 2 months holiday, year long salary)
Seniors 18 -24k (3 months work, 3 months holiday, year long salary)

And yes, you don't need to pay tax

Race isn't an issue. The problem is qualifications. Supply and demand in the industry.

If you're a Deck Cadet and want quick money, Start researching how to get into the DP line, Dynamic Positioning. Hard life, but if you manage to get in. hmmmm lets just say in three year you'll be earning 200 - 700 us dollars a day. However most of this ships are very hard to get into and you might not get a chance to become a Captain. Some companies in malaysia that does DP, Sapuracrest, Offshore works and Petra perdana.

Take time to google like you're searching for a Job when you've graduated. Roughly you can figure out howmuch you are worth!
(i should have done this before i join, i'd know where to go and what to do !)

Some other options for you fresh school guys that are looking for good money in the offshore industry:
Remote Operation Vehicle (ROV) operator
Life support officer - these are the guys that mix the air for deep sea divers
Any jobs in the oil rig is extremely well paid.
Some ROV operator and LSO i've meet are paid about 40 - 50 k a month (with leave pay included )

Which means 20 -25k a month.

don't ask me how, google it , and research! lolz i'd never know where they got their training from.

The sea life is hard, but I live a comfortable life, i've two cars , two condos, i buy all the latest gadgets i want and crave for..
I go for really long holidays. And still my bank acount is always in the 5 digits.

Basically , everyone i know back in school, (minus the rich brats) I probably earn more then them. Not bad for someone who started off with nothing in his pockets.

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Added on June 4, 2009, 1:03 pmMISC and AET are the same company. Just different Trading name.

PETRONAS OWNS MISC AND AET!


This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Jun 4 2009, 01:03 PM

Nope but the salary grades are the same. Process is still the same. By the way, Deck guys earn more, cause there can only be 1 captain! lolz

All companies go thru the global turmoil. But its the survival of the fittest. MISC LNG makes a lot of money, their contracts are sign 25 years in advance.
Other shipping Giants too.

Oil and Gas is the real currency in the world. You want to raise the price of everything, u cut the supply. All the energy supply is gone. Prices will go up. We've got no choice but to pay. However, as resources depletes, new resources like new oil fields are found.

Just for ur info. The demand for sailors and O&G personnel are still high. We're still experiencing a shortage. Salaries are still high as everyone is jumping from A - Z companies.

As long as people use gas for electricity, as long as cars are on the road. How much due u think it cost a country to change everything and go green?
It'll take a long long time. And by the way, if you notice who are researching alternative energy sources? its all the oil major firms. Unless they deplete their resources, do u actually think they'll pull out from the profitable trade of energy?

There is no decrease of O&G, just a slowdown. If everyones economy don't recover, then we are screwed.

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Added on June 4, 2009, 5:04 pmoh well, there are many ways to make money, i know some engineers that quit the sea life to work on floating oil rigs and are earning a pretty hefty sum too. Just remember to NETWORK since young!! We are a close community and we stick to it that way. Most of the time you get a good break its because a fren of a fren recommends you.

This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Jun 4 2009, 05:04 PM

I work for Maersk

Just for your info i never wanted to leave MISC, until they threaten me. I was onboard for 8 months ( c/o no shore leave) Imagine 8 months at sea, nvr touch land, and then after 1 week vacation they ask me to join the ship again. I refused. Second week, they tried again, threaten me on the phone. 3rd week they sent a letter, if i do not join the vessel, my salary will be stopped. (just remember, when you join MISC as a 3rd mate or junior engineer, they'll make you sign another contract, the terms and condition states , although you have leave days left, they can call you anytime, or else it'll be breach of services) Therefore, i went to the office the next day and tendered my resignation. Still they have the guts to threaten me, i'll be brought to court. When i didn't back down, they started offering more money, wanted to slow talk, etc. Its very hard to leave a company, first of all whether you have to guts or not.

I do not believe in a company that treats they staff inhumanly. Thats my opionion.

When i first started to apply to other companies, i realize how in demand we actually are. I've got offers from Teekay, Shell and MOL. However i choose Maersk cause i wanted to see how the largest shipping company in the world operates.

By the way, to all you junior officers, either you leave early or leave when you got your Master/ C/E licence. I got my Masters when i was 27. Now I'm taking a MBA programme in the UK end of this year. But whatever it is, leave with dignity. Pay your dues. Don't just run away.

MISC & AET, easy life but lower pay. Foreign company, plenty work but higher pay, less ppl. But better welfare and they treat you like a human being in other companies. (I've got broadband internet, satellite tv, free phone calls, etc... don't worry you won't see this in MISC/AET)

the problem with DP isn't the course, its whether a company will give you a training berth to do DP. Don't forget on these small specialize ships, there are about 100 ppl and compared to a usual vessel (20 -25 on foreign ships , 40 for MISC since they got so many ppl!). Every available cabin space on the ship is utilize for other personnel (diver, ROV, suryeyors, geologist etc) therefore to give you training is the last thing they want to do. They rather pay someone more from another company.

Bumi Armada is a Malaysian company. Yes their pay is kind of low (for DP vessel) but higher then any MISC vessels. They've got billion dollars projects and very stable company. They own DP ships and supply tugs. ( small vessels about 100 -150 meters in length) And you'll be a richer Cadet then most other cadets. If you're deck cadet, make sure you go on DP class vessels. Not supply or anchor handling tugs. You better demand for it when they send you for training or else just leave!

The only thing is, i hope you got a good stomach with all the rocking and rolling you experience.
A couple of my seniors are in the office and some of my batchmates are on their vessels.

3 months work 1 month leave. But if your a deck cadet, DP after three years, wohoo ... golden ticket!

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Added on June 6, 2009, 6:53 amMISC - no internet, no free calls, no satellite tv. but you got good malaysian food!

Terengganu surely got internet la, only no 4D toto and stuff lolz

Vinothen, don't worry about pay so much. MISC pay low but promotion very fast. If you finish your Class 1, you'll be high up the ranks fast. The only problem is that you have to sail for a longer time i guess. I went for holidays more then money. Over here promotion is very slow, but the higher salary makes up for it.

There's a lot of companies out there. It depends what type of vessel are you specializing in, motor, steam gas turbine if you're an engineer. For the deckies, you'll want to think of LNG and DP, two of the highest paid. For engineers, motor so far is more general in all vessels. However considering the prospect of switching to Rigs and floating platforms.


After sailing for a while, you realize you need balance.

Work + holiday + money = X + Y

Y= you X=expenditure

Get this equation sorted out, and you'll be having a good life!

This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Jun 6 2009, 06:53 AM

Well all your certificate will be issued by Malaysian goverment, guess there's nothing to worry about. So your Certificate of compentency is issued by Malaysian Goverment, and basically whatever diploma or degree you own, does'nt really make a difference when you are sailing cause you are piad according to your compentency level. If you're self paid, then you'll have a problem to get a company to allow you to join them, most of them got their own cadets anyways. But they are always the big guns who are looking for "fresh meat". Do understand that when you're a cadet, you are cheap labour. You're expected to do everything and anything , this is called training!

Nautical - be prepared to be sleep deprived. Less physical jobs. Mostly you work in shifts of 8-12 am & pm or 4 -8 am & pm or 12-4 am & pm. You then usually spend another 2 hours doing your overtime work. Hours are long and you never get a day off till you go off then ship.

Engineering- you'll do a lot of physical work, but you work on a 8-5pm schedule with Saturday and sunday off, depending on how cruel your chief engineer is. Your promotion is slower, cause technically you need to learn more to be able to suceed in this career.

The difference i see is the availabilty of work when you choose to quit the sea life. Eventually you 'll get someone pregnant and forced to go ashore to find a shore job cause they cannot stop nagging you. So:

ashore: Chief Engineers are in high demand compared to Captains. Once you settle ashore, your salary will be cut almost 40% and you have to pay tax.

Depending on what you prefer, basically either career is equally challeging. The only problem is , can you stand sailing? being away for months and months. The rough seas, the lifestyle?

Dont think there's limitation about being a female in OSHA, in fact i know a couple of them from the oil major companies. They earn a lot too, probably more then the sailors starting salary. If you're registered for OSHA once youre graduated, you're in high demand. A lot of companies need safety consultants, however, they don't really do any physical jobs, more of statistical analysis and understanding of the jobs that the compnay does.

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Added on June 19, 2009, 6:18 amChill la , medical check up is for the Company. A seafarers depending on which country register ship has different medical check ups. Think Malaysia is every 5 years, and i'm working on US flagged vessels, so thats every 2 years. So i think the pre medical check up is more for the companies records then the Marine Academy.

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Added on June 19, 2009, 6:38 amCan't really be picky during the economic slowdown, a lot of companies are losing money. Even the big players are losing a lot of money due to import and exports slowdowns. However, the shortage in this industry doesn't affect much on seafarers as the demands are still rising. If you have the experience companies hunt you down. Don't live under a shell and Network with more ppl. This is a very close community between seafarers and offshore people. I don't know why, but most jobs are recommended by word of mouth. Maybe its because we speak a different language, don't ever expect your non sailing frens know what the heck you're talking about!

If u guys ever join the LNG trade, most probably you'll meet me in ALAM, I do part time teaching during my holidays but only for
LNG trade. (yes even ALAM pays well for part timers, I get 600 bucks a day to stand and talk crap, not that you'll ever know if i'm lying or teaching you the wrong things LOL!)

Anyways, I'm on facebook and you guys can add me if you want to ask anything in the future. Username Midnightjive

Hope you guys can stand the first few years of the sailing life, but if you make it after 10 years, i can gurantee you'll be earning double digits a month.

This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Jun 19 2009, 06:38 AM

Logistic is the transport of air, land and sea combined. Don't expect a good salary in the first 10 years. Cause it is based on experience and how you network with other parties. You need to have a strong command of English as well and Mandarin due to China is one of the important markets for supply chains. Malaysia is having a shortage in this industry, and i've seen jobs with good pay abojut 15k -20k for someone who has expereince of 7-8 yrs. The problem is that you need to have a good PR, if you're a smooth talker, no problem.

In the event you delay a shipment, it may be the difference between losing million or gaining million when you're on time. Thats why they want really experience ppl in this field. Also an option to consider is Ship broking if you're in the logistic line. Ship brokers are the ones that are really rich in the shipping industry, imagine if you manage to get a contract for 20 million, you'll earn 1%.

Diploma in Maritime Tech, no idea what they do with it ! Sorry babe!

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Added on June 22, 2009, 6:40 pmLOL looks like you're a PUTERI BOY LIKE ME! bet you like Colin Buchannan !:P

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Added on June 22, 2009, 6:57 pmYou don't need to PM me, we live in a competitative market, its our right as seafarers to share our salaries.


3rd Engineer / 2nd Officer

Most foreign LNG salary range(for Malaysians)
Maersk, Qatar Gas (nakilat - Shell ship management) Teekay LNG, NYK LNG

5 months work, 2 1/2 month off

Year long salary

when you're onboard Basic Salary + uniform allowance + tanker allowance+ LNG allowance =2100+25+350+840
TOTAL onboard salary = US 3315 about 11500 ringgit
When you're on leave you get = US 2100 about 7400 ringgit

additional : bonus, yearly medical allowance (about 1200US)

Just remember, things are harder in foreign companies. Everyone treats you as an outkast, you'll be treated the same way MISC treats foreigners. If you can take the challenge working in a foreign company. Why not? Yes we are understaff and almost minimum crewing , but i love my life here in Maersk. But if you want good training, go to MISC. Get the experience and when you want to leave, LEAVE PROPERLY.

A lot of MISC guys came to Maersk but went back, what to do, katak bawah tempurung, cannot stand the stress, not used to working with multi national crew. If you do a mistake here, trust me, ppl are less forgiving. But if you know your job, you studies well. No one can touch you!

Okie so if you're on other type of ships the difference is the allowance you receive. So far LNG is the highest. (except DP vessels)

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Added on June 22, 2009, 7:26 pmThink Chem engineering is equally a good career. Branch out into marketing. Some of my buddies are in that area. Lets just say hmm they are quite comfortable. Chem or petro chem are closely related (chem is general and petrochem is more related to the O&G industry), and yes i've seen some guys going to offshore rigs and convert into Petro Chem. Who is sponsoring you?


This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Jun 22 2009, 07:26 PM

So far yes in Singapore. But ALAM will soon have. Right now they conduct on invitation basis only for Bumi Armada. But its not the course that is hard to get into. Its the training berth that you want to get in.

ROV operators - thinks theres a training center in batu caves area. Not too sure. But that one, you need to pay a lot to get that cert.

[quote=masrila5,Jun 23 2009, 09:16 AM]
hi,
Midnightjive, colin buchanan is my idola. Hehe. I think we know each other. Nvm, so, lama lg cuti? Last 2 wk there's maersk arwaa also anchoring. Now gone oredy. For all of u out there, foreign comp offer high pay but hard work n slow promotion. Misc on the other hand, fast promo, relatively easy job, good training n developement but one of the lowest pay.

LOL i am on Maersk Arwa in Singapore right now. DFDE suckkkssss lolz... Damn hard to maintain gas burning due to the fact it only can burn 100% methane. Unlike boilers, tembak saja. Think you saw the Maersk Magellan in Bintulu a few weeks ago, thats our newest baby. Yes i have a strong feeling we know each other.. lol .. not many old puteri guys are sailing, so its easier for me to guess who you are!! lolz

Hows Issey, Berry and Mister over there? your batch or seniors?

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Added on June 24, 2009, 7:52 am[quote=ai chan,Jun 23 2009, 08:31 PM]
thank you for the help minna- san. m(_ _)m

um.. is OSHA still in high demand in near future like 2 or 3 years coming?

@Midnightjive
eh.. why did you say 'Don't live under a shell and Network'?

[/quote]

OSHA will always be in high demand cause more regulation demands for safer working pratices by companies. Think its a good move, but don't come and kill me after a few years!

Hmmm You need to meet more ppl like any industry to get the best jobs. Don't forget, its quite normal to job hop as the more you hop the more experience and knowledge of inner workings of other companies. But most jobs are by recommendation. People want to work with ppl they trust or know to avoid getting another idiot in the company. So if you meet more ppl and keep in close contact with them, your prospect to land a better job is higher.



This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Jun 24 2009, 07:52 AM

Faiz is in Subworks.. doing quite well at 1k a day there. He's just around the corner from me in singapore. Was chatting with him the other day!

Hmmm Cent is booked by another captain on another ship, i am booked here. So hmm we sail in pairs. Tengok gham, they'll always sail with you over and over again. In a way good la, senang nak keje kan?

Now we also pakat to sell a group package to other LNG companies. 1 whole set of deckies and gas engineers. lolz
Hopefully we get it, we are bidding for a LNG contract with Japan through a ship management company, guess we are looking for higher wages all the time !

Arwa not too sure, but we are already on charter so no problem, ship still making money!

I think you should think of Passing your 4th Class. Oral Exams are harder than written exams.

But if you want to know the fastest would be 8-10 years.

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Added on March 31, 2011, 4:45 pmSayangnya... Do you really want to spend 6-9 months away from home?

This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Mar 31 2011, 04:45 PM

For you guys and gals embarking into the Seafarers industry, you better be prepared. It is not an easy industry, but if you play your cards right,in the end you will be thankful. I have been sailing for over 10 years.

If you're in it for the money. There aren't much rich seafarers since we all know how to spend money only.

If you're the type who needs someone to cry on always or check your phone every 10 minutes, don't join this career.

Being away from home for 6-9 months is harder than it sounds. Imagine your love ones asking why you can't come home for raya and they will never understand your explanation. Be prepared to let everyone down. But if you manage to make it past 5 years sailing, then you can see the difference in quality of life that you have compared to your friend. (if you pass your exams la)

If you're lazy and cannot do physical work. Don't join this career. You're first few months training on a ship, you will be ragged like a kuli only. Mopping and cleaning.

If you cannot respect anyone and follow orders, don't join this career. If you are rebellious and always think you're right, don't join this career. I know I am always right ! LOL

But if you are a poor boy like me and don't have daddy's money to spend, then maybe this is the right career. If you want to bring your life out of poverty and you are willing to sacrifice, then join the sea life.

Ask yourself, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE?

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Added on March 31, 2011, 5:07 pmUsually its the other way around. A lot of my friends went from Marine to Mechanical and some to naval Architecture. But anything is possible when you have the money. I went into Business Administration after my COC class 1. I was a nautical student.

This post has been edited by Midnightjive: Mar 31 2011, 05:07 PM

What is MEPB? Never Heard of it.

You got Mechanical Engineering go to an oil rig also better.

Alternatively you can take a bus to Port Dickson or Seremban or Kuala Pilah, Make your way to Kuala Sungai Baru.