<p>MARAD has issued a press release containing the employment numbers from this years maritime academy graduating classes which indicate a strong demand for licensed officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine. The stats for the class of 2008 can be viewed here for the obsessed. MARAD</a> - Welcome to U.S. Maritime Administration</p>
<p>Only months after graduation ceremonies were held on campuses across the nation, approximately 85 percent of 2008 graduates with merchant marine licenses from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and six state maritime academies have found employment afloat in the maritime industry or in the U.S. military, according to data released by the Maritime Administration today. </p>
<p>Total employment for 2008 licensed graduates is already more than 95 percent. This number includes those who have found shoreside employment in the maritime industry.</p>
<p>I remember hearing at Graduation that one of the 2008 Graduates was going to accept a position for one year as a White House Intern. I think this is the "other" graduate that is referred to.</p>
<p>Anyone have a sense of those going commercial - via union pick up jobs, big company, pilot, towboat, etc? And what are the companies looking for? Recent articles say they are looking for navigation-deckie types. How about marine engineers?</p>
<p>My 2008 Grad was hired while in the Academy but the job does not start until October (new ship being delivered). She went to the Union Hall on the way home from KP after Graduation and signed and before she got home she had 5 positions to choose from. She accepted a relief position and is due back in October.</p>
<p>It was interesting because at the Union Hall the "couch" was full of recent state school grads who did not have all the necessary qualifications to sail as relief with some of the larger companies, some had been waiting for 2-3 months and still had not found work.</p>
<p>Most of her '08 friends have found jobs and are working -- they all wanted "afloat" jobs.</p>
<p>As far as the qualifications needed -- not sure but it was related to STCW's.</p>
<p>She was a Marine Operations and Technology Major and graduated with her QMED and 3rd Mate License as well as LNG PIC and Tankerman PIC for Dangerous Cargoes and Liquids. She had a current physical and current drug free certificate. </p>
<p>When she went in and saw the line she was a bit disheartened, but that did not last long. She sailed a week after graduation. She had to make 2 trips to Boston after signing up - one to pick up the job and the other to get a new Fit for Duty Physical as requested by the company.</p>
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It was interesting because at the Union Hall the "couch" was full of recent state school grads who did not have all the necessary qualifications to sail as relief with some of the larger companies, some had been waiting for 2-3 months and still had not found work.
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<p>Which union? AMO or MMP.. and as to recent schoolship grads that don't qualify for work (relief or otherwise doesn't make a difference).. I think you might have gotten some "bum scoops" because as far as I know maritime academy students have all their STCW requirements when they graduate (with the exception of maybe tankerman PIC).. My ship has had several recent CMA grads and they have had no qualification problems to bid on the Third Mate job..</p>
<p>She is working with MEBA and the graduates were from Maine and MA. This is not a slight on any state school vs KP. It was just that there were not openings for them with whatever qualifications they had (I don't know what positions they were looking for) and that she had the choice of 5 different ones.</p>
<p>Does a deck officer have to join a particular union to sail on a tanker? An LNG carrier? Can you sail on either a tanker or LNG of you are a member of neither union? If you join a particular union, does that keep you from sailing certain tankers that are affiliated with another union or neither union? LNG carriers?</p>
<p>Someone else may have better info -- but the reason my DD signed up with MEBA is so she could sail tankers, specifically LNG. The union you sign up with depends on the company you want to work for.</p>
<p>Lets see KP grad:
Go active duty (any branch of service, including Coast Guard)
Sail (and go reserves)
Go to Grad School or Law School
Get a Shore Job
Work for National Oceanographic
Etc
Etc
Etc</p>
<p>Other the other hand CGA Grad:
Go to sea
Go to Grad School or Law School</p>
<p>When your only employer is the US Government of course 100% will be employed.
A little poke back at you</p>
<p>We interrupt this seriousness for a good line from son:</p>
<p>"Dad, all my friends from high school are sweating bullets about the job market coming up. In this economy, it's good to be a civil servant." :D </p>