What Are Marine Careers?

5 min read

Career Trends: November 15, 2022

Curated by the Knowledge Team of  ICS Career GPS


Learning about different careers in the marine field may help you determine which job interests you the most.

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Careers on the sea are positions that involve working on or near a large body of water, like a lake, ocean or pond. There are a variety of careers and industries that employ professionals to work near the sea, some of which include research, biology, education, transportation and engineering. When working in a position on the sea, you may work in a sea vessel, such as a ship or submarine, or you can work in a building located near the water, such as a research facility.

Learning about different careers in the marine field may help you determine which job interests you the most.

1. Marine Engineer

  • Marine engineers are professionals who are responsible for creating and building sea vessel structures.
  • They create a variety of ships, including submarines, cruise ships, sailboats, fishing vessels, aircraft carriers and tankers.
  • Typically, they create a blueprint that provides an outline of a project’s development plans, then they work on an engineering team to construct the vessel.
  • They may create specialised vessels according to a client’s needs.
  • Marine engineers may also work on building oceanic platforms, land and structures.
  • They also work on sea vessel maintenance, which includes repairing electrical systems and ventilation equipment.

2. Ecologist

  • Ecologists are responsible for researching and presenting information on the relationship between living organisms and their natural habitats.
  • It is common for ecologists to work on the sea to study marine wildlife and to better understand how aquatic animals live in oceanic environments.
  • They conduct investigations to classify habitats, wildlife and plants and then create documentation about their scientific research.
  • Typically, they publish their research in a scientific journal.

3. Geologist

  • Geologists are responsible for studying different elements of the earth.
  • Many geologists specialise in marine geology, which involves analysing and studying different aspects of the ocean floor to find changes in its composition or to discover new natural elements.
  • They may also study the floor of other bodies of water, like lakes or ponds, depending on their specific field of study and research objectives.

4. Marine Manager

  • Marine managers oversee different aspects of a ship’s crew.
  • Their main goal involves ensuring that each member of a ship’s crew is safe and knowledgeable of their specific duties.
  • They oversee the crew, instruct them of their duties and provide training and onboarding for each crew member. Marine managers also communicate with a ship’s operations manager to ensure that the ship’s workforce operates efficiently. They often find areas of improvement within their crew to increase productivity and optimise a ship’s functionality and provide feedback on specific improvements to their crew to help them enhance their performance.

5. Boat Captain

  • Boat captains are responsible for leading a ship’s crew to ensure that their vessel sails safely and efficiently.
  • They may sail a boat throughout lakes, rivers, oceans or bays, and they use their knowledge of different bodies of water to determine the best way to operate a vessel.
  • Boat captains typically hire and manage a ship’s crew, and they resolve issues that a ship’s manager or senior crewmen may not be able to solve.
  • They also use radio equipment to communicate with other vessels or professionals located on the mainland.

6. Marine Biologist

  • Marine biologists are professionals who study a variety of oceanic wildlife and organisms to understand how they interact with their natural environment.
  • They may study organisms within a natural environment, like viewing them on the ocean floor or within a coral reef, or they may view them in a controlled environment, which involves studying them from a lab.
  • They also study the different characteristics of wildlife to understand how each feature impacts their environment.
  • Some marine biologists study the effect that humans have on oceanic wildlife, to assess the risk of extinction for specific species.

7. Deckhand

  • Deckhands are responsible for assisting a ship’s crew in transporting goods and handling standard operations.
  • They often perform duties that include handling machinery, cooking meals and assisting with ship maintenance and cleanliness.
  • Deckhands often follow a strict schedule that involves routine cleaning and cooking, along with assisting management with performing transportation operations, like loading and unloading goods.

8. Rigger

  • Riggers are responsible for building sailboats and rigging the various parts of the vessel, like beams, clamps and pulleys.
  • They use machinery to set the equipment, then they align it and level it so that the sailboat is stable within the water.
  • Before beginning a project, they choose the proper rigging gear depending on the type of sailboat they are creating and the client’s sailing preferences.
  • Before finishing a project, they inspect their rigging to ensure it is safe to use.


Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?

The Way of Contemplation — According to Thomas Merton


(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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