Study the commercial maritime industry

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Zinc4

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Sep 13, 2020
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Some suggestions for applicants (and their families)...Learn as much as you can about future careers in the commercial maritime industry, even at this stage.
Maybe now seems too early because you are focused on getting accepted, but this industry is complex with many variables and constantly moving parts (no pun intended). At present, Mids are making healthy salaries upon graduation with working only half of the year. There is a mariner shortage, so companies are especially interested in KP grads because of their excellent training. Learn about the unions and MSC. Watch what's happening with the major sailing companies in current events. Follow MARAD and maritime-related social media and news outlets like GCaptain and Maritime TV. Even if you choose to go Active Duty after graduating, having some knowledge would likely still prove of value because the commerical maritime industry works symbiotically with the military where applicable. Best of luck.
 
Zinc4 said:
Some suggestions for applicants (and their families)...Learn as much as you can about future careers in the commercial maritime industry, even at this stage.
Maybe now seems too early because you are focused on getting accepted, but this industry is complex with many variables and constantly moving parts (no pun intended). At present, Mids are making healthy salaries upon graduation with working only half of the year. There is a mariner shortage, so companies are especially interested in KP grads because of their excellent training. Learn about the unions and MSC. Watch what's happening with the major sailing companies in current events. Follow MARAD and maritime-related social media and news outlets like GCaptain and Maritime TV. Even if you choose to go Active Duty after graduating, having some knowledge would likely still prove of value because the commerical maritime industry works symbiotically with the military where applicable. Best of luck.
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Great advice, indeed. Back in my day, the maritime industry changed greatly by the time I graduated. I can also say that I have never worked just 6 months a year.
 
cmakin said:
Great advice, indeed. Back in my day, the maritime industry changed greatly by the time I graduated. I can also say that I have never worked just 6 months a year.
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how much did you work?
 
foamspoon said:
how much did you work?
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When I was sailing, anywhere from 7 to 9 months a year. Not all at once, mind you. The company that I sailed for the longest was running coastwise most of the time. I went from a planned schedule of 6 weeks, three weeks off to 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off. It never worked out, though. Most of the time I would end up staying on a few days to a week (or more, depending on the port calls). Same with time off. I usually ended up coming back anywhere from a day to more than a week early, especially if my relief got fired. . . but I was very single.
 
Zinc4 said:
There is a mariner shortage, so companies are especially interested in KP grads because of their excellent training.
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We're really not "especially interested" in KP'rs - I give absolutely zero cares about where someone went to school at this point. The shortage is so dire that no one is picky. If you have a license, you're going to work.

The industry is putting the heat on MARAD about why so many KP grads are going active duty. Ships can't move because there aren't enough third engineers.
 
For the class of 2023, it was reported that "of the 212 midshipmen who graduated, 57 are entering active duty; 10 graduates were commissioned into the Army, 23 were commissioned into the Navy, three were commissioned into the Air Force, 11 were commissioned into the Marine Corps, and 10 were commissioned into the Coast Guard. That is a total of 114, leaving 98 unaccounted for, many of which went into the commercial maritime field. Quoting, the Academy states "Virtually 100 percent of our graduates obtain well-paying employment within six months of commencement -- with the majority at work within three months, and most with offers of employment before graduation day."
 
JohnPAKP65 said:
For the class of 2023, it was reported that "of the 212 midshipmen who graduated, 57 are entering active duty; 10 graduates were commissioned into the Army, 23 were commissioned into the Navy, three were commissioned into the Air Force, 11 were commissioned into the Marine Corps, and 10 were commissioned into the Coast Guard. That is a total of 114, leaving 98 unaccounted for, many of which went into the commercial maritime field. Quoting, the Academy states "Virtually 100 percent of our graduates obtain well-paying employment within six months of commencement -- with the majority at work within three months, and most with offers of employment before graduation day."
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I think you double-counted the active duty grads. I read it as 57 to active duty (made up of 10 Army, 23 Navy, 3 AF, 11 Marines, 10 CG) and the remaining 155 unaccounted for, many presumably to commercial maritime.
 
franknd said:
I think you double-counted the active duty grads. I read it as 57 to active duty (made up of 10 Army, 23 Navy, 3 AF, 11 Marines, 10 CG) and the remaining 155 unaccounted for, many presumably to commercial maritime.
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You're correct! Interesting choice of words which I copied directly from the Academy website! So my statement, modified, should read "That is a total of 57, leaving 155 unaccounted for, many of which went into the commercial maritime field. Quoting, the Academy states "Virtually 100 percent of our graduates obtain well-paying employment within six months of commencement -- with the majority at work within three months, and most with offers of employment before graduation day."
 
Would anyone be able to recommend journals, subscriptions, resources to subscribe too for my DS for the maritime industry? He does not have an appointment yet, but his application is complete and he also just applied to Cal Maritime in Vallejo, CA as a back up plan. Any help is appreciated!
 
COHO said:
Would anyone be able to recommend journals, subscriptions, resources to subscribe too for my DS for the maritime industry? He does not have an appointment yet, but his application is complete and he also just applied to Cal Maritime in Vallejo, CA as a back up plan. Any help is appreciated!
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Maritime Executive and Professional Mariner

gCaptain is a rambling mess with poor editorial control.
 
beyond said:
The industry is putting the heat on MARAD about why so many KP grads are going active duty. Ships can't move because there aren't enough third engineers.
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Do you have a copy of the CFRs on your ships? 5 years of active duty service + 3 years reserve or 8 Active Duty service
1) fulfills your service obligation to MARAD in full without a waiver
2) relieves you of your obligation to renew your USCG License after 5 years.

This is not policy but law and will not change. Changing the law to prohibit students from commissioning AD in the Armed Forces is a terrible look and unrealistic. So the heat will do no good.
 
beyond said:
The industry is putting the heat on MARAD about why so many KP grads are going active duty. Ships can't move because there aren't enough third engineers.
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Can you cite a source for this or is it just your perception?
 
There is an abundant supply of 3rd Mates, 3rd Engineers and other majors that come from the State Maritime Academies. KP does not have a lock on the jobs. See: Mass. Maritime, Maine Maritime, NY Maritime, Texas Maritime and Calif. Maritime. Grads from these state programs can go active duty in USCG or DOD services or can compete for industry jobs. There are many more grads from KP & the State schools than industry jobs.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
There is an abundant supply of 3rd Mates, 3rd Engineers
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No. No there is not. The past two or three months have been marginally better than the last two years, but if you think there is an "abundant supply" of third engineers willing to sail it's time for a whiz quiz. Like, what on earth are you talking about?

Don't Give Up the Ship said:
KP does not have a lock on the jobs. See: Mass. Maritime, Maine Maritime, NY Maritime, Texas Maritime and Calif. Maritime. Grads from these state programs can go active duty in USCG or DOD services or can compete for industry jobs.
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I don't think anyone is debating this.

Don't Give Up the Ship said:
There are many more grads from KP & the State schools than industry jobs.
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This isn't true in 2023. There are more third assistant jobs than there are people willing to fill them. Commercial ships with commercial cargo have been forced to stay at the dock because people can't fill the billets. It's that bad.
 
Mr2020 said:
This is not policy but law and will not change. Changing the law to prohibit students from commissioning AD in the Armed Forces is a terrible look and unrealistic. So the heat will do no good.
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The maritime industry has a need right now. There is a federal agency tasked with developing and supporting that industry. When that agency commits its resources in a way that doesn't align with the needs of industry, industry gets upset. There is way more leverage on the table than changing the CFRs.
 
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beyond said:
Maritime Executive and Professional Mariner

gCaptain is a rambling mess with poor editorial control.
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Actually no. Neither of those go into depth with commercial topics. Tradewinds News or Lloyd's list. Tradewinds has a one month subscription for $4. Read as much as you can. Both are for free once youre a student at KP. Once youre a student read as much as you can every day.
 
beyond said:
The maritime industry has a need right now. There is a federal agency tasked with developing and supporting that industry. When that agency commits its resources in a way that doesn't align with the needs of industry, industry gets upset. There is way more leverage on the table than changing the CFRs.
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So your plan is for students who are basically midshipmen in a NROTC program that they cannot accept active duty commissions into the Navy (or other services)? The student cannot go active duty from a service academy? This is part of a cycle in which in another few years there will be no jobs again. The plan is laughable and will not work. The truth is nobody is really interested or cares about this shortage. US blue water merchant shipping is a niche and mostly only exists because of subsidies and cabotage laws. The inability to crew itself is probably only constructive towards eliminating both.
 
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