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Merchant Navy deck officer

Merchant Navy deck officers look after the day-to-day running and navigation of ships, and take care of passengers and cargo.

Annual Salary

£30,000 to £80,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

52 to 54 variable

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home

2.9%
Future employment

There will be 2.9% more Merchant Navy deck officer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

Your day-to-day tasks will depend on your rank:

  • as third officer, you'll be responsible for safety equipment and lifeboats
  • as second officer, you'll navigate the ship using radar, satellites, computers and weather reports
  • as chief officer, you'll manage other officers and handle financial, legal and commercial matters
  • as master or captain, you'll have overall responsibility for the efficient running of the ship and the safety of the crew, passengers and cargo

Working environment

You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.

You could work on a ship.

Your working environment may be at height, outdoors in all weathers, cramped and you may spend nights away from home.

You can get into this job through:

  • a sponsored university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • direct application
  • pre-cadetship courses
University

You can start your career as a Merchant Navy officer-cadet (deck) on an industry sponsored foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree, at a maritime college or university.

Courses usually include onboard practical training. Subjects offered include:

  • nautical science
  • marine operations
  • navigation and maritime science
  • mechanical and marine engineering

You can find out more about the applications procedure for courses and finding a sponsor from Careers at Sea.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
Apprenticeship

You could do an intermediate apprenticeship as an able seafarer (deck). This will usually take around 18 to 24 months to complete, including time at sea.

With experience your employer may support you to complete rating to officer training.

The Slater Scholarship Fund aims to help ratings who choose to do the conversion to officer training, without their employers support.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Direct application

If you have been in the Royal Navy, or have transferable skills from professions like mechanical engineering, you may be able to apply directly. You will still need to find a sponsoring company to take you through the training needed.

Other routes

If you do not have the right qualifications to go direct to an officer programme you can do a pre-cadetship course. This lasts around a year and will develop your skills to get you ready for an officer level course in the Merchant Navy.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Career tips

You can find out more about ways to get useful experience from Careers at Sea.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a Merchant Navy deck officer from Careers at Sea and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

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The Merchant Navy has clear progression routes through its ranks.

You could find onshore and offshore positions with shipping companies, port authorities, maritime insurance companies and shipping brokers. Roles include logistics and fleet coordination, training and general management.

You could work for UK companies or for shipping companies based overseas.

You could also become a manager in other sectors.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • the ability to work well with others
  • concentration skills
  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • business management skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
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