Crewing
Career Progression within the Crewing Sector
Jobs within a crewing department are responsible for seagoing staff. As well as a crewing department, it may also be known as a manning department or personnel department. Some companies have people who have dual responsibility for sea and shore. These departments usually encompass training and development.
Activities within these departments can include the recruitment and selection of seafarers (although many companies will use a separate manning agency). They would also be responsible for crew planning & rotations, training & development, budget planning, payroll and verification of qualifications and certification.
Roles can involve significant travel to overseas manning offices and sometimes to vessels themselves. It is common for head of departments to have been former seafarers.
At Spinnaker we are here to help with your next Crewing job role.
Example Job Descriptions
Marine HR Manager
A Marine HR Manager is typically responsible for leading the HR operations onboard vessels. They would be responsible for implementing strategies inline with industry standards and regulations. They would need to build relationship with not only their seafarers, but also maritime authorities as well as internal stake holders.
Crew Training Manager
A Crew Training Manager is responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of training programmes for shipboard personnel, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and company standards. This role involves assessing training needs, designing training materials, conducting in-house and external training sessions, and evaluating training effectiveness.
Example Job Titles
Crewing Director, Crewing Manager, Fleet Personnel Director, Fleet Personnel Manager, Head of Crew Development, Head of Crewing, Head of Marine HR, Marine HR Manager, Marine Personnel Officer, Regional Crewing Manager, Senior Crew Training Manager, Senior Manning Manager.
Where can I work in a crewing position?
All shipping companies who manage their own crew will have a crewing department. These can be based anywhere in the world but are often based in some of the bigger crewing hubs, such as Manila (Philippines), Eastern Europe or India.
Key Skills and Experience
- Some roles may require seagoing experience and for heads of department this may include sailing to the rank of master or chief officer/chief engineer.
- Similar to roles in HR, people management skills and the ability to communicate and listen are key skills.
- Organisational skills are also a must due to the organisation of crew schedules.
- Knowledge of international labour laws and regulations.
- The ability to be able to travel at short notice and be available at all times if preferable.
Ready to search for your next career in Crewing?
Get in touch
To find out more about crewing jobs, please get in touch with the team who specialise in these vacancies.
Real Life Stories from Marine Professionals
I’ve been working in the maritime industry for almost 20 years, and it’s as exciting and motivating as it ever was. Every day is different, and you never know what will happen from one day to the next. It’s very much an industry where you have to think on your feet and build on your own expertise, but also to learn from the experience of others. It’s truly international and over the years, I’ve developed many trusted contacts, colleagues and even friends, from all over the world.
I joined the industry by chance. I had recently graduated, and looked for an opportunity to develop in the business world, but also fulfil my desire to travel. Little did I know, I’d end up in Singapore and Jakarta just a few months into my new job in the maritime industry. And it wasn’t the end of the road for my academic career either. There’s lots to learn, and I’ve achieved professional qualifications (Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers) and certification on subjects such as P&I Loss Prevention, Internal Quality Auditing, and Leadership.
My first role in shipping was in Chartering and Operations. Life was very fast-paced but it was one of the best learning experiences, especially following an entire voyage from start to finish and with all the highs and lows in between. After 7 years, and to help with a growing family, I decided to shift my focus into Strategic Development. Looking at longer term goals was a change from the day-today firefighting, but it was another string to my bow. Nowadays, I’m working as a Marine HR & Corporate Communications Manager, where I get to experience the best of both worlds. I love supporting people in their jobs, but also like the creative aspects of Communications.
My advice to anyone new to the maritime industry? Build your experience. Try lots of new roles, take every opportunity and find your niche. Good luck!
Carol McGinty
Marine HR and Corporate Communications Manager, Seapeak
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Did you know?
Shipping is so vast that if it were a country, it would be the 6th largest economy in the world.
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