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Managerial Careers in the Maritime Industry

Managerial Careers in the Maritime Industry

Ship operations and management have become significant in the maritime industry over the course of the last few years. The surge in the overall scale of the sector has increased the availability of managerial jobs. With the increase in marine traffic, ship owners have started employing numerous types of management teams aboard the ships.

These managerial careers include maritime traffic management, technical management, ship maintenance systems, management of foreign vessels, crew management and shipping operations management.

The objective of managerial careers is to facilitate a smooth running of the vessel and minimize the margin for human error during its voyage. Managerial careers are not just limited to managing things onboard a ship. There are also several onshore managerial jobs that are available including database administration and management, account management, freight management, and logistics management.

An increase in the number of employees opting for managerial careers is required to guarantee the smooth running of activities, both onboard and onshore. It will also mean increased safety, improved trade and flawless management of the ships. Besides, considering the global market, managerial careers are one of the most popular and rewarding career options today.

Let’s see the scope for managerial careers in the shipping industry.

Scope for Managerial Careers in the Maritime Industry

In India, 70% of the trade traffic passes over sea routes. With the increase in the demand and supply of goods, nationally and internationally, the number of cargo ships has seen a considerable increase. Hence, there is a subsequent rise in the requirement for managers. An education in management aims at honing the managerial skills of the employees and training them to excel in the maritime industry.

Employees generally opt for a managerial career in commercial and privately-owned shipping companies, due to their greater reach and rewarding pay. In a rapidly growing economy like India, a managerial career in, say logistics, can prove to be extremely beneficial, as the logistics sector is expanding rapidly and fuelling international trade and commerce.

For a managerial career, it is necessary for the candidate to have a specific skill set, which includes motivation, innate people management skills, rational thinking, commercial awareness, excellent communication skills, and updated knowledge of the maritime industry. To acquire a managerial job requires the candidate to have an MBA with excellent scores. It may also require them to clear entrance exams, depending on the sector they opt for. GMAT, JMET, XAT, CAT, MAT are a few examples of the entry level exams that the candidates will be expected to appear for. Shipping and boat manufacturing companies have different requirements for the different sectors, which means there is a vast scope of managerial career types.

Categories and Types in Managerial Careers

The maritime industry is vast and therefore has numerous types of well-rounded jobs. The managerial jobs in the industry are not limited to onshore ones. Some of these are as follows:

Maritime Resource Management

Maritime Resource Management or MRM deals with training employees to facilitate a smooth voyage for ships and other vessels. It also aims to prevent accidents at sea that are caused by human errors. It increases efficiency, focuses on building teamwork, job satisfaction, and enhanced management skills.

  • Bridge Resource Management (BRM),
  • Engine-room Resource Management (ERM),
  • Vessel Resource Management (VRM) and
  • Crew Resource Management (CRM) are all types of Maritime Resource Management.

For students wanting to pursue a career in MRM, a training program is available in maritime universities and training centers.

Onboard Management

  • Shipping Operations Management

It includes looking after the day to day proceedings of a ship. Shipping Operations deal with tasks like overseeing cargo, navigational safety and looking after the cleaning and management on the ship.

It requires the candidate to be a graduate or have a recognized shipping qualification relevant to the job. It also requires them to possess leadership, managerial skills, efficiency, and analytical skills.

  • Technical Management

Technical Management deals with looking after the physical condition of the ship or any other vessel. Most importantly, it includes maintenance of the technology onboard and maximizing the productivity of the vessel and repairs. It also includes jobs like technical supervision, vessel inspection and monitoring, maintenance and other technical assistance that a ship may require.

Hence, to be eligible for this, the candidate must have a diploma in technical ship management, with a degree in engineering, marine engineering or a BSC in Nautical Science and Technology.

  • Ship Maintenance and Management Systems

It deals with crew control, safety management, dry dock management, and planned maintenance. It requires the candidate to be up to date with the technology and have a thorough knowledge of software used in the management system.

Onshore Management

  • Logistics

Logistics is the management of the flow of goods and services. It also deals with evaluating sales patterns and buyer-seller relationships to maximize trade. It tackles global transportation issues, documentation and laws.

Thus, to be qualified for this, one must have an MBA in logistics or a degree in areas dealing with logistics.

  • Database Administration and Management

It involves maintaining a functioning and updated database environment. It also includes implementing and maintaining the database system, looking after its security and maintenance. All the important data of the ship, its legal data, and trade information is stored in the ship’s database which one needs to manage carefully.

Database administration and management requires the candidate to have a degree in computer science, extensive knowledge of database theories and plenty of experience in data management.

  • Port Management

Port management deals with the supervision of the events on ports. It includes managing the schedules of ships and other vessels as they go in and out of the ports. To ensure smooth running, the port manager must be constantly communicating with all ships that are going to come through.

Therefore, it requires the candidate to have an MBA in Port and Shipping Management.

The Final Word

Managerial careers in the maritime industry are extremely rewarding but they also require relentless efforts and dedication. There maritime industry certainly offers a number of managerial posts in the maritime industry. That being said, to secure a high-ranking position, one must obtain an education in management, which is as important as the practical experience that is required to handle a managerial job.

Leading maritime companies, like SHM Shipcare offer numerous managerial jobs, including human resource management, clinical data management, operations management, vendor management, account management, and more.

What are your thoughts on opting for a managerial career in the maritime industry? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below!

Cover Image Source: career.webindia

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