Survey vessels operate across the offshore market doing geophysical surveys, seabed mapping, pipeline and cable inspection and environmental monitoring. The work is consistent, the vessels are well equipped and the employment conditions are generally stable. **What Survey Vessels Do** Geophysical…
Officers who move from deep sea cargo shipping to offshore consistently describe the transition as more significant than they expected. Not harder in every dimension. Different in most of them. **The Vessel** Offshore support vessels are smaller than most deep…
Accommodation vessels, also called flotels or accommodation barges, house workers during offshore platform maintenance campaigns. They moor alongside or DP close to installations and provide sleeping quarters, catering and services for several hundred workers who are working on the platform.…
ROV technicians are not maritime officers. They are subsea specialists who deploy, operate and maintain remotely operated vehicles from offshore vessels. The role sits in a distinct employment category from the ship’s crew, with different entry routes, different pay and…
Southeast Asia is the second largest offshore maritime employment market after the North Sea. Singapore is the regional hub. Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei all have active offshore operations. The market has distinct characteristics from both the North Sea and…
Construction vessels are where offshore maritime pay reaches its highest levels outside drilling. The work is more complex than supply, the vessels are more sophisticated and the officer and rating profiles required are more specific. **What Construction Vessels Do** Pipe-lay…
West Africa is where a significant number of seafarers get their first offshore contract. The barriers to entry are lower than North Sea. The pay is below North Sea levels. For people trying to build the offshore experience record, it…
The bosun on an offshore supply vessel carries more operational weight than a bosun on a cargo ship. The work is more varied, the physical demands are higher and the pay reflects this. **What the Work Actually Is** Deck cargo…
The comparison between offshore and deep sea pay is not simple. The answer changes with vessel type, rank, region and how annual income is calculated rather than monthly rates. Monthly Rate Comparison At senior officer levels, North Sea offshore consistently…
Offshore employment requires a more targeted approach than cargo shipping. The sector is smaller, the operators are fewer and the specific qualifications required mean that focused applications produce better results than broad ones. Manning Agency Route Not all agencies handle…
