New careers at sea will be launched when South Shields Marine School opens its doors to potential Merchant Navy recruits on Saturday, November 13.
Our experts will be on hand to give advice to people considering a well-paid life on the ocean waves, from 10am to 2pm.
They will be joined by representatives of major shipping companies who will give added insight into what it takes to embark on a highly-paid and secure career.
We are delighted our annual Careers Day will be up and running with face-to-face guidance, after last year’s event was moved online due to Covid pandemic restrictions.
Principal Simon Ashton said: “Our open day is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to get the in-depth and expert advice they need about a career at sea.
“They will discover that the world really can be their oyster when they begin their training at South Shields Marine School.
“Anyone contemplating a life at sea can come along and speak to experienced maritime professionals.
“Our team of experienced staff, many of whom were professional seafarers themselves, will be delighted to answer any questions that they have.
“The maritime sector offers wonderful opportunities for personal and professional development, and there are very many different paths open including Marine Engineering, Navigation and Electro-Technical, and on a range of different types of vessels.
“These include cruise ships, ferries, oil tankers, cable layers, car carriers, offshore supply vessels and container ships, there’s tremendous variety.
“And they can apply their skills to a variety of roles,. In addition, these flexible qualifications can lead to opportunities ashore as well”
Simon added: “What’s more, with training fully paid for by sponsoring companies and starting salaries are around £35,000-a-year for qualified officer, it is a great incentive for cadets to get onboard.
“A career at sea can be hugely rewarding for many different reasons. I hope would-be cadets will come along and use this opportunity to kick-start their careers.”
Those taking part can also get information about course fees and finance and how to start their applications.
And they can tour the marine school’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include multi-million-pound ships bridge simulators.
Study options include the marine school’s Pre-cadetship programme, targeted at anyone aged 16 and over.
It provides one year of study, delivering an essential overview of the marine industry and key skills – and providing a qualification that leads directly into the next step of training – winning sponsorship from a shipping firm to progress their learning and careers.
South Shields Marine School was established in 1861 and is the world’s oldest purpose-built maritime training centre.
Its expertise is such that it was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2019 for its work in maritime computer modelling.
Influential to its award success was its work supporting Tengizchevroil, Kazakhstan’s state oil company to develop a port and waterway on the Caspian Sea to serve the expansion of the giant Tenzig oilfield.
It also made key computer simulations that ensured Britain’s two new aircraft carriers safely reached the North Sea from their berth on the Firth of Forth in 2017.
Those wishing to find out more about Careers Day can register at www.stc.ac.uk/events-marine
More information about South Shields Marine School is at www.stc.ac.uk/marine or by calling 0191 427 3517.