Working on a merchant vessel means living where you work for months at a time. Crews stand watches, maintain the ship and its machinery, and handle cargo under rules set by the IMO and the ILO.
This guide is for anyone weighing a seagoing career in the US, UK, India or the Philippines. It covers what the crew does, a normal day, food and living conditions, pay, risks, and the documents you need for your first job.
What Does a Merchant Mariner Do?
A merchant mariner is a civilian seafarer who crews a commercial ship. The job is to sail the ship, run its engines and systems, and load, carry and discharge cargo safely and on schedule.
Americans say merchant marine; the UK and India say merchant navy. Both terms mean the same commercial fleet, not a military service.
The work happens on every kind of trading ship: container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, gas carriers, car carriers and general cargo ships. The main types of cargo ships differ in cargo work, but the crew structure is broadly the same.
How Is the Crew of a Merchant Ship Organized?
A merchant ship’s crew is split into three departments: deck, engine and catering. The master commands the whole ship, the chief officer leads the deck department and the chief engineer leads the engine department.
Each department has officers, who hold STCW certificates of competency, and ratings, who do the hands-on work. A modern cargo ship usually sails with about 20 to 25 people, depending on size, type and flag. See how many crew members modern ships need.
| Department | Led by | Main ranks | What the department does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Command | Master (captain) | Master | Overall command, safety, legal duties; answers to the shipowner or manager |
| Deck | Chief officer | Chief, second and third officers; bosun; able seafarers (ABs); ordinary seamen; deck cadets | Navigation watches, cargo, stability, mooring, anchoring, deck maintenance, lifesaving equipment |
| Engine | Chief engineer | Chief, second, third and fourth engineers; electro-technical officer (ETO); oilers (motormen); wipers; engine cadets | Main engine, generators, pumps, purifiers, electrical systems, fuel and environmental compliance |
| Catering (steward’s) | Chief cook or chief steward | Chief cook; stewards or messmen | Meals, provisions, galley hygiene, cleaning of the accommodation |
Rank-by-rank duties, watch times and certificates are set out in our guide to shipboard organization and ranks on merchant ships. The sections below cover what each department’s work feels like day to day.
What Does the Master Do?
The master has overall command and the final say on safety and pollution prevention. The master is not normally at the helm. Officers of the watch run the bridge, and the master takes direct charge in pilotage, heavy traffic, bad weather and emergencies.
The second officer prepares the passage plan, and the master approves it. Masters reach command through years as watchkeeping officers and chief officer, holding an STCW II/2 master’s certificate.
What Do Deck Officers and Ratings Do?
Deck officers keep the navigation watch and look after cargo and safety equipment. The chief officer runs cargo operations and stability, the second officer handles charts and passage planning, and the third officer maintains lifeboats and firefighting gear.
The bosun leads the deck ratings on maintenance, mooring and anchoring. Able seafarers steer by hand in narrow waters and keep lookout; at sea the autopilot usually steers under the officer of the watch.
What Does the Engine Department Do?
The engine department keeps the propulsion plant, generators and auxiliary systems running. The chief engineer is responsible for the whole plant, fuel and environmental compliance, and the second engineer runs the engine room day to day.
Junior engineers take set machinery: the third engineer often handles boilers and purifiers, and the fourth engineer looks after pumps and compressors on many ships. The ETO maintains electrical and electronic systems.
Oilers, also called motormen, assist the duty engineer with rounds, lubrication and repairs. Wipers are the entry-level engine ratings who clean machinery spaces and learn the plant.
What Is a Typical Day on a Merchant Ship?
A typical day at sea is either watchkeeping or day work. Watchkeepers usually work two four-hour watches a day, four on and eight off. Day workers do maintenance from about 08:00 to 17:00 with a lunch break.
On the bridge, the chief officer usually takes the 04–08 watch, the second officer 00–04 and the third officer 08–12. The bridge navigational watch runs around the clock, with an AB as lookout.
Many modern engine rooms run as unmanned machinery spaces at night. Engineers then work days and take turns on call for alarms.
Rest is regulated. The STCW Code and the MLC 2006 require at least 10 hours of rest in any 24 hours and 77 in any 7 days.
Port days break that rhythm. Cargo work, inspections, stores, bunkers and crew changes can keep officers busy for a whole stay.
Emergency drills are part of the routine. SOLAS Chapter III requires every crew member to join at least one abandon-ship drill and one fire drill each month.
Every crew member has a muster station and a role on the muster list. The common drills on merchant vessels also include enclosed space rescue, oil spill and steering gear drills.
How Long Do Merchant Mariners Stay at Sea?
Most merchant mariners sign contracts of about four to nine months, depending on rank, company and nationality. The MLC 2006 caps continuous service on board at under 12 months before free repatriation.
Officers on large fleets often work shorter rotations than ratings. Paid annual leave is at least 2.5 calendar days per month of employment under MLC Standard A2.4.
A contract is not the same as a voyage. A container ship may run a fixed loop of ports every few weeks. A tanker or bulk carrier on the spot market may not know its next port until the charter is fixed.
What Is Cooking Like on a Merchant Marine Vessel?
Cooking on a merchant vessel is done by the catering department: a chief cook and one or two stewards. They feed 20 or more people three meals a day from a ship’s galley, using stores bought for weeks or months.
The rules come from MLC 2006 Regulation 3.2. Food and drinking water must be free of charge, of suitable quantity and quality, and varied enough for the crew’s religious and cultural needs.
Who Can Work as a Ship’s Cook?
A ship’s cook must be at least 18 and trained and qualified under the flag state’s rules. UK-flagged ships, for example, must carry a qualified cook unless they normally sail with fewer than 10 seafarers.
The UK Ship’s Cook Certificate requires one month of sea service, catering training, STCW basic safety courses and a valid ENG1 medical. That is set out in MCA notice MSN 1846.
How Does the Galley Plan Food for a Voyage?
The cook plans menus around the stores on board and orders fresh food through a ship chandler in port. Frozen and dry stores carry the ship between deliveries.
Drinking water mostly comes from the ship’s own fresh water generator, which distills seawater. The master or a delegated officer inspects food stores, water and the galley, and records each check.
Catering staff must be trained in food hygiene and in handling food allergies and intolerances. The cook keeps track of each crew member’s dietary needs.
How Are Holidays Celebrated at Sea?
Ships are often at sea for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Eid or Lunar New Year. Mixed-nationality crews may mark several of these in one contract.
The cook orders festive ingredients before the ship sails, and the galley keeps stores for birthday cakes. A holiday meal, a barbecue on deck or a karaoke night are common ways to break the routine.
What Are Living Conditions Like on a Cargo Ship?
Living conditions on a modern cargo ship are set by MLC 2006 Title 3. Most seafarers get a single cabin, shared messrooms and a lounge, laundry, a gym, and internet access where the ship can provide it.
Do Seafarers Get Their Own Cabin?
On cargo ships, MLC Standard A3.1 requires an individual sleeping room for each seafarer. Exemptions apply to ships under 3,000 GT and some special-purpose ships.
Officers’ cabins are usually larger, and senior officers often have a day room. Many cabins have a private shower and toilet; older ships may share washrooms.
What Do Seafarers Do in Their Free Time?
Most ships have a gym with free weights, a treadmill and an exercise bike. Some newer ships add a sauna or a small swimming pool, and the MLC requires recreational facilities on board.
Off duty, crews read, game, play table tennis or cards, and watch films or sport. Internet matters most. The 2022 MLC amendments, in force since 23 December 2024, require owners to provide internet access so far as reasonably practicable.
Bandwidth is still limited on many ships. The difference between bridge and crew connections is explained in our guide to how ships stay connected by satellite internet.
Can Seafarers Go Ashore in Port?
Seafarers are entitled to shore leave under MLC Regulation 2.4, subject to their duties. In practice, short port stays, cargo work and terminal security rules under the ISPS Code often limit time ashore to a few hours.
Busy calling ports include Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hamburg, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Tokyo and Colón in Panama. Seafarers’ missions and welfare centers in many ports offer transport, Wi-Fi and a place to rest.
Is There a Doctor on a Cargo Ship?
Cargo ships normally carry no doctor. The MLC requires a doctor only on ships with 100 or more people on international voyages of more than three days.
On other ships, a designated officer trained in STCW medical care handles illness and injury, often the second officer. Radio medical advice from shore backs them up.
How Much Do Merchant Mariners Earn?
Pay depends on rank, the ship’s flag, nationality and contract. The ILO minimum basic wage for an able seafarer is US$690 a month from 1 January 2026. Most collective agreements and officer salaries sit well above that floor.
| Benchmark | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| ILO minimum basic wage, able seafarer | US$690/month (2026), US$704 (2027), US$715 (2028) | ILO Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers, April 2025 |
| US median pay, captains, mates and pilots | $92,460/year | US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 |
| US median pay, ship engineers | $109,530/year | US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 |
| US median pay, sailors and marine oilers | $51,520/year | US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 |
A seafarer’s monthly pay usually combines basic wage, guaranteed overtime and leave pay. On international ships it is often paid in US dollars, with an allotment sent home each month.
What Is War-Risk Pay for Seafarers?
War-risk pay is extra money for sailing into an area unions and employers have declared dangerous. Under IBF agreements, a Warlike Operations Area brings double basic pay, doubled death and disability compensation, and the right to refuse.
The IBF declared the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf a Warlike Operations Area in early March 2026. The first attacks on ships had come days earlier. IBF agreements cover about 15,000 ships worldwide.
Crews on IBF-covered ships can refuse to enter the area without penalty, according to the Nautilus Federation. Those who refuse may be repatriated at the company’s cost.
Market offers in October 2026 go far beyond the IBF rate. Al Jazeera reported crews earning four to six times normal pay for transits. One owner reportedly offered six months’ extra salary for a round trip of about a month.
The risk behind the money is real. The IMO has counted at least 24 seafarers killed in 100 confirmed incidents since the war began, as reported in October 2026. Unions also report crews being pressured to sail.
India’s maritime administration has warned about unlicensed operators offering three or four times normal wages. Before signing for a high-risk area, check that the agency is licensed and the ship is covered by a recognized agreement.
The strait is one of the chokepoints on the major shipping routes in global trade. Piracy areas can also be designated high-risk under IBF agreements; see where piracy still happens today.
What Are the Main Risks of Working at Sea?
The main risks of working at sea are physical hazards, fatigue, isolation and, in some regions, conflict or piracy. Most are controlled by safety systems, permits and drills, but they never disappear.
- Enclosed spaces: tanks and holds can lack oxygen or hold toxic gas; entry needs an enclosed space entry permit and gas testing. See enclosed space hazards on ships.
- Heat: engine rooms and tropical decks can push the body past safe limits; read about extreme heat hazards for seafarers.
- Heavy weather and mooring work: falls, parting mooring lines and moving cargo cause many serious injuries.
- Fatigue: watch patterns and port work can erode sleep, which is why rest hours are recorded and checked.
- Isolation: months away from family weigh on many crews; internet access and shore leave help.
- Conflict and piracy: see war-risk pay above.
What Do You Need for Working on a Merchant Vessel?
For working on a merchant vessel you need a seafarer’s identity document, a valid seafarer medical certificate and STCW basic safety training. You must also meet the minimum age, which is 16 under the MLC 2006.
STCW basic training covers personal survival, fire fighting, first aid and personal safety. Officers also need an STCW certificate of competency for their rank. Each country issues its own documents, as the table shows.
| Country | Authority | Seafarer document | Medical | Minimum age and entry rules | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | US Coast Guard, National Maritime Center | Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC); TWIC where required | USCG medical certificate; drug test within 6 months | 16 for entry-level ratings, with parental consent under 18; no sea time needed for entry-level endorsements | NMC entry-level ratings checklist, rev. 17 Jan 2025 |
| United Kingdom | Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) | Discharge book; certificate of competency for officers | ENG1 seafarer medical (fee £115; paid by the employer if employed in the UK) | 16; 18 for night work and hazardous tasks | GOV.UK medical certification guidance, 2026 |
| India | Directorate General of Maritime Administration (formerly DG Shipping) | Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC); INDoS number | Medical fitness certificate under the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules | 18 for a CDC; 10th Standard pass; five STCW basic courses | DGMA CDC page, revised criteria from 1 Aug 2026 |
| Philippines | Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) | Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) | Pre-employment medical exam (PEME) at an accredited clinic | 18 (16 for cadets on a training SIRB); overseas jobs processed through the Department of Migrant Workers | MARINA SIRB rules; check the current circular |
Medical standards, eyesight tests and age limits for training courses differ by country. They are covered in our guide to merchant navy age limits and health requirements.
How Do You Get Your First Job at Sea?
There are three common routes into the merchant fleet. Which one fits depends on whether you want to start as an officer or a rating.
- Academy or cadetship: a maritime degree or sponsored cadetship with sea time built in, ending in an officer’s certificate. In the US, this runs through the maritime colleges and academies.
- Entry-level rating: start as an ordinary seaman, wiper or steward, gain sea time, and work up to AB or officer later.
- Military transfer: Navy and Coast Guard veterans can have military sea service credited toward merchant credentials.
Most jobs are filled through shipping companies and crewing agencies. Use only licensed agencies: MLC Regulation 1.4 bars charging seafarers fees for finding them work.
Diesel, electrical and catering backgrounds transfer well to engine, ETO and galley roles. A second language helps on mixed crews.
Employers also look for people who take orders, work alone when needed, fit into a small team and stay calm under pressure. The practical side is covered in essential seamanship skills.
How Has Work at Sea Changed Over Time?
Work at sea has moved from sail and muscle to engines, automation and satellite links. Crews have shrunk, voyages have shortened, and living conditions are now set by international law.
On sailing ships, voyages lasted months without refrigeration. Fresh food spoiled, livestock died for lack of water, and crews suffered from scurvy and contagious disease.
Steam changed the job. Thomas Newcomen built his steam engine in 1712, and the steamship Savannah made the first steam-assisted Atlantic crossing in 1819, mostly under sail.
Steamships needed stokers and trimmers to feed coal to their boilers. Oil firing and diesel engines removed that work. The Danish Selandia of 1912 was the first ocean-going diesel motor ship.
Containerization and automated engine rooms cut crews further and shortened port stays. Today’s challenge is less hardship than fatigue, isolation and short time ashore.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What do merchant mariners do?
Merchant mariners crew commercial ships. Deck crews navigate and handle cargo, engine crews run the machinery, and catering crews feed everyone on board. They work watches or day work, seven days a week, for the length of a contract.
How long are merchant mariners at sea?
Most contracts last about four to nine months, depending on rank, company and nationality. The MLC 2006 limits continuous service on board to under 12 months before free repatriation.
Who cooks on a merchant ship?
The chief cook, helped by one or two stewards, cooks three meals a day for the crew. Under the MLC 2006, ship’s cooks must be at least 18 and trained and qualified for the job.
Do merchant mariners pay for food on board?
No. MLC Regulation 3.2 requires food and drinking water to be provided free of charge. The menu must also be varied enough for the crew’s religious and cultural needs.
Is the merchant marine part of the military?
No. Merchant mariners are civilians who work for shipping companies. In the US, merchant ships can be called on to carry military cargo in wartime, but the crews remain civilian.
Can you work on a merchant ship with no experience?
Yes. Entry-level ratings such as ordinary seaman, wiper and steward need no sea time in the US. You still need a medical certificate, a seafarer document and STCW basic safety training.
Do cargo ships have internet for the crew?
Most do. Since 23 December 2024, MLC 2006 requires shipowners to provide internet access so far as reasonably practicable, with any charges reasonable. Speeds on crew networks are often limited.
Can seafarers refuse to sail through a war zone?
On ships covered by IBF agreements, yes. In a declared Warlike Operations Area, such as the Strait of Hormuz in 2026, seafarers may refuse without penalty and be repatriated at the company’s cost.
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