Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke at the academy’s commencement exercises in Kings Point, N.Y.

“Five decades in uniform has taught me it’s not what people say, it’s what they do,” Mullen said. “And by choosing to serve, you already began a life with purpose and consequences, not just at Kings Point, but around the world.

“Soon, most of you will be commissioned as ensigns in the naval reserve,” he continued, “many serving in the Merchant Marine — a vital resource upon which our nation has long depended in peace time and in war.”

The chairman cited examples from U.S. military history and security and peace contributions of recent academy graduates. He noted the 142 merchant mariners killed in World War II, as well as academy graduates who gave their lives serving with other military branches in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“A big part of the heritage of this institution is remembering those who have been tested the most when it mattered most,” Mullen said. “All of those on the roll of honor died for us, and I pray that they rest content.”

Merchant Marine Academy graduates support military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the chairman noted, and they help to conduct humanitarian missions such as this year’s earthquake-relief operations in Haiti. “Our military, our nation, and even the world owe the United States Merchant Marine a huge debt of gratitude,” he added.

Upon receiving their commissions, the graduating midshipmen became part of the more than 2 million people who make up the U.S. armed forces, the greatest military in the history of the world, Mullen said.

Sixty-five graduates accepted active-duty commissions in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Five will serve in the Army National Guard, while the rest will serve in the Navy Reserve. The class also included seven graduates from Panama.

All of the graduates earned a bachelor of science degree while undergoing rigorous sea training, which included more than 400 days of work study at sea with various Navy and Coast Guard vessels. Nine graduates served aboard ships in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I’m grateful for each and every service and each and every one of you raising your right hand to serve … our military,” Mullen said. “[Today’s military] and their families are the best I’ve ever seen. Not a day goes by when I’m not proud of the sacrifices they continue to make. And we are entrusting their safety, their welfare, and, quite literally, their lives to your leadership.”

Despite the obstacles the graduates overcame over the past four years, many more challenges lie ahead, the chairman said. “There are many more tests to come, and next time it won’t be in the classroom,” he told them.

Mullen’s advice for the graduates was to stay engaged in all aspects of their service and lives to keep pace and lead within the sea services’ ever-changing mission. America’s maritime mission has been tested and is trusted, “but times have changed,” he said.

“Who would have predicted our missile defense system of choice would come not from land-based sites, but from destroyers and cruisers?” he asked. “Who would have predicted that some of our counterpiracy solutions would not come from the sea, but from aid workers and counterinsurgency experts in villages, helping locals to meet basic needs, finding meaningful, nonviolent employment for young men?”

The chairman underscored those changes, noting one thing that’s remained consistent among the sea services and military: “We are here to help,” he said.

“The global partnerships we keep, those we work so hard to process through our deeds, drive our nation’s security strategy, and they provide the kind of presence and support essential to confronting challenges before they lead to conflict,” he said. “I offer to you that we gain more, become collectively stronger, culturally richer and infinitely wiser by what we learn from others.”

Mullen cited the importance of maintaining and building international partnerships. Whether talking about Afghanistan, Africa or inlet seas, he said, no service or country can be successful alone.

“As you head out in the world to sail, fly, fight and build partnerships on the leading edge of change, I know that you will remember deeds, not words, matter most,” he said. “Hold fast to your parents’ values and your mariner traditions. Embrace your life’s next test, and remember that we cannot control or capture hearts and minds. We must engage them — we must listen to them one heart and one mind at a time, over time.”

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is funded by the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration. The academy’s midshipmen study marine engineering, navigation, ship administration, maritime law and other areas important to managing a large ship.

Chief engineers supervise the seamen in engine departments and are responsible for main power plants and their auxiliary equipment. In addition, chief engineers direct and keep records of the repair and maintenance of the ships’ equipment.

First assistant engineers are in charge of starting, stopping, and controlling the speed of the engines. Second assistant engineers are responsible for the fuel and water aboard ships, including all boilers and pumps. Third assistant engineers are in charge of lubrication systems and, on some ships, refrigeration and electrical equipment.

Engine departments have several other types of workers. Firers and water tenders check the flow of oil and water in the ships’ oil-burning equipment and boilers. Oilers lubricate the moving parts in the mechanical equipment, while wipers clean engine rooms and the machinery.

Education and Training Requirements

Ship engineers start out as third assistant engineers and work their way up the ranks. Some third assistant engineers get their licenses without formal training: workers who have had three years of experience in engine rooms may take the licensing test if they are older than nineteen. However, the test is so difficult that few applicants pass it without formal training. That is why most ship engineers are graduates of approved training programs.

Graduates of marine academies receive U.S. Coast Guard licenses as third assistant engineers along with their bachelor’s degrees. In school they take courses in marine steam systems and diesel engines. The marine academies in the United States include the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and state academies in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Texas.

Ferry Boat Jobs: Working on a ferry is a job that can be rewarding and perfect if you don’t want to travel far from home. Your hours will be moderately normal, working from morning and then leaving the boat to go home at night. There are lots of ferry boat jobs such as seaman, deckhand, storage, captain, engineer, oiler, and more, if you live in a region along the water.

Luxury Yacht Jobs: If you love the high life, then finding yourself a luxury yacht job may be just what you are looking for. Imagine going to work on board a stunning yacht that belongs to Richard Branson or your favorite movie star? These well paying jobs are just waiting for you to apply! Whether you are a captain, mate, deckhand, galley crew or gourmet chef, you can have the best life possible sailing the seas to exotic destinations and meeting amazing people.

Cruise Line Jobs: There are tons of cruise ship jobs available in our members section, so don’t hesitate. No matter what kind of job you want aboard a cruise liner, you can find it here. If you work on the deck department, in the engine room, entertainment staff, restaurant staff, hotel staff, galley staff, or spa staff, or shop staff, you will definitely find a job at any of the major cruise line companies. This job is brilliant if you want to travel the world and explore other countries while you work at sea. You will get paid well, and be away from home for weeks or months at a time depending on the itinerary of the cruise liner. Some fantastic destinations that await include the Western Caribbean islands of Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Moorea; European countries of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Sicily, Malta, Greece, and France; and more.

The Types of Merchant Marine Jobs

No matter what kind of vessel you work on, there are some regular maritime jobs that you can apply for once you are certified and have received a qualification from a maritime school or academy. These include the navigational jobs of captain or skipper, 1st, 2nd and 3rd mate, and able seaman. They are responsible for the safe keeping of everyone on board the vessel and need to have in depth knowledge of all marine terminology and the workings of a ship. The deckhands are also required to have certification and are mainly responsible for the repairs, cleaning and maintenance on the vessel. The oiler will be in charge of the keeping the engine and equipment lubricated and in good working order, while the engine department jobs of chief engineer, dde (designated duty engineer), assistant engineer and engineer all need specific qualifications for working on a vessel. Join as a member now to learn more about other maritime jobs and how you can work at sea.

• Tour boat jobs
• Ferry boat jobs
• Luxury yacht jobs
• Cargo container ship jobs
• Oil tanker jobs

These are just some of the great paying and exciting jobs that you can get as a seafarer working all over the world. With each type of maritime or merchant marine job, there are different skill sets that you will need to learn and certain qualifications that you have to have in order to apply. The main thing you will need to know when you apply for a job aboard any vessel is the marine terminology and how things work on a ship. When you order the video you will have unlimited access to the best maritime jobs available, and to the largest database of unique jobs at sea that you won’t find anywhere else on the internet.

The Coast Guard received approximately 60 comments on the layout and content of the certificate. While some of the comments could not be incorporated, the site is being updated to allow the user to select and order the capacities to be printed on the certificate. The Coast Guard anticipates that this update will be available in late September.

The Merchant Mariner Certificate Suitable for Framing is presently available at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/mmcert

Users are reminded that the certificate, which is to be used for display purposes only, is not authorized as a substitute for a valid MMC and will not substitute for the MMC where the requirement to post a credential exists. There is no fee for downloading the certificate.

The Jones Act, officially known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, was originally passed in order to provide protective legal rights for American Merchant Marines along with sailors and the ships’ crews. Its author, Senator Wesley Jones of Washington State declared that American sailors were being neglected when it came to medical and financial assistance. The actual act itself is rather multifaceted and attempting to thoroughly grasp its concepts can leave one more than slightly bamboozled. For this reason it is always advantageous to contact an attorney if there are any questions about The Jones Act.

During the late 19th century and early 20th century there was a great deal of concern about the health and well being of merchant marines. If injured at see there was little that could be done to compensate or lend assistance to the wounded seafarer. Recognizing the extreme danger of working at sea and the absence of adequate reparations for injuries The Jones Act established precise benefits for merchant marines and ship crews.

The specifics of The Jones Act can be broken down into two key sections. The first consists of laws that put restrictions on the amount of trade and shipping that can be executed on American owned or flagged ships within the boundaries of the United States. It also limited the amount of foreign materials that were allowed to be used in the building and on board application American ships. Finally, the act enforced that 75% of any ship’s crew had to consist of American citizens. With these new laws in place The United States focused on constructing a solid-built Merchant Marine that would be effective during both peace time as well as war time.

The second portion of The Jones Act which is extremely important extends itself to the furthest corners of the oceans and everywhere in between. This section states any Merchant Marine, sailor or ship member that is injured at sea is fully entitled to medical care and assistance as well as a recovery and restoration to health. Essentially, this stipulates that the employer must pay the member a stipend or compensation to cover medical costs until they have been cured. Additionally, members of the crew have the right to sue if they are hurt on the job due to the negligence of either the ship owner or another crew member or if they are injured due to their presence on a ship that is found not to be sea-worthy which also includes death benefits if a fatality results while on the job.

So how many people does The Jones Act encompass under its coverage? Qualifications for coverage require that an employee spends at least 30% of his or her time in the active service of a Merchant Marine vessel including all staff members.

Under the supervision and guidance of an experienced attorney benefits of The Jones Act can be very rewarding. This is why it is important that a lawyer be consulted before any actions are taken when a situation involving this clause arises.?

Maritime jobs can be found in a variety of places. You don’t have to live on the ocean to be eligible for a job in this area. Find out where the best places are for finding jobs in this industry.

Many jobs are available in Texas. Shipbuilding is a major part of the industry. This is how companies add to their seagoing fleets. Ships are built to client specifications which mean that they are not only seaworthy but are outfitted with enhanced equipment-the latest in the industry. Many engineering and construction jobs on maritime vessels are available in this area.

Alaska is another place that is teeming with maritime jobs. Here, the jobs are found in the Alaskan fishing industry. Fish are caught year round in Alaska, with the largest harvests coming during the summer season in the salmon industry. Fishing vessels search for crab, groundfish, Pollack, and halibut in the winter seasons.

Getting a job on a fishing vessel in the winter requires experience. The colder waters of the North Atlantic are dangerous for crew. An inexperienced seaman can meet his death if the seas turn rough. Working for a few summers on a salmon fishing boat gets a seaman acquainted with the jobs on a ship under less life-threatening circumstances.

California and Florida are a couple of other hot spots for maritime jobs especially in the cruise industry. Most cruising vessels will leave from a port in Florida or California depending on where they are going. Anyone looking for jobs on a cruise ship would most likely want to set up camp in either of these two places.

You will be living and working on the cruise ship but there will be downtime in between voyages. No one wants to fly back and forth from a home in the Midwest to either California or Florida each time the ship is in port. Keep an apartment in the area so you can spend your time off resting or having fun with friends instead of traveling.

Docks are hot spots for finding maritime jobs. Company offices look for administrative assistants, financial people, and marketing executives to enhance their business. Some have an office at the docks where a dock manager is in control of vessels entering and leaving the port that are working for that particular company.

Of course, there are maritime jobs that do require you to live near water. Working for oceanographic institutes and conducting studies on marine life will be based on a body of water. You can end up in Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Alaska, and anywhere else along the coast of North America studying marine habitats. Scientists also scour the oceans looking for other sources of energy and how to use water power.

Working as a marine scientist could mean diving and photographing amazing sea animals or working in some sort of marine habitat. The possibilities are endless in this area. Scientists also work to preserve the waterways from being damaged by industry and to promote marine life repopulation.
Rivers and lakes are other areas that have maritime jobs available. You can run boat charters for fishing or sightseeing. Tourist hot spots are good for boat trips.

Many areas where maritime jobs are likely to be located can be pinpointed by your particular interest. An engineer can be a part of the boat crew, working with the shipbuilder in a factory, or teaching in a maritime school.

The maritime industry is looking for dedicated hardworking people. Even if you don’t have an overwhelming love of the ocean, you can still find a career to your liking that deals with water. Find out about the jobs available to you.

Do you have a degree in engineering? The shipping industry wouldn’t be what it is without the main component-ships. Each year, cruise lines add several ships to their fleets to attract more passengers and garner a significant corner of the market.

Someone has to build those ships. Engineers and construction workers are some of the people hired to do the job. Building a new ship involves design specifications, building models, and outfitting the ships with the latest technologically advanced equipment.

Our oceans are a new source of energy and resources. These waters need to be explored to learn more about its delicate ecosystem. That is where marine biologists come into the picture. Scientists are an important part of the maritime industry. They work to keep sea life from being adversely affected by sea travel and find ways for the maritime industry to operate environment-friendly.

Maritime jobs on land are involved in running shipping companies and port operations. There will be port managers who schedule the arrival and departure times of ships. They are responsible for ordering checks on cargo and to be sure that all vehicles abide by the laws that govern the port. Individual companies have shipbuilding operations and administrative duties to contend with. Qualified people are needed in these positions to keep the shipping business going.

Each job in the maritime industry is governed by its own criteria. All of these positions require at least an undergraduate degree in the area of choice. Scientific and technology positions may require additional degrees to be competitive in the field. Benefits are set down by the company and pay is dependent on experienced and education.

This is different with jobs on the water. Maritime code dictates the way that ships are run. You have a captain who is the judge and jury so to speak on the ship. Each person has someone to report to and that chain of command is respected.

Fishing jobs are in great demand in Alaskan waters. During the summer months, salmon are the most sought after species of fish and vessels make salmon runs until the season ends. On a fishing boat, a new person will most likely start on the slime line processing the fish. Those who are interested in moving up can tell the captain of their interest in becoming a deckhand or a processing manager.

Deckhands on most boats are eligible for a part of the ship’s take at the end of the season. Processors are paid by the hour and for overtime. Officers, deckhands, and the captain split the total take with the captain retaining the biggest share. As you gain experience, you can apply for higher ranking positions.

On many sea vessels experience and education combine to move you up the promotion ladder. Working for a company, benefits include health care. As a summer worker on fishing vessels, you are responsible for your own health care but room and board are covered or subsidized by whoever hired you. With so much work and overtime, you stand to carry most of your pay back home at the end of the season.

Cruise ship lines offer great benefits and perks to their employees. Pay increases with the job and experience. Concessionaire companies also hire for cruise ship jobs with commissions on sales and the perk of living on a ship and seeing exotic ports.

Each maritime job has its own benefits and promotion tracks. Even if the pay is low at the start, the benefits and adventure of the job may make up for that.

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