International specialist recruiter, Faststream, report their findings from a survey of over 2,000 shore and sea staff.
Faststream, puts into sharp focus a gap that exists between perception and reality across the industry, finding that not surprisingly, seafarers seeking a shore career tend to focus on the traditional and more accessible roles such as superintendent, fleet manager and harbour master. They perceive the “more remote” professions of law or insurance to be out of reach, despite a large proportion of their shore based colleagues stating the importance of having a seafarer in the office.
The report, based on a survey of over 2,000 shore and sea staff, also reveals the gap between perceived and achievable starting salaries for mariners coming ashore after 10-15 years at sea. Almost all respondents underestimated how much they would be paid if they moved ashore to a related maritime role.
In the report, shore based respondents were also asked to comment on where future opportunities would lie and what they thought the pay differences were between regions.
Ex-mariners in Europe and the US believed that they earned more than their Asian counterparts when, according to Faststream, “the reality is somewhat different”. Workers in the US and in Asia were largely happy with their earnings, whilst those in Europe were more disgruntled with their pay.
Some of Faststream's findings are worrying. For example while 69% of all respondents would follow the same career path again, if given a second chance only half of deck officers would.
Meanwhile 92% of shore workers think it is at least “quite important” to have ex-seafarers in the office, whilst 35% say it is vital.