As an island nation, shipping and maritime transport is extremely important to Ireland. Many of the goods that you use each day arrived on the island via sea. Ferries bring people from Ireland to the west coast of England or to the continent. Shipping includes bulk freight, container shipping, and passenger transportation.
There are several large well-established firms in this area, who are involved in freight services only, or in both freight and passenger services. There are also private ship owners operating in the sector.The cruise industry is probably the most exotic career area in this sector.
There are also several industry sectors closely related to shipping, these include using Ireland’s ports to welcome cruise ships, offshore exploration for gas, as well as the construction and maintenance of platforms and building or repairing ships. This means there are many potential career paths, with entry level jobs available. Some examples of the skilled professionals at work in shipping and maritime transport include engineers, technicians and mechanics.
Despite the 'hi-tech' aspects of ship operations, seafarers must remain very much in tune with the natural environment in which they operate and the basic principles of seafaring.There are normally two main departments on board, the Deck and the Engine.
The Deck department is concerned with the overall operation of the ship and its responsibilities include navigation, communications, cargo and stability, maintenance and safety.The Engine room department is responsible for all technical services including main engine propulsion, other plant and machinery, and electrical generation.
Careers in this area include: Master (Captain); Ship owner and operator; Chief Mate (Officer); 2nd Mate; 3rd Mate; Seaman; Port and Maritime Logistics (Shipping agent and Broker; Ship manager; Liner and Port agent; Stevedore; Radio operator, Loading Operator; Customs clearance officer; Freight forwarder; and Safety and Training related roles.
There is an image of life at sea offering adventure and travel, certainly that can be a part of working in the sector, but it also means demanding, complex work in often challenging situations. Due to the length of maritime journeys you will often spend long periods onboard a ship, before taking a break until embarking on the next journey. Adapting to modern technologies and health and safety in a dangerous environment are two big priorities for anyone working in the sector.