Spending several days on the high seas sounds great, but to be a ship captain, you have to “row” a lot in your career. It’s four years in a military regime school and at least another six and a half years of work to rise through the nautical hierarchy and become a boss at sea. A ship captain must be a cabotage captain (to sail along the Brazilian coast and Mercosur) or a long-haul captain (to sail around the rest of the world). In order not to get into a leaky boat, see which is the path of stones in this profession.
TRAINING
Undergraduate and postgraduate: It is necessary to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nautical sciences. This higher education is offered at Merchant Marine schools. There are two in Brazil: CIAGA, in Rio de Janeiro, (www.ciaga.mar.mil.br), and CIABA, in Belém (www.ciaba.mar.mil.br). There are entrance exams every year
What is learned: The student studies in a military regime, boarding school, and has notions of nautical, machine installation, electricity, electronics and even astronomy
WORK
Occupation area: Ship captains can work as teachers in Merchant Navy schools, in private shipping companies, on tourist vessels, etc.
Day to day: It depends on the hierarchical level. A 2nd officer — rank of recent graduates — may, for example, be in charge of the documentation (dispatch) of a ship. The commander is always checking if everything is in order and taking care of internal discipline
Market situation: It is very good. Those who graduate have a guaranteed job. Those who leave with the best classification in nautical schools guarantee a place in the best companies
What else is worth: Traveling, discovering different places. “I fulfilled myself, it is a beautiful profession, I had the chance to meet new people, new cultures”, says the 2nd nautical officer Vitória Régia Coelho Sobral
Why think twice: Trips can last for months, depending on the ship you work on. There is often a great longing for home and social life.
REMUNERATION
Initial salary: Depending on the company, it can vary between 4,000 and 7,000 reais
Possible salary after ten years:
If the person embarks a lot and manages to climb the nautical hierarchy, the income can reach around 14 thousand reais