Shipping-The Bigger Picture

The Yin and Yang philosophy of the Chinese culture indicates that the pros and cons of a certain situation or opportunity are always equal in their own respective magnitudes and effects. The World chose to believe in this ancient philosophy. But the Maritime industry proves that this concept doesn’t apply in every field, at least not in the Maritime field.

If we have a deep look at the pros and cons offered by Maritime sector, you will surely notice that the pros exceed the cons. Shipping has long been the major form of transport, as well as an essential communication link connecting coastal cities, countries and continents. With more than 200 job opportunities, varying from commandeering a ship offshore to managing an entire fleet of ships onshore, the prospects are endless in this field.

Shipping doesn’t purely mean sailing. With about 60,000 ships on the ocean right now, you’ve got to have a certain group of people handling all of the work behind the scenes- the onshore crews. Thus, those not wanting to be at sea are also welcome to be a part of this maritime industry.

The maritime industry is also considered to be one of the most eco-friendly as well as cheapest modes of transport. With the seas and oceans naturally available and no maintenance required for them, it surely proves to be a boon to the industry. Sending a container from Shanghai to Le Havre (France) emits fewer greenhouse gases than the truck that takes the container further on to Lyon, which is in France itself. This fact totally justifies that the maritime services are truly eco-friendly.

Well, all said about the environmental aspects, what good does the Maritime industry do to a national economy?

Going on to the fact of Maritime services being cost saving, here’s another fact to prove it. It's less expensive to ship Scottish cod 10,000 miles away to China to be filleted and then sent back to Scotland than it is to pay Scottish personnel to do the job. Of course, this reflects mostly on the cheapness of Chinese labor, but it also shows the low costs of shipping products. In a recent study, it has been depicted that the shipping industry contributes 2% of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the economy of the United Kingdom (UK).

Even after reading all this, the common man is bound to ask,” What good does the Maritime Industry do to me? “

The only fitting reply is that 90% of all the things you buy at the supermarkets and shopping stores arrive via waterways. Those fast food joints that teens throng to, get all their supplies through shipping containers. Let the shipping industry just disappear for a day and watch the havoc it creates.

The maritime industry thus forms the backbone of a country. With the aviation rules stating that anything flammable cannot be allowed on flight, transport of petroleum and its by-products has to take place through the maritime industry.

Ever had a confused face when a seafarer says that, at times, he brings light and energy to a city or township? So what’s this person talking about?

Ships carry coal, natural gas, petroleum, oil, etc that are used to generate electricity and supply power.

So, let me ask you to put on your thinking caps and have a look at the bigger picture about the Maritime Industry. Soak yourself in the advantages of this field and be a part of one of the largest industries of the world.

Shipping Industry as a career

Maritime industry is flourishing at a very high pace globally. If you’re feeling confined and landlocked and want to explore the deep blue sea, with an extremely lucrative career, then maritime industry is the key. There are plenty of opportunities in the maritime industry that can be explored.  

Through this article we intend to steer a steady course through the waters of maritime-based careers and qualifications.

The maritime industry’s diverse workforce apart from seafaring offers a plethora of careers across the globe. From ship brokers to ship builders, from fleet managers to marine risk managers, from naval architects to shipping analysts, from chief engineers to chief accountant the options are as wide and varied as the seven seas. 

The maritime industry is not just about ships and cargo, it’s predominantly about people and services. If you have drive and talent, and are ready to discover the depth of this industry, both onshore and ashore, maritime is the sector for you.

Talking about the courses available, MBA in Shipping and Port Management is a comprehensive course conducted by some renowned universities and institutions in India. The minimum qualification for entering the industry is 10+2 (Science). Some universities also conduct advance courses in Shipping such as Shipping & Port Management and for that they invite applications from Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology. However some institutes even allow science as a management graduate. Sky is the limit in terms of remuneration in this industry.

Most of the big shipping firms are headquartered outside India, or have significant operations outside India. It means a good performance can lead to exciting roles, globally and a hands on exposure to the various cultures around the globe and these would not be the usual “big economic hubs” like London or New York, but include exotic places like Brazil, Central America, Western Africa and the Middle East. This also means an opportunity to work with, interact and know people from different cultures – exchange notes on food habits, arts, literature and lifestyle.

There is an ocean of opportunities that can be explored.  Come explore this ocean of opportunities.