“There’s something special about physically being in the traditional territories where the stories we hear about took place. As youth we’re making connections to our Ha-ha-houlthee and to other community members as we create our own stories together."
Do you wonder if a job on the water is for you?
If most of these statements apply then you might consider a career in marine transportation.
- I enjoy listening to my Elders talk about how they navigated our waters using landmarks and other reference points.
- I have experience on boats and I like working as part of a team.
- I enjoy seeing new places and am prepared to work hard to advance up the career ladder.
Uu-a-thluk
taking care of
What’s It All About?
Workers in marine transportation work at sea or on land in jobs related to moving cargo or passengers up and down the coast. Some people, like deck officers, operate ships over coastal and inland waters, supervising the activities of deck crews. Others, like engineer officers, work in a ship’s engine room maintaining engines and other equipment as well as supervising engine crews.
Deckhands, dockworkers, cooks, and other entry-level workers carry out duties related to the operation and loading of the ship. Workers in this industry generally work for towboat companies, which can vary in size from a few boats to fleets of up to 50. Because Western Canada has no merchant fleet, jobs on deep-sea cargo and cruise ships are limited to upper level officers.
Marine engineers design and develop marine vessels and floating structures and marine power plants, propulsion systems and related systems and equipment. They supervise the construction, maintenance and repair of vessels and marine systems.
What Do You Need?
Fishing vessel deckhands require a commercial fishing licence and on-the-job training is provided.
Those who work on larger vessels or for larger companies may require a Bridge Watch Rating Associate Certificate. This certification program teaches the essential skills related to the practice of seamanship, navigation, standards of safe working procedures, and the hazards associated with the marine environment.
Cooks require experience or a cook’s certificate from a community college or other institute.
Longshore workers transport cargo from ships and other vessels and throughout the dock area. They require various levels of education. For some entry level jobs, such as crane operator, employers usually provide training. Others in more specialized jobs may require trades certification.
Apprentice engineers are normally sponsored by an employer and are usually students in the Marine Engineer Apprentice Program.
Deck officers usually earn experience at sea before taking their Watchkeeping Mate certification. From here, they advance up the ranks by logging sea time and taking courses related to what kind of vessel they want to work on and where it will travel.
Marine engineers require a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering discipline. A master’s degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required. Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports, and to practice as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination. Licensing may be compulsory or voluntary, depending on the occupation.
What Can you Earn?
Please note that these positions are typically seasonal/part-time.
Deckhands earn $40,585 and $63,026 calculated annually (Between $19.46 and $30.22 per hour)
Cooks generally earn $30,763 calculated annually (between $14.60 and $20.50 per hour).
Longshore workers earn $87,595 per year (median) or between $47.32 and $25 per hour.
Apprentice marine engineer officers earn between $52,661 and $106,950 calculated annually (between $25.25 and $51.28 per hour)
Deck officers earn $79,253 annually (between $23 and $50 per hour)
Marine engineers earn between $52,453 and $133,478 calculated annually (between $25.15 and $64.00 per hour)
Sample Employers
- Towboat companies
- B.C. Ferries
- B.C. Maritime Employers Association
- Independent dock owners
- Foreign-owned merchant ships
- Foreign-owned cruise ships
Sample Jobs
- Deck Hands
- Cooks
- Deck Hands
- Longshore Workers
- Apprentice Engineers
- Deck Officers (Master/Captain/Skipper, Mate)
- Engineer Officers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th class)
The Bridge Watch Rating Associate Certificate provides entry-level personnel with base-level knowledge of seamanship to prepare for a career on the ocean with BC Ferries, the Canadian Coast Guard, local companies, and other Canadian companies operating ships and vessels.
Curious about light keeping? Take a look at this article that paints a picture of the life of a light keeper and why the job is important.
Canadian Coast Guard deckhand. (Noted as accurate on the website over past 36 months). Indeed Job Site. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
Deckhand in British Columbia. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
Cooks (2021, May 25). WorkBC Job Site. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
https://www.workbc.ca/Jobs-Careers/Explore-Careers/Browse-Career-Profile/6322#earnings-and-outlook
Longshore Workers. (2021, May 25). WorkBC Job Site. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
https://www.workbc.ca/Jobs-Careers/Explore-Careers/Browse-Career-Profile/7451#earnings-and-outlook
Apprentice Marine Engineer Officers. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/3711/ca
Deck Officer in British Columbia. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/3660/BC
Marine Engineer in British Columbia. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/5421/BC
