4 Awesome Career Choices If You Fancy the Idea of Sailing the Ocean

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The adventure of the open ocean cannot be duplicated. Mountaineers might sometimes come close, but sailing the high seas gives rise to feelings of freedom and exhilaration that are otherwise difficult to come by.

Far from being accessible only to those with lots of time and money to spare, such experiences can become the cornerstones of a career. People who love to get out on the ocean will do well to ask whether any of the following four career options might suit them.

1. Sale-and-Purchase Ship Broker

Many cargo ships, supply vessels, and other oceangoing craft cost millions of dollars when purchased new from shipbuilders. Boats for sale on the secondary market often cost quite a bit less while still having a great deal to offer.

Most such sales today are facilitated by experts who connect would-be ship sellers with shoppers. Because the sale of a large craft will always be a significant transaction, it generally takes quite a bit of negotiation, inspection, and other work to finalize a deal.

Sale-and-purchase ship brokers might spend plenty of time in the office, but many are just as frequently seen at ports and out on the ocean itself. People who love large ships and the seas they travel on often find this type of work to be especially satisfying.

An even more common sort of ship brokerage sees specialists arranging for cargoes to be carried on particular vessels. Many people with experience on one side of the field end up spending time in the other before retiring.

2. Chief Cook

The world is now home to more billionaires than ever before. One of the most popular ways to put such vast amounts of wealth to use is to buy one or more yachts or large sailboats.

Many of these craft are intended to remain self-sufficient for weeks at a time, including the provision of meals for passengers and crew members. On just about every such vessel, an especially talented chef takes charge of the galley and its supplies.

Becoming a credentialed, recognized Chief Cook can take years of toiling in lesser roles. Professionals who do reach the apex of this career path, though, find their services welcomed worldwide.

3. Sailboat Designer

Sailboats might impress observers with their apparent simplicity, but a lot of thought goes into their design. Engineers well-versed in subjects like fluid dynamics apply their skills to produce sailboat designs that excel in all conditions.

As with many other types of engineering work, how much time a sailboat designer spends out on the waves will depend on a number of factors. In just about every case, though, being able to see how new concepts play out in practice will be an important part of the job.

Some especially successful designers even go on to found sailboat companies of their own. That opens up even more opportunities to sail the open ocean, as when courting partners or clients.

4. Merchant Marine

Although the work is not always glamorous, members of the United States Merchant Marine can spend many months each year on the ocean. As an especially accessible way to focus on ocean-based work, becoming a Merchant Marine has been a popular option for many years.

Many More Career Options Can Make the Ocean Your Office

These are four of the best ways for someone who loves the ocean to turn that passion into a career. At the same time, there are many more career opportunities that can make spending time out at sea an everyday experience.

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