5 Careers that You Can Pursue in Shipbuilding

After spending years in a maritime school here in the Philippines, you’re now faced with a dilemma: “what kind of career will I get into?” Worry not, the maritime industry is a vast field that comes with a wide array of opportunities.

If you still don’t have any idea as to what job to go after, let me give you a little something about Shipbuilding. Did you know that shipbuilding in the Philippines will likely exceed market shares of the traditional shipbuilding nations because the country specializes in its production? On top of this, the industry also has a big opportunity in the export market. Shipbuilding is versatile. You can even choose among these 5 lines of work if you’re still undecided:

Rigging

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If you aspire to be a rigger, you should prepare yourself for the hazards and the physical exhaustion. It involves setting up heavy machinery and making sure that they are intact and secure. They are also responsible for heaving and shifting equipment around or aboard the ship.

Most objects that you will be dealing with are chains, clamps, ropes, slings, and pulleys among others. Hand signals will also be a part of your training because these will serve as your means of communication.

Rigging is no easy task. If you’re planning on traveling down this road, make sure that you can handle rigorous activities and you’ll also need to follow a specific set of rules.

Naval Architecture

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A naval architect is someone who designs, builds, and maintains different types of marine vessels and structures. You will collaborate with engineers and other architects as well in making the ship a safe and habitable vessel.

As a naval architect, you are accountable for the designs that will make the ship a fully-functioning one. From its weight, size, and speed to specific parts like hulls, compartments, boiler room equipment, doors and hatchers, your task is to make sure that every screw and pipe are right into place. It all starts with your vision, and it’s your duty to make the best out of it.


Welding

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Three words that you should always keep in mind as a welder: physical endurance, safety, and skill. Once you are fully aware of what it entails, then you can excel in this unit. Repair is probably one of the hardest jobs in shipbuilding. Aside from the risks, it’s also labor intensive. You will be spending a lot of time repairing or enhancing and maintaining certain parts of the ship. You will mostly be involved with heat when fusing metal pieces. It’s your role to make the ship stronger and better.

Part of your obligation is to ensure not only your safety but also the safety of others. After using those soldering materials, put them in their respective places and tidy up your workplace.


Quality Control Surveying

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Quality control is a process within an organization designed to ensure a set level of quality. But as an inspector, it takes a lot of knowledge to properly monitor each process within the ship. It is your task to monitor operations and make sure that they are at par with the standards. When some areas fall short of these standards, it is also your duty to report them and come up with solutions. It’s vital that you have a keen eye and that you would go the extra mile to check each and every aspect. Failure to do so can cause accidents or worse—deaths.

Maritime schools in the Philippines implement strict rules and intense trainings. If you aced these, then the job may be a perfect fit for you.


Plumbing

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If you think that plumbing is an easy job, think again. You need to have solid negotiation, communication, team building and technical skills if you want to stand out as a shipbuilding plumber. You’ll have to coordinate with the architects/engineers/quality control inspectors when studying the layout of the plumbing systems, water supply networks, and waste water drainage systems. It’s also required that you have extensive knowledge when it comes to valves and brazing and welding tools.

The Philippines is one of the top countries that is inclined to the maritime industry. What makes it an esteemed field is the presence of the best schools that provide proper training its students. Odds are, if you work hard enough, you might end up as a successful shipbuilder in a place that’s renowned as the fourth largest shipbuilding nation in the world.