Life on-board a working ship is busy and can be demanding. But the camaraderie of men and women working together to get the job done is very rewarding. You’ll soon have a whole boatload of new friends. And in quieter moments you'll have time to watch the world glide past you.

When you board you'll be given a tour of the ship and told what duties are expected of you. You'll learn new skills and make new friends, and when you're not hard at work you can enjoy the leisure facilities and catch up on some study time. Some ships even have DVD libraries and gyms. You'll be well fed whichever ship you join – it's not just an army that marches on its stomach – and you'll be in with a chance of shore leave when you drop anchor.

The ship's company

The number in a ship's company varies according to the size and type of ship and its area of operation. There may be as few as six or as many as twenty five or more. These numbers will be significantly higher in all departments on passenger ships and ferries, depending on the number of passengers carried.

Irrespective of the size of the ship's company, the structure of the various departments follows the same pattern. Limited numbers of other specialist personnel may also be carried. The smaller the total numbers on-board, the more job-sharing goes on. That's why the training you will receive is so comprehensive.

There are normally two main departments on board – deck and engine room. Ships carrying passengers also have a hotel services department.

The Deck Department is concerned with the overall operation of the ship and responsibilities including navigation, communications, cargo management, stability, maintenance and safety.

The Engine Room Department is responsible for all technical services including main engine propulsion, other plant and machinery maintenance, electrical generation, maintenance, cargo and safety.