Maritime academy
| Highest | $4,400 / mo · Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Experience | 0–1 yrs |
| Degree | Required |
| First paycheck | ~18–24 months (cadet stipend) / ~4 years (officer salary) |
Pay in the destination countries
Monthly, in US dollars. Each country is an Imora admission package — open one for that route's fees, language requirement and deadline.
| Country | Monthly |
|---|---|
| SwitzerlandIELTS 6.5 · CHF 0.9–8k | $4,400max |
| Hong KongIELTS 6.0–6.5 · HK–200k | $4,000 |
| SingaporeIELTS 6.5 · SGD 18–35k | $4,000 |
| United KingdomIELTS 6.0–7.0 · £11–38k | $4,000 |
| NorwayIELTS 6.0–6.5 · NOK 130–260k | $3,950 |
| United StatesTOEFL 80–100 · $10–70k | $3,850 |
What does the day look like?
A maritime cadetship is split between shore-based academic and simulator terms and mandatory sea service on commercial cargo vessels. On shore, cadets train on Full Mission Bridge Simulators (FMBS) using ECDIS and Radar/ARPA, practice GMDSS radio communications, and calculate vessel stability and draft.
At sea, cadets work 7 days a week with zero days off, averaging 10 to 12 hours daily. Duties follow a rotating 4 hours on, 8 hours off watch schedule. Work includes visual and radar lookout, inspecting Life-Saving and Fire-Fighting Appliances (LSA/FFA), manual deck maintenance such as chipping rust and painting, greasing winches, and participating in SOLAS emergency drills. Standing on the bridge steering the vessel takes up only 15 to 20 percent of working time; the remaining 80 to 85 percent consists of heavy manual maintenance, safety checks, and watchkeeping in rough seas or pitch darkness. Contracts last 4 to 6 months continuously on board.
Where does this lead?
Next step up
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