Career change as a ship captain

Career change paths

• Harbor master

  Also: Marine coordinator for offshore wind farms

  With on-the-job training

  On land, you coordinate berths, ship movements or crew and supply trips, keep an eye on weather and traffic and are the point of contact for ship masters.

  What you bring:

  You know the waterway, shipping traffic, radio and safety rules and can judge the maneuvers of other ships well.

  How to get there:

  Port operators, municipalities and operators of offshore wind farms hire experienced navigation officers and ship masters and train them over a few weeks to months in procedures and systems. For offshore positions, good English and safety training are usually expected, but you are not on board for weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically light
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• Navigation officer in a vessel traffic center of the Waterways and Shipping Administration

  Also: Nautical case officer at a shipping authority

  With on-the-job training

  In a vessel traffic center, you monitor shipping traffic on rivers, canals or coastal waters by radar and radio, give traffic information and react to dangerous situations.

  What you bring:

  With your nautical license (Patent) and sea experience, you understand what happens on the water and which information a ship's bridge needs.

  How to get there:

  The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration looks for people with a nautical license for the vessel traffic centers and trains them in an internal course that can take several months. The work is in shifts (Schichtdienst), but at a fixed workplace on land.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically light
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• Ship broker

  Also: Freight chartering broker

  With on-the-job training

  As a ship broker or chartering broker, you bring cargoes and ship space together, negotiate freight rates and support the voyages through to accounting.

  What you bring:

  You know ship types, cargoes, ports and voyage times from your own experience and can judge what a transport means in practice.

  How to get there:

  Brokerage houses and shipping companies in Hamburg, Bremen and at the inland ports train navigation officers over a few months in the market, contracts and accounting. Business skills and good English are expected. The upgrading course for certified senior specialist for freight transport and logistics (Fachwirt für Güterverkehr und Logistik) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is possible alongside work.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,955gross per monthMedian salary

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• Fleet manager at a shipping company

  Also: Nautical inspector

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In the shore-based operations of a shipping company, you manage several ships, plan crews, maintenance and deployments and make sure safety requirements are met.

  What you bring:

  As a ship master or officer, you have carried responsibility for ship, cargo and crew and know regulations and inspections.

  How to get there:

  Shipping companies fill such positions mainly with experienced captains and ship masters and train them in management systems and procedures on land. Courses on safety management and auditing at shipping training providers help with the change.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contactIn an office
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• Marine damage surveyor

  Also: Claims adjuster in transport insurance

  With on-the-job training

  As a marine damage surveyor or claims adjuster, you inspect damage, clarify the course of events and assess costs for insurers and shipping companies.

  What you bring:

  You know how collisions, groundings and cargo damage happen and how to secure ship and cargo properly.

  How to get there:

  Expert offices and transport insurers train experienced navigation officers over a few months. Good English and willingness to travel are usually necessary. You only become publicly appointed and sworn in after the chamber has verified your special expertise.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hours

  €5,261gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales representative for navigation and marine technology

  Also: Customer consultant at a ship equipment supplier

  With on-the-job training

  For manufacturers or equipment suppliers, you advise shipping companies and shipyards, prepare offers and look after customers after the purchase.

  What you bring:

  You have worked with radar, radio, navigation systems and ship equipment every day and know what is really needed on board.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and equipment suppliers train you with product training over a few weeks to months. English and willingness to travel are usually expected. Look for permanent employment, because as a self-employed commercial agent you often work on commission only.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer in inland shipping

  Also: Trainer for ship mechanics (Schiffsmechaniker)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a trainer, you accompany apprentices on board, in training centers or at the simulator and prepare them for the exams.

  What you bring:

  You know ship operation, maneuvers and safety from many years on board and can introduce young people to the work.

  How to get there:

  In inland shipping, you take the exam under the Ordinance on Trainer Aptitude (AEVO) at the responsible body for the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung). Preparation courses usually take a few weeks. If you train ship mechanics (Schiffsmechaniker) in seagoing shipping, the Maritime Vocational Training Ordinance (See-BAV) requires proof of training in vocational and work pedagogy for seafaring. You can train apprentices on board alongside running the ship or in a full-time position on land.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Ordinance on Trainer Aptitude (AEVO); for seagoing shipping, Maritime Vocational Training Ordinance (See-BAV) § 7).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Little customer contact

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer)

  Also: Locomotive driver in freight transport

  With further training

  As a train driver, you drive freight or passenger trains, check your vehicle before the trip and are no longer on board for weeks at a time.

  What you bring:

  You are used to operating a large vehicle safely according to fixed rules, working in shifts (Schichtdienst) and staying calm in emergencies.

  How to get there:

  Railway companies train career changers in a function training course (Funktionsausbildung) with an exam for the train driver license and the supplementary certificate (Zusatzbescheinigung), and the length depends on the provider. Beforehand, doctors and psychologists check your fitness, and you must be at least 20 years old and have a lower secondary school leaving certificate. The training is often paid by the employer or through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV) § 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,322gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.