As a sailor on European waterways, you'll have the chance to embark on a thrilling adventure on the open waters while gaining valuable experience and skills for a career on Europe inland waterways. You'll explore picturesque landscapes, pass through historic towns and cities, and learn about the rich cultural heritage of Europe, all while earning a living doing something you love.

If you're already a sailor on the open seas, transitioning to a career in European waterways is a great option. You can use your existing skills and experience to adapt quickly to this unique profession. With minimal English language knowledge and the proper training, you can become a successful Sailor on European waterways and enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career path.

Vocational school or career training is the key to success for those starting. You'll gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Sailor on European waterways, including navigating on the rivers, operating vessels, and managing a crew. You'll also have the opportunity to explore Europe's beautiful and historic rivers and immerse yourself in the region's rich cultural heritage.

Conclusion:
Suppose you're looking for an exciting and rewarding career path. In that case, becoming a Sailor on European waterways is an excellent choice. Regardless of your background or experience level, job opportunities are available. So, take the plunge and discover the European waterways' many exciting job opportunities.

Attention all European and non-European Seamen! We have fantastic news that you will want to take advantage of.

Starting from February 2022, Seamans with at least five years of experience in a Sailor position can now receive the Sailor stamp automatically in Europe. This means you can immediately start working on Inland Waterway Ships without additional schooling or apprenticeship.

As a European seaman, you now have the opportunity to be closer to your family and friends. Working as a Sailor on inland waterways allows for a 1-month-on-1-month-off schedule.

Don't let this chance sail away - join us on the European waterways and embark on a new adventure! If you want to learn more about this exciting opportunity, check out the following blog series.

If we compare it with shore work, the only difference is that sailing is not the usual monotonous job.

Your scope of work includes painting, washing, cleaning, and repairing the Vessel. Assist the Captain in mooring and navigating the ship.

All over Europe, from the North Sea through the Rhine, Main, Rhine-Main-Danube canal, and the Danube to the Black Sea.

Of course, not all this alone, but with 2-3 other Sailor colleagues.
As a sailor, you can travel around Europe and see the natural wonders and its beautiful towns and villages. And they even pay for all this.

Working on a ship is an exciting opportunity with its own set of challenges. Unlike a regular job on the coast, where you can travel to and from work in just 30 minutes or an hour, working on a ship requires you to board in more remote places like Amsterdam, Budapest, and Basel. But with today's advancements in transportation, getting to these remote ports is easy with airplanes or trains.

Sailors typically work in 4/2 or 4/4 shifts, which means either 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off, or 4 weeks on and 4 weeks off. You can choose the schedule that best suits your lifestyle. If you're a student looking to progress quickly or have a significant other on board, the 4/2 schedule is ideal. But if you're married with children, the 4/4 schedule may be more suitable.

One of the major benefits of working on a ship is that you don't have to pay rent, and your travel and food expenses are covered. This can save you a significant amount of money. Additionally, if you work on a passenger ship, you can earn extra money from tips, which can range from €600-1400 a month. Salaries for sailors range from €1600-2000, depending on experience. And just like a regular job on the coast, you will receive your salary while on holiday or leave.

Our company is currently working on providing direct training opportunities for new and transitioning professionals, though this effort is still in progress. If you have thoroughly reviewed our blog content and have yet to uncover information on how to get started with us, please feel free to contact us.

Your contract includes several essential benefits in addition to your salary. These include:

• Contract: you will start your apprenticeship with three months probation period. After nine months, when you successfully pass your exams, you will receive your new contract for the Sailor position. You will have a 4/2 relive option during your apprenticeship—working clouds, uniforms, food, training, exams, and travel expenses. The companies take everything over.
• Social and health care insurance: your social insurance will pay 100% of your salary for the first 30 days if you cannot work due to illness. After that, you will receive a daily compensation of 80% for a maximum of 730 consecutive days.
• Child and Education Allowance: You will receive up to 280€ per child until they reach 18, and if they continue studying, you will receive the same amount until age 26. Additionally, women on maternity leave will receive 80% of their salary.
• Health care: You will receive a European health care card, and your insurance will cover expenses above 300€ per year. In case of emergencies or severe illness, you will have full coverage.
• Pension: The ordinary retirement age is between 64 and 65, with a minimum monthly allowance of 1200€ and a maximum of 2400€ for single persons. You can also pay a Pension premium to receive a higher pension.

For an example, please refer to the detailed PDF file.

Link for more Informations.

If you're looking to start a career as a Sailor, there are a few key steps you'll need to take.

The first step is to obtain a Skipper's Service Book.
This book is optional to get in your own country but can also be obtained in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Switzerland. However, it is essential to note that some minimal language knowledge may be required.
Obtaining a Skipper's Service Book can be especially beneficial if you're currently working as a hotel staff on a passenger ship. To learn more about Skipper's Service Book, click here.

After that, you will have to find a company offering an apprenticeship.
Criteria for the successful application are good health and a middle level of English language knowledge which the human resources department will test in a personal interview.

Click here to see the companies which are offering Apprenticeships.

After receiving your Skipper's Book for the first time, you will not receive a Sailor's certificate upon completion. Instead, you will receive a Deckhand (German: Deksmann) certificate. However, this is not the end of the journey.

The Deckhand is the entry-level position on ships.

No experience is required, just a 3-day seminar on safety.

Your job will be similar to that of a Sailor, but you will not be responsible for anything and you cannot perform more dangerous tasks without supervision. You will be assisting a Sailor, also known as a Trainee Sailor, while learning and practicing the job. However, this does not mean that you cannot become a Sailor. To do so, you will need to complete additional qualifications and gain a certain number of sailing days, which will be recorded in your Skipper book.

In Europe, ships are one of the essential means of Vehicles for the economy. Without them, Europe would not thrive like how it is today.

At the heart of this industry are People like you and me who make it possible.

I was once also a Deckhand(Schiffsjunge). I started at 15J from the lowest grade, and today I reached 27J, my position as 1st Captain.

I want to share my journey from being a deckhand to an accomplished sailor. This journey has been filled with challenges and opportunities for growth and personal development. Join me as I recount the steps and lessons I learned to become a successful sailor.

As a teenager living in a developing country, I didn't have many choices to secure my future in my own country. Since my family was also struggling financially, I started a career as a Skipper. 

Since I was good with the German Language with some help, I applied for the German Schiffer-Berufskolleg RHEIN Skipper School.

I will explain the school in a separate Blog, which you can find here.

Boarding on a passenger ship was strange to see how many people lived in this small area. But it didn't put me in lousy thinking because everybody greets and smiles at you as you pass through the vessel, giving you a positive first view of this job. 

One of my future colleagues, whose name was Gabor. He showed me the way to my cabin (the room where you will be accommodated till the day of your relive). Passing the reception through the guest's corridors to the crew corridor with many stairs up and down, I thought this ship was not looking so huge from the outside. Arriving at the cabin, my colleague opened the door. At first, I was shocked at what small accommodation I would have to live in, and when I was passing more inside, I realized that my colleague Gabor would also be in the same room. 

After leaving my Luggage in the cabin, my colleague led me around the ship. Out of our cabin, we pass through the crew corridor to the laundry, where other crew members wash the clothes, sheets, and other stuff, preparing for the next day for the guests. Continuing through the Crew Mess, you can see more crew members chatting, laughing, and telling stories to each other. As a teenager, I was shy to introduce myself, but because of the excellent mood represented on the ship and what was reflected by the people, the ice broke fast, and I felt good. Continuing our way, Passing the Kitchen, Restaurant, and Engine rooms, we came to our final destination, the Wheelhouse (place/cockpit from where the Captain commands navigate the ship), where already the Captain was waiting for me with the rest of the crew.

From the first view, when I saw the Captain in his uniform, I could feel the pride, elegance, and discipline that this person was emitting from himself.

One by one, he introduced the rest of the crew and explained their position and responsibilities.

So does he explain my tasks and responsibilities:

Initially, Deckhands usually follow their colleagues and learn about the daily tasks, get involved with the risks and dangers in this job, learn and practice working with ropes, and tide the ship on different births and places. The most important thing you must know is that everything you do on Board as a Deckhand doesn't carry responsibility. But if you do something wrong, your Sailor colleague or Mentor will receive the Banana. So you must still be very careful and listen to what they say.

The ship was sailing from Budapest to Amsterdam. My first time traveling farther than Budapest, I was excited and motivated. I wanted to see and know everything. Since we were 3 Sailors and 1 Deckhand (me) on Board, The first months were mainly about building trust and learning to listen. 

They started slowly introducing me daily to what our tasks are on Board. 

Which started as follows:

In the previous evenings, we always discussed who would start the morning shift, which we were rotating daily.

In the morning, I start with my colleague Gabor at 06:00, go first to the Wheelhouse, greet the Captain, drink with him together one coffee, and have a morning chat with him and discuss which destination we are approaching today if he will need assistance for a lock or maneuvering.

After that, We cleaned the tables and chairs, emptied the ashtrays, and prepared for the guest. That they can use them and enjoy the beautiful sunrise, the other colleagues are camming at 08:00 and sitting together to discuss more significant projects we can do today. 

It is essential to plan it well because the ship is always sailing, stopping at different places where you can't finish the same tasks in other conditions. For example: By washing the down part of the ship from the outside, you can only do this while the vessel is in docking position.

My shift ended at 12:00, and I had a six-hour break. After that, we were in stand-by modus if the Captain needed somebody to maneuver or tie the ship in the lock.

My colleagues Continued with the more significant tasks from 08:00 to 15:00, like washing the ship from outside, cleaning the windows, polishing, painting, and so on...

As I mentioned above, this is the daily routine for a Dechand or a Sailor. But in reality, I was all day on deck, and this was not because they were forcing me to work like crazy. No, this was because I wanted to learn everything fast, and it was interesting for me. This was the main reason I became a Captain today so quickly. I was constantly grinding and was not stopping learning.

I built up a structure for this job. I understand what the responsibilities and dangers are. 

It is essential to work in a team because you need to pay attention to your colleague quickly enough to avoid an accident. 

These days I managed to build trust and respect from the Captain and my colleagues. They let me do more specific or risky jobs myself without surveillance, like tiding the ship in looks or docking places to give distance at narrow standings for the Captain to maneuver.

It's almost 3 Years. I was to finish College in Germany. I have enjoyed this time as Student/Deckhand. I have found many good friends whit which, even today, I am keeping Kontakt, or we see each other even when we are in relief.

I had beautiful memories. I was traveling, seeing new places meeting new people. As a Teenager on Board also had many girlfriends 🙂

After 14.04.2014, I officially received my sailor stamp and could start my journey as a Sailor.

And what's next?

Find out in the following blog series.

Continue with reading

Discover a new profession and secure a stable income with our comprehensive programs.

While we are in the process of preparing our in-house course, we have compiled a list of companies that currently offer courses and direct employment opportunities in this field.

Whether you are just starting your career or seeking a change, one of the following courses will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to become a Sailor and advance to the position of Captain.

Keep reading to learn more.

Comming Soon!