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A Beginner’s Guide to Maritime Careers

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Update

Embarking on a career in the maritime sector offers a unique blend of challenges and adventures, far removed from the conventional workplace. The allure of traversing global waters is a compelling reason for many to pursue this path.

For those drawn to the seas with aspirations of becoming a mariner, numerous avenues exist to acquire the necessary skills for this industry. Moreover, existing mariners seeking to enhance their knowledge and climb the career ladder will find ample opportunities for advancement.

This guide aims to illuminate the primary educational pathways for aspiring mariners and those aiming to elevate their maritime careers.

Maritime Training Institutes

Embarking on your journey as a mariner could begin at a reputable Maritime Training Institute. While a degree is not a prerequisite for all entry-level positions, aspiring officers will find these institutions invaluable. Unlike the military-focused academies, these institutes concentrate on preparing students for civilian maritime roles.

Students at these institutes gain hands-on experience through sea-based training aboard commercial ships, complementing their academic studies. This practical approach is crucial for a well-rounded understanding of maritime operations.

The distinction of these institutes as civilian training grounds means that students graduate ready to enter the commercial maritime sector without the military service obligations associated with federal academies.

Pros and Cons of Maritime Training Institutes

What factors should you weigh when considering enrollment at a Maritime Training Institute?

Advantages include:

  • Comprehensive education and training in maritime operations.
  • Significant cost savings, as many programs are subsidized or offer scholarships.
  • Valuable sea time experience, which is indispensable for a career at sea.

Disadvantages might be:

  • The admission process can be competitive, reflecting the high demand for quality maritime education.
  • Some may find the commitment to maritime studies limiting if they are unsure about a long-term career at sea.
  • The duration of the programs may be longer than some alternative education paths.

In essence, Maritime Training Institutes represent a solid foundation for those dedicated to a maritime career, offering a blend of academic and practical training.

University Maritime Programs

Apart from the specialized institutes, several universities offer maritime programs within their broader educational offerings. These programs provide an academic degree alongside specialized maritime training, without the obligation of military service found in federal academies.

Advantages and Disadvantages of University Maritime Programs

Benefits of these programs include:

  • The opportunity to receive a broad education, allowing for career flexibility.
  • Specialized maritime training that prepares students for industry-specific roles.

Potential drawbacks:

  • The longer timeframe and higher costs compared to direct entry or specialized institute programs.
  • The risk of delaying the start of a maritime career for those already certain of their path.

Choosing a university program is ideal for those valuing a broad education alongside their maritime training. However, for those eager to set sail, more direct paths may be preferable.

Maritime Training Options

Not everyone dreams of sitting in a classroom. For those drawn to the vastness of the sea, maritime careers offer an exhilarating alternative. Imagine learning the ropes while sailing across oceans, your classroom constantly changing with the horizon. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a viable career path through on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

For students enrolled in university maritime programs, managing academic tasks alongside practical training can sometimes be challenging. In such cases, seeking writing assistance from platforms like WriteMyPapers can provide valuable support, ensuring that students can excel in both their academic coursework and their maritime training experiences.

Embarking on Apprenticeships

Consider starting your maritime journey with programs like the Seafarers Training Institute (STI), which offers a comprehensive Maritime Apprenticeship Program. This 24-month journey combines 22 weeks of intensive classroom learning with a full year of practical, at-sea experience. The goal? To transform novices into seasoned mariners ready for the vast opportunities the sea offers. These programs partner with leading maritime companies, ensuring your training is both relevant and respected industry-wide.

Apprenticeships are your gateway to gaining critical certifications, such as the Able Seafarer-Deck, crucial for sailing the world’s oceans. The specific credentials you earn, such as the Third Mate Unlimited tonnage license, depend on your training ship’s size and the seas it navigates.

Weighing Apprenticeship Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Fast-track your career without the time and expense of a four-year degree.
  • Earn while you learn, combining paid sea service with classroom instruction.

Cons:

  • Intense and physically demanding, requiring a strong commitment.
  • Not suited for those set on a traditional academic path alongside maritime training.

Apprenticeships offer a unique blend of education and adventure, perfect for eager individuals ready to dive into their careers head-first.

Advancing with Graduate Studies

Maritime education doesn’t end with your first certification. For those looking to climb the ranks, graduate studies in maritime fields pave the way. Institutes like the Seafarers Advanced Training Academy (SATA) provide specialized programs for experienced sailors aiming to enhance their careers, from Able Seaman to Mate, and Mate to Master. These programs build upon your sea experience, pushing your career forward without retracing steps you’ve already taken.

Graduate Studies: A Closer Look

Pros:

  • Propel your career and potentially increase your earnings significantly.
  • Stay updated and competitive in a fast-evolving industry.

Cons:

  • Time and financial investment required.
  • May not align with everyone’s career aspirations or satisfaction in current roles.

Graduate studies are an investment in your future, offering the knowledge and credentials needed to navigate the higher ranks of maritime careers.

Staying Current with Short Courses

The sea is a dynamic classroom, with regulations and technologies constantly evolving. Keeping your certifications up to date is crucial. Whether it’s refreshing your STCW certification or taking specialized courses like Advanced Fire-Fighting, these short programs ensure you remain compliant and competitive.

Charting Your Course

Whether you’re just setting sail in your maritime career or looking to navigate through to advanced roles, the sea offers endless opportunities for growth and adventure. Apprenticeships and graduate studies provide the compass and map for your journey, while short courses keep your skills sharp and your knowledge current. The path you choose is yours to sail.

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Half Term Camps 2021

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: camp, Event, Sailing

Schools half term is coming, Are you ready for a sailing adventure this holiday?

Bring on the holidays and join us at Doha Marine Sports Club, Qatars leading marine club.

Our team of instructors are gearing up and getting ready for more youth sailing camps!

We have several camps running over the next few weeks available for children from the ages of 6 years up, of which we will be having two camps across the days ensuring a fun and enjoyable session on the water is had by all!

How Long?

Each camp is 5 days in duration – Sunday to Thursday

7th – 11th February
14th – 18th February
21st – 25th February

Timing per day?

Ages 6 to 9 years old – 9am till 11am

Ages 10 years up – 1pm till 3pm

Camp course fees?

Each course has a limited availability, of which the course fees are 750 QR per child for the weeks training.

Booking?

for bookings please contact the team by,

email: manager@soramarinetraining.com
Tel & whatsapp: +974 33586728

 

 

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Learn to Dive – What to expect

BY: admin / 5 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Diving

Learn to dive with Sora Marine Training and discover our blue planet.

Learning to dive can be fun, exhilarating, and a great opportunity to discover a whole new world under the sea – but what can you expect when you are learning? And what can you see and do as a newly qualified Open Water Diver!

First step – sign up! As long as you are over 10 years old and can swim 200m that is all you need to be able to start your journey towards becoming an open water diver.

Next comes the theory. You will get your “crew pack” your open water divers manual, which has all the information about diving safely, using your equipment safely, and how everything works. You’ll answer questions as you go which you will later check your understanding with the instructor. At some point in the course you will also complete an exam – but don’t worry! It’s just to make sure you understand the course and can dive safely!Yellow Bar Anglefish

Then it’s time for pool dives and sea dives, and this is where it starts to get exciting. Hop in the pool with the instructor for a few sessions of a few hours and experience breathing underwater for the first time. Learn new skills and put all the theory into practice. Then finally we head to the beach! Complete the skills you have learnt in the pool in the open ocean and have some fun experiencing the underwater world for the first time.

Congratulations! You are now a certified PADI Open Water Diver! What does that mean and what comes next? You can now dive to 18M deep anywhere in the world! You have all the skills and knowledge you need to go on holiday, rent some equipment with some friends and book on a dive trip. On your new adventures you will discover the wonders of the deep blue sea and the amazing creatures that live beneath the surface. You can dive on holiday or for fun right here in Doha. The opportunities are endless, we can’t wait to introduce you to our amazing blue planet!

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The World Beach Games

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Beach Games

It’s the first ever ANOC World Beach Games and it’s happening right here in Qatar!

This October 12th -16th Qatar will be hosting the first ever world beach games and we couldn’t be more excited! The event is due to be a spectacular show of talent demonstrated by athletes from all over the world competing against each other for places on the podium.

There will be over 1,360 athletes flying into Doha to participate in this event which is the first of its kind, making it even more of an achievement for Qatar. The athletes will be competing across 16 different disciplines, 14 of which are beach or water-based activities, including (what we are most excited about) wakeboarding and waterskiing.

Other activities will include kitefoil racing, open water swimming, beach volley ball, beach wrestling, beach tennis, and many others! There will be something for everyone and the timing promises perfect weather to attend these exciting outdoor events, many of which will be held right next door to our very own headquarters at Katara Beach!

You can find out more information on the events and schedule at www.awbgqatar.com and check out their facebook and Instagram for all the latest from participating athletes and news.

Also don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook as we will be live on Instagram attending as many events as we can!

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Half Term Holiday Camp

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: camp, Sailing, Wakeboard

October Half -Term with Sora Marine Training

Surf and Sail Camps

With the summer finally over and everyone getting back into their routines it must be nearly time for another school holiday! Half-term is just around the corner and we are excited to run our usual half-term youth camps with a different twist this time around. Now that the weather is finally improving and summer is well and truly over, we can finally get back to full days on the water. This means that we can run our full five (5) day camps!

This year we will be running 2 camp options

Sora Sailing Camp and Sora Surf and Sail Camp

Both camps will be available with start dates on the 13th, 20th, and 27th of October. The surf and sail camp will include RYA sailing sessions, and the opportunity to wakebSailing Doha Campoard, wakesurf, and kneeboard behind one of our Mastercraft wake boats. The sailing camp will be a 5 day intensive RYA sailing course allowing the participants to achieve their RYA Youth Stage 1 certificate.

The camps will be available to children ages 8 – 16 for all dates, and the days will run with drop off at 9am and collection by 3pm.

All dates have limited availability so contact us now to book your space on your preferred dates! We can’t wait to see you out on the water!

Please get in touch to book your course.

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Wakeboarding in Qatar

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Wakeboard

Did you know we have great facilities for wakeboarding right here in Qatar? Whether you are an experienced rider or have never done any watersports before – We have something to offer for everyone! Want to know a bit more about it?  Here’s a few things we often get asked about wakeboarding here in Qatar.

What is wakeboarding?  What is Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is a water-based board sport where the rider holds a handle and is towed either by a boat or by a cable. Then with practice and progression riders can develop to do tricks such as jumps, skills on the surface of the water, and eventually even inversions.

Who can learn how to wakeboard?  

We offer wakeboarding for children and adults of all abilities. Our team of expert instructors will be able to take you through all the necessary steps, no matter your age or ability level, to get you up and riding

How can I get started?

Get in contact with us and book a session! All you have to do is show up ready to get wet and have a great time and we do the rest. We provide all the equipment and tuition from our expert team of instructors

Want to see some pro wakeboarders doing their thing? The ANOC World Beach Games is coming up right here in Qatar next month! Keep an eye out for our next post to find out more.

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Saturday Youth Sailing Programme

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Sailing

It’s that time of the year again when walking outside is starting to become a pleasant experience again and we can finally get back into the swing of outdoor activities. The best bit of coming out of the summer heat is being able to go sailing again and we can’t wait to have children and adults alike out on the water!

Our free trial sailing sessions which ran on the 31stof August, 7th, and 14thof September were a huge success and we are nearly fully booked for upcoming courses!

Just like last year we’re getting ready to launch our Saturday Youth Sailing Scheme again as of the 21stof September. Before and after our move to Doha Marine Sports Club our sailing programme has been a huge success and we can’t wait to welcome back old students as well as introducing brand new ones to the sport.

Like last year we will have beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups on offer to accommodate all levels. There will also be additional spaces available in our beginner group to allow for more students who are new to sailing to join the fun!

We have limited availability so to avoid missing out contact us now to book your space!

We can’t wait for the season to begin and we hope to see you out on the water!

 

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Qatar Animal Welfare Society

BY: admin / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Doha

Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) is an animal shelter and animal rescue organisation that was founded and established in 2004. Run by volunteers, QAWS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of animals in Qatar. This is no small task to take on but founders Kelly and Janet have worked tirelessly for the last 15 years to keep animals off the street and find new homes in Qatar and overseas. Continue reading “Qatar Animal Welfare Society”

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Rib for Sale

BY: admin / 1 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: For Sale, Powerboat

Humber Rib for sale.

One of Doha’s best equipped Rib’s is for Sale. Sora Marine Training have used the boat for powerboat training for the last 18 months and with a fleet upgrade planned our immaculate Rib is for sale. The boat is ready for viewing and test drives now.

Continue reading “Rib for Sale”

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Open Water Diving Eid Al-Adha Offer

BY: admin / 2 COMMENTS / CATEGORIES: Diving, Doha

Come and join Sora Marine Training for your Open Water Diving course during Eid Al-Adha and receive a great discount. Globally recognised PADI qualification allowing you to dive all over the world. Continue reading “Open Water Diving Eid Al-Adha Offer”

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