Maritime Operations

Although students may not have had any field experience aboard ship, there are skills that employers often value even more highly. These skills are often learned gradually over time- rather than being taught-and can be applied to a wide variety of jobs.

• Time and project management - Working on a ship often involves working on a schedule; being able to manage tasks and responsibilities efficiently becomes essential. Proficiency in this skill can be demonstrated by how you are able to balance classes, clubs, work, and other extracurricular activities. 

• Critical thinking - Solving problems as they arise (or proactively preventing them) is key out on the open ocean because help may take a while to reach you. While you may not have experience in specific scenarios, being able to keep calm and problem-solve in high-stress conditions is often demonstrated when taking exams or in customer service jobs. 

• Adaptability and flexibility – People involved in maritime operations naturally work with the ever-changing conditions of the ocean. Therefore, maritime operations often require workers whose strengths lie in being able to adapt to these changing conditions. In college, these skills are often developed through group work and adapting to the needs of peers to achieve a desired outcome. 

• Situational Awareness- Working at sea means working in dynamic and variable conditions. Perceiving, anticipating, and understanding these will allow you to avoid potentially dangerous conditions and avoid them. In college, you can learn and demonstrate these skills through field work, and before college, this is often learned in sports or other extracurricular activities.

• and many more. Think about what skills you bring to the table to showcase who you are as a worker. Check out the Career Development Center for more.

While all skills are teachable, having previous experience in these fields (and explaining that experience!) can set you apart from other applicants.

• First Aid/First Responder

• Sea-going experience 

• Small vessel operation 

• Operating heavy machinery 

• Navigational skills 

• Oceanographic equipment deployment 

• Inspecting maritime and oceanographic research equipment 

• Wilderness First Aid 

Public Agencies

• Marine Operations at NOAA

• University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS)

• The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)

• Coast Guard

• Port of Newport

• Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Oregon State University Facilities

• Hatfield Marine Science Center

• Marine Mammal Institute

• O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory

• Office of Marine Operations

• A wide variety of labs at OSU have seasonal field work, which involves data collection that must be done aboard a vessel.

These facilities/programs are not run by MACO. Visit their websites for the most up-to-date information.

• Bollinger Shipyards Internship (multiple)

• CalCOFI Cruises

• CEOAS REU Program

• College of Engineering REU: Robots in the Real World

• Greenroom Robotics grad/internship 

• HMSC REU program 

• International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (multiple) 

• MOTE Ocean Technology Internship

• MBARI Internships

• National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Internship 

• Nautilus Live Internship Program 

• Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) 

• NAVSEA internships 

• New Bedford Research and Robotics internship 

• OASIS Internships

• Port of Portland Internship  

• Sea Grant Summer Scholars Program 

• UNOLS -MATE Marine Technical Internship

• and many more, check out Handshake-- OSU's university-job board that lists on- and off-campus jobs and internships

These programs are not run by MACO. Visit their websites for the most up-to-date information.

The OSU Small Boat Program provides students and faculty with the resources and training they need to safely operate small boats, both motorized and paddle boats. Priority is given to students who express a current need for the certifications, but all OSU community members are welcome to participate as space allows. In addition, they have a small fleet of boats available for current boaters to use on research excursions.

The Coastal and Ocean Engineering Graduate Program at OSU emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of research and education on emerging themes related to coastal climate change, including sea level rise and coastal storms, natural coastal hazards including tsunamis and hurricanes, marine renewable energy, and coastal ecology and sustainable communities. It seeks to enable students to pursue research topics that cross the traditional boundaries of coastal engineering and to prepare students for leadership positions in academia, private, and public sectors.

The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences graduate program offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in oceanography. Oceanography, the application of the sciences to the study of the oceans, is an interdisciplinary environmental science concerned with all processes: biological, chemical, geological, and physical.  

The Marine Resource Management (MRM) graduate program at Oregon State University starts with coursework within the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, but can go almost anywhere! It offers six flexible areas of study, including emerging solutions & technologies, to prepare students for future careers at the interface of science and society — within government, nonprofits, academia, industry, or consulting.

Micro credentials (Marine Technological Society) - MTS issues a diverse range of stackable micro credentials. Micro credentials are designed to be "stacked" in a variety of combinations, like interlocking blocks, to progress toward the competencies necessary for learners to attain their specific certifications or employment objectives. These micro credentials specifically address the skills essential for employment within the blue economy.  

STCW Courses & Training Programs - USCG Approved - The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), which the International Maritime Organization (IMO) established in 1978, designates a set of minimal international training standards for professional mariners. The intention of STCW training programs is to promote the safety of life and property at sea, as well as ensure protective measures for the marine environment. The STCW Basic Training course provides instruction and practical training in relevant safety skills necessary to work onboard a vessel in a variety of different roles with designated duties. 

Please note that the STCW trainings are helpful in deck positions of the maritime operations field, but are less applicable in many other areas.

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) has established an extensive training program for new and veteran marine electronics installers. NMEA Training events occur regionally around the USA and Canada and are also offered virtually on a bi-monthly basis for the global marine electronics industry. 

Sea Education Association (SEA) is a global teaching, learning, and research community dedicated to the exploration, understanding, and stewardship of marine and maritime environments. SEA empowers students with life-changing sea voyages of scientific and cultural discovery, academic rigor, and personal growth. This is a study abroad program run through Woods Hole, MA. Visit OSU GO for information specific to OSU students. 

Marine Maintenance Technology (MT) Program at Skagit Valley College in Washington prepares students for employment in the marine trades with a focus on two major disciplines: marine mechanics and marine electrical systems. The MT program offers one-year certificates in each of these high-demand areas and a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree for those who complete coursework in both fields. 

Through OSU Recreational Sports, students can register for SOLO Wilderness first aid and/or first responder certifications. Master wilderness emergency care with the Adventure Leadership Institute’s Wilderness Medicine Certification Classes. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a professional guide or a medical responder, these courses provide essential skills for handling emergencies in remote and challenging environments. 

• Marine Technology Society Scholarships 

• Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship (NOAA)

• Naval Engineers Awards

• Society for Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Scholarships

• Women Offshore Scholarship Application - Women Offshore 

• Malouf Marine Studies Scholarship

• CEOAS Undergraduate Scholarships

• Student Training Award – Scientific Boating Safety Association 

• WTS Scholarships | WTS 

• Maritime Scholarship - CMA Education Foundation 

• Scholarships - American Maritime Partnership 

• ORAFS Student Scholarship – Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

• OSU ScholarDollarsis Oregon State University’s scholarship search and application system, which is hosted by Scholarship Universe. OSU students may use OSU Scholar Dollars to submit applications for donor-funded scholarships available. 

These programs are not run by MACO, visit the program websites for more information