I dreamed of becoming a dentist. I became a mechanic. I don't regret it one bit!
📌 1. Introduce yourself so people will remember you!
— What's your name, how old are you, and where are you from?
— How did you get into mechanics? Was it a dream or just a good way to make money?
Hello everyone, my name is Vlad and I am 22 years old. I currently work as a third mechanic on a tanker — we transport orange juice 🍊The story of my maritime career is quite unusual. While studying at school, I was faced with the classic question: “Where should I go next?” I chose dentistry and began preparing for admission: taking extra chemistry classes and studying my future profession. But I wouldn't say I was particularly enthusiastic about it 😅. One day, during an extra class, the teacher began telling a story about how a dentist had spent a long and painful time building his house... And a sailor, who, roughly speaking, went on one voyage, built half a house. Overall, that's where the turning point came.
📌 2. What was your path to becoming a mechanic?
— Where did you study and how did you start on this path?
— Do you remember your first day on a ship? What do you remember most?
My introduction to the maritime industry began at the Odessa National Maritime Academy. When I started studying, nothing was clear or familiar. But I had a goal: “to go on a voyage as soon as possible.” So in the middle of my second year, at the age of 18, I went on my first voyage. I will always remember my first day on the ship and still talk about it with a smile. When I stepped onto the ship, I didn't even know how to get to the engine room. And when I got there, I was shocked by what I saw. But I immediately realized that no one was going to teach me here, and I would have to learn on my own. With burning eyes, I read manuals every day, looked for new information, and asked senior mechanics questions — that's how I got acquainted with my future profession.📌 3. What mechanisms do you work with and what ships have you seen?
— What is the most difficult thing about mechanics? Working with engines, electronics, or supplying spare parts?
In my opinion, the most difficult thing is taking the first steps. Getting to know the mechanism and how it works. Then comes the first maintenance and troubleshooting. But over time, as you gain experience, it seems that it's not so difficult after all.
📌How much does a marine mechanic earn?
— Without specific figures, do mechanics live well?
— Is it possible to save a decent amount of money working at sea?
— Does it make sense to improve your qualifications?
The question of salaries is the most interesting and attractive in our profession. I am sure that everyone chooses this path solely because of the financial component. If a person is financially literate and knows how to manage money, they will feel very comfortable on shore, because working at sea provides an opportunity to effectively increase personal capital. This capital will allow you to stand confidently on your own two feet on land in a relatively short period of time. Once they get their first taste of money, improving their qualifications is a must for ambitious young people. For example, working as a senior mechanic, you can earn an average of about $15,000 per month.
Final question: would you choose to be a mechanic again?
— Did you compare it with other professions in the navy?
— And what would you teach a beginner?
Good question. I think so, I would choose mechanics again — I'm happy with everything. Comparing navigators, mechanics, and electricians makes no sense to me. Everyone has their own peculiarities in their work and their own headaches. The difference lies in the little things and personal preferences. Three tips for beginners:
If you haven't been on a voyage yet, study the information yourself. YouTube, courses, articles — all of this is very helpful.
There are a lot of useful channels that explain everything step by step.
With this knowledge, it will be much easier to familiarize yourself with everything on the ship and learn how to do maintenance faster.