Maritime professions are often romanticized – boundless horizons, golden sunsets, and travels to the most fascinating corners of the world. In reality, this “otherworldly” career path isn’t far from that image – it truly offers unique experiences and opens doors to international careers, with professionals earning 4 to 4.5 times more than land-based specialists.
Abundant Career Opportunities Worldwide
According to Rima Mickienė, Vice-Dean of the Lithuanian Maritime Academy (LJA) at VILNIUS TECH, choosing a maritime career is not an ordinary decision – it transforms a person’s entire lifestyle, from daily routines to worldview. Therefore, it is not just a job, but a unique way of life.
“What makes this career path exceptional are the working conditions, which require not only technical knowledge but also psychological resilience. The profession of a seafarer stands out especially – they live and work on ships, often separated from their loved ones and exposed to the elements. This job demands endurance, discipline, quick decision-making, responsibility, and adaptability to ever-changing circumstances,” says Mickienė.
Maritime professionals are unique also because of the global nature of their work. There are thousands of seaports around the world and more than 100,000 commercial ships, and when including fishing and recreational vessels – several million, operating across different seas and oceans.
“Moreover, ship crews typically consist of individuals from different countries and cultures, shaping their worldviews, values, and lifestyles in highly diverse ways. They are true citizens of the world,” affirms the Vice-Dean for Studies, Alumni, and Partnerships at LJA.
It is clear that maritime professionals – seafarers, ship engineers, electromechanics, port and shipping business specialists, freight forwarders, and others – have ample career opportunities.
“LJA graduates are in high demand on the job market: according to the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) report, there is a global shortage of over 60,000 senior seafarers. The demand for ship engineers and electromechanics is especially high.
Moreover, statistics show that our graduates receive the highest salaries in Lithuania within the first year after graduation, compared to graduates from other universities. For instance, the salaries of career-seeking seafarers range from 4,000 to 15,000 euros per month,” states Mickienė.
Moreover, statistics show that our graduates receive the highest salaries in Lithuania within the first year after graduation, compared to graduates from other universities. For instance, the salaries of career-seeking seafarers range from 4,000 to 15,000 euros per month,” states Mickienė.
From Studies to Family and Career
More than half of LJA lecturers are practitioners – sea captains, ship engineers, executives, and specialists from maritime businesses – who provide students with the latest professional knowledge and inspire them to pursue careers in the maritime transport sector.
Among them are LJA graduates Jogailė and Damian Michalowski. A logistics specialist and a marine engineer not only work successfully in their respective fields but also lecture at their alma mater, sharing their experience with the new generation of students.
Jogailė recalls the strong practical foundation provided by LJA – the internship at one of the largest company groups in Klaipėda enabled her to gain international experience, apply her theoretical knowledge, and opened the door to a logistics career, followed by a sales manager position. One of the course topics – customs procedures – became her true passion, eventually prompting her to return to the university, this time in a different role.
“While studying, I didn’t realize that this would stick with me to the point that I’d get a customs broker license and later start teaching the subject. Although my career went in a different direction, I wanted to deepen my knowledge in customs so I could better advise clients. Having a solid theoretical and practical background and knowing what kinds of lecturers I liked and disliked, I decided to give teaching a try,” says the LJA lecturer.
But that wasn’t the only reason she returned to the academy – deep emotional ties played a significant role as well.
“I can confidently say that my years at LJA were the best of my life. I wish that for everyone,” Jogailė shares. She tries to instill in students the idea that it’s okay not to know everything. “What matters is knowing where to find the information, being able to think fast, and solve problems professionally. For students unsure of their career path, I suggest trying different options – that’s the only way to truly discover what you enjoy.”
Damian Michalowski shares a similar experience. He emphasizes that the knowledge and international exposure gained during his studies – such as through the Erasmus program and an internship in Germany – enabled him to quickly launch his maritime career. Interning on his future employer’s ship as early as his third year, he quickly climbed the career ladder and was appointed fourth engineer shortly after graduation.
Although Damian spent most of his career in the Baltic and North Seas and successfully competed in the international market thanks to the knowledge gained at LJA, he didn’t stop there. Inspired by family tradition, he also began lecturing at the academy. “Both my great-grandfather and grandfather worked at LJA, so I decided to follow in their footsteps,” he says.
According to Damian, his goal as a lecturer is to pass on key values and prepare students for a challenging but unique path. “These values are honesty, openness, and respect. But most importantly, I try to instill an understanding of the seriousness of the desire to become a seafarer. A seafarer’s path is a unique decision in a comfortable world, requiring self-discipline and respect for oneself and others.”
In fact, Jogailė and Damian’s story is a great example of how studies can become the start not only of a professional but also a personal journey. They met during their freshman camp as students of Marine Transport Logistics Technologies and Operation of Marine Power Plants, and have now been together for nine years – several of those in marriage.
“We were both very active: we studied hard, worked in the student union, and Damian went on sea internships. That rhythm of life helped us learn how to enjoy quality time together and use time apart to focus on ourselves. A family can take many forms,” smiles J. Michalowska. “Not every woman could live with a seafarer who’s constantly away, and not every seafarer could feel safe and secure leaving his family at home alone.”
“This lifestyle requires 100% trust and mutual understanding,” agrees Damian.
LJA Studies – the Only of Their Kind in Lithuania
Vice-Dean Rima Mickienė also emphasizes the importance of practical training. VILNIUS TECH LJA works closely with shipping companies and port businesses in Lithuania and abroad, so students can start internships as early as their second year, receive merit-based scholarships or salaries, and continue building their careers.
There are plenty of practical opportunities within the academy itself – training is conducted on four training vessels, and the academy features a modern technological study base, including simulation centers for safe operation on ships, navigation, marine engines, port information systems, and cargo terminals using physical, electronic, and virtual reality tools. LJA also offers the Naval Junior Officer Command Training program, providing military maritime preparation and an opportunity to join Lithuania’s Naval Forces.
What’s especially important is that LJA studies are the only ones in Lithuania offering not only academic knowledge but also highly specific preparation for a maritime career. Starting this autumn, to meet the growing demand for port and renewable energy sector specialists, new long-awaited study programs will be introduced: Offshore Wind Energy Engineering and Port and Shipping Engineering Management.
“These and other programs meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organization, so graduates can work anywhere in the world – which is a rare opportunity among Lithuanian universities. Therefore, it’s a unique chance for those seeking an extraordinary and promising career,” says the LJA Vice-Dean.
Learn more about the study programs offered at the VILNIUS TECH Lithuanian Maritime Academy here.
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