SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Container Ship Jobs
34 open vacancies · updated 27 Oct 2026
Mid Nov 2026 · 5–7 mos · Any citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
About Container Ships
Container ships carry goods in steel boxes. The boxes sit in cellular holds and in stacks on deck. The ship works to a fixed port rotation, and each call is short. Cargo work is run by the Chief Officer with the Bosun and ABs: checking bay plans, twistlocks, lashing rods and reefer plugs. Deck officers keep watch, plan stability and monitor the cargo at sea. Engine officers keep the main engine and auxiliaries running for tight schedules. ETOs look after electrical systems, alarms and reefer power. The cook and messman feed the crew across watches. Ships need Master, Chief Officer, Second Officer, Third Officer, Bosun, AB, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, ETO and ratings who can work safely in a busy cargo operation.
Cargo and operations
Containers arrive by gantry crane and are stowed under deck and on deck. The cargo team checks the bay plan, container weight, seals and dangerous goods marks. ABs open and close hatch covers, fit twistlocks, lashing rods and bridge fittings. Reefer boxes need plug checks and temperature logs. Main risks are stack collapse from bad lashing, cargo fire, damaged boxes, and injury during lashing or crane work. The Chief Officer controls stability and cargo securing for each port.
Crew on board
The Master runs the ship and the port calls. The Chief Officer is in charge of cargo, stability and the deck department. Second and Third Officers share bridge watches, cargo paperwork and reefer checks. The Bosun leads the ABs and OS on deck; they handle lashing, hatch covers and deck maintenance. The Chief Engineer, Second Engineer and watch engineers run the main engine, generators and pumps. Motorman/Oiler and Wiper work in the engine room. The ETO handles electrical faults, alarms and reefer power. The Chief Cook and Messman run the galley and mess.
Special training
Container ships do not need a tanker, gas, passenger, IGF Code or Polar Code certificate only because they carry containers. STCW V/1-1, STCW V/1-2, STCW V/2, STCW V/3 and STCW V/4 apply to those ship types or trades. All seafarers need BST under STCW VI/1 and security training under STCW VI/6. Deck officers need a CoC under STCW II/1 or STCW II/2, and GMDSS under STCW IV/2. Ratings need STCW II/4 or STCW II/5. PSCRB, AFF and medical first aid are separate CoP courses under STCW VI/2, STCW VI/3 and STCW VI/4.
Requirements
| Document | Convention | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Competency (CoC) for officer in charge of a navigational watch | STCW II/1 | Every officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must hold a CoC. |
| Certificate of Competency (CoC) for Master and Chief Mate | STCW II/2 | Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must hold a CoC. |
| Rating forming part of a navigational watch certificate | STCW II/4 | Every rating forming part of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must be certificated, except ratings under training and ratings whose duties on watch are unskilled. |
| Able seafarer deck certificate | STCW II/5 | Every able seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must be certificated. |
| Certificate of Competency (CoC) for officer in charge of an engineering watch | STCW III/1 | Every officer in charge of an engineering watch on a seagoing ship with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more must hold a CoC. |
| Certificate of Competency (CoC) for chief engineer officer and second engineer officer | STCW III/2 | Every chief engineer officer and second engineer officer on a seagoing ship with main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW or more must hold a CoC. |
| Certificate of Competency (CoC) for Electro-Technical Officer | STCW III/6 | Every electro-technical officer on a seagoing ship with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more must hold a CoC. |
| GMDSS radio operator certificate | STCW IV/2 | Every person in charge of or performing radio duties on a ship required to participate in the GMDSS must hold an appropriate GMDSS certificate. |
| Basic Safety Training (BST) | STCW VI/1 | Seafarers must receive safety familiarization and basic training or instruction in line with section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code. |
| Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB) | STCW VI/2 | A candidate needs approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months, or an approved training course and approved seagoing service of not less than six months. |
| Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) | STCW VI/3 | Seafarers designated to control fire-fighting operations must complete advanced training in fire fighting, with emphasis on organization, tactics and command. |
| Ship's cook training | MLC 2006 Reg. 3.2 | Seafarers employed as ships' cooks with responsibility for food preparation must be trained and qualified for their position on board. |
Sea service
STCW does not set a separate container-ship sea service rule. Deck and engineer officers need the approved seagoing service set for their CoC. Ratings need the service set for their rating certificate.
Medical fitness
You need a valid medical certificate before you join. It states hearing and sight, and colour vision where relevant, are satisfactory. It is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if you are under 18. A colour vision certificate is valid for a maximum of six years.
Documents
- CDC / Seaman's book
- Valid medical certificate
- CoC or CoP for your rank
- BST certificate
- GMDSS certificate if you perform radio duties
- PSCRB and AFF certificates if designated
- Ship's cook training certificate if you work as cook
Ships in our database
8,400+ Container Ships in the Krew Guru ships database
Deadweight (DWT), most ships8,500–110,500
Gross tonnage (GT), most ships7,400–105,800
Range covers the middle 80% of ships of this type in our database.
What employers on Krew Guru ask for
RanksThird Engineer 18%, Second Engineer 13%, Chief Engineer 10%, Chief Officer (Chief Mate) 9%, Third Officer 9%
Contracts in rank (median)1
Contract length (median)6 months
Open to any nationality97%
VisasUnited States of America 7%, Schengen 0%
Based on 1165 vacancies on Krew Guru over the last 365 days.
Companies hiring on Container Ships now
- Xfinity maritime13 vacancies
- OSM Thome12 vacancies
- ZODIAC Maritime6 vacancies
- PG Maritime2 vacancies
- XT SHIPS MANAGEMENT INDIA PVT1 vacancy
Jobs on Container Ships: questions and answers
What is different about working on a container ship?
Cargo work is fast. Boxes are loaded and discharged at each port, often with gantry cranes. The deck crew fits and checks twistlocks, lashing rods and bridge fittings. Officers update the bay plan and stability before sailing. Reefer boxes need plug and temperature checks. The ship spends less time in port than a tanker or bulk carrier, so cargo and lashing checks are planned around short calls.
Do I need tanker or gas training for a container ship?
No. STCW V/1-1 is for oil and chemical tankers and STCW V/1-2 is for liquefied gas tankers. A container ship does not need those certificates just because it carries containers. You need BST under STCW VI/1 and security training under STCW VI/6. If the ship uses gas fuel or goes to polar waters, separate training under STCW V/3 or STCW V/4 applies.
Which certificate does an AB need on a container ship?
An AB needs the able seafarer deck certificate under STCW II/5. To start that, you must first meet the rating forming part of a navigational watch requirements in STCW II/4. You also need BST under STCW VI/1. The AB does lashing, hatch cover work, deck maintenance and lookout duties. The Bosun directs the deck ratings.
What does the Chief Officer do during cargo operations?
The Chief Officer plans the stowage and controls stability. The Chief Officer checks the bay plan, container weights, dangerous goods and lashing. During port calls the Chief Officer works with the terminal and the Bosun. At sea the Chief Officer checks cargo securing and reefer logs. The Master is kept informed of any damage or risk.
Can container ship sea service be used for a CoC?
STCW does not set a separate container-ship sea service rule. Approved seagoing service on a container ship can count if it meets the requirement for your CoC. For a deck officer CoC, check STCW II/1 or STCW II/2. For an engineer CoC, check STCW III/1 or STCW III/2. Keep your CDC / Seaman's book and training record book up to date.
187 vacancies in the last 90 days
Sources
- ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
- IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (1 July 2010), Resolution 1: The Manila Amendments to the annex to the STCW Convention
- IMO, Resolution MSC.416(97) (adopted 25 November 2016), amendments to the STCW Convention
- IMO, Resolution MSC.396(95) (adopted 11 June 2015), amendments to the STCW Convention
Checked against the official texts on 26 Oct 2026.