Frequently Asked Questions

If awarded the scholarship, would I have to relocate?

Yes, if you are awarded the scholarship, you will first relocate to the selected training institution, or institutions. Once entering the workforce, life as a seafarer is an international one, meaning travel becomes your way of life. In the yachting sector, the boat becomes your home, with typical yearly contracts having between 38 and 60 days of paid leave per year. The commercial side of the industry operates on a more structured rotation basis, where a seafarer will often maintain their home base and work shifts such as two months on and two months off.

If awarded the scholarship, how soon would I be relocating?

Before travelling, candidates will undergo a background check and a medical evaluation. Once eligibility has been confirmed, we begin the process of acquiring passports, and required documentation to travel. Concurrently, career counselling will begin, to decide what career path you would like to pursue. Then you'll be connected with a qualified and experienced mentor in that chosen field. At this point, an education plan will be developed, followed by travel planning. These processes are expected to take between one and three months, depending on your current circumstances. During these initial phases, you will have access to the Kelp online learning platform to begin introductory education in the at home environment.

Where would I be relocating to?

During the education phase, candidates will be training likely in Fort Lauderdale, United Kingdom or Antigua, depending on your specific career goals and education plan developed by BOW and their mentor. Each candidate plan is custom, and as our list of education partners grows, as do possible locations. Common training locations in the yachting sector include Fort Lauderdale, United Kindgom, Spain and France.

Will my travel, accommodation and food be covered?

Yes. For the training period, select schools have dorms & meal plans included in tuition. For training institutions without, candidates will be housed in crew accommodation with a weekly meal stipend. Travel will be covered by the scholarship funds during training. When working as a seafarer, crew live on board in crew cabins, and all food, accommodation, travel, and medical insurance are legally required to be paid by the vessel owner. This means that with no living expenses, savings can build quickly for crew who are smart with their money!

What certifications will I have at the end of training?

All seafarers are required to have the Standards of Training & Certification for Watchkeeping (STCW) Basic Safety Training, as well as ENG-1 medical certificate. Beyond these, each career path will have their own certifications. Check the careers section of the website for more detailed information on career specific certifications.

Am I guaranteed a job straight away?

As with any career path, candidates must get jobs on their own merit. Bridges Over Water has partnerships with a number of recruiters, and a strong network industry wide. Once training is complete, candidates will have support of BOW and their mentor in job searching. Careers often begin with temporary work. Pre-arranged apprenticeships are likely for chef candidates, and “daywork” or mile-building are extremely common for other careers. These provide entry level income and experience to get started in the job force. For the job searching phase however, it is important for the candidate to have some personal funds in savings for living expenses. The months between an accepted application and relocating for training will be a vital period in which to develop savings for this purpose.

What would I need to bring with me?

There is no special equipment required to bring onboard. In fact, less is more. Once working on board, uniform is provided by the boat, and space on board is always limited. New crew often travel with a mid-sized duffel and a backpack, containing just their personal items.