Odessa is a cruise city with a record number of seamen among its residents. They have a long-standing tradition; on vacation – they rest at sea, on return – they work at sea. So, where to find a job, if not on cruise ships?
More and more seafarers choose Cruise Management International (CMI), engaged in passenger-ship management. CMI manages 14 vessels with capacity varying from 50 to 2000 passengers. Nine of these are luxury expedition cruise vessels with adventure itineraries to the Arctic and Antarctic, through floating ice and by hot geysers. This is especially interesting considering that CMI’s head office is in sunny Miami. The other five vessels are positioned throughout the world.
But this is not the end of the story! CMI is expanding its activities as well as its managed fleet and is currently awaiting the delivery of four newly-built vessels between 2019 and 2022. These new vessels will be outfitted with the most up-to-date nautical and marine equipment, and therefore the company is looking for first-class crew agencies in Ukraine and particularly in Odessa. Earlier this year the company entered into a new partnership with Alpha Navigation to recruit more seafarers, including Ukrainians.
What we offer
CMI is looking for skilled, experienced and ambitious seamen to hold officer, rating and hotel positions on all vessels, with Ice navigation experience for deck officers being a plus.
The duration of contracts depends on the type of vessel. As a rule, senior officers work three months on/three months off. Tatjana Espinel, CMI VP Crew Operations, said more about conditions: “Expedition ships have two seasons. For example, the contract for an Arctic voyage starts in May until the middle of October. The ship then goes from the Arctic to Antarctic and is prepared for the next season, which usually takes between three weeks to a month. After repositioning, etc., is completed, the Antarctic season begins then ultimately ends in March”.
Stability. Safety. Training
CMI is not a newcomer to passenger-ship expedition market and has been in this niche market for more than 25 years. The present crew consists of devoted seamen, some of whom have been with the Company since its inception as ISP in prior years, where stable work and wages amongst many other factors have kept them loyal to the Company. CMI provides quality working conditions onboard its vessels and implements fully integrated safety and quality assurance standards.
Prior to joining a vessel, all crewmembers receive familiarization training as required by STCW. This Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities training program is prepared in collaboration with STCW-certified outside sources and includes all aspects of Basic Training. The seafarers onboard CMI vessels constitute a well-trained and qualified team.
