Your seafaring crew mates will need absolute trust in you if they are to be your colleagues. Write a seaman cover letter that will make them confident in your experience.
Published: July 27, 2021 Last Updated: September 15, 2024 Average rating people’ve already rated it
As an able seaman’s daily work directly impacts the lives and livelihoods of their crew mates, how they go about their work is as important as what they do. Safety is paramount in many situations, so a seaman cover letter should convey their approach to their work as well as their previous experience. They need to show that they can be trusted. A series of interviews will be central to making this decision, but the first evidence should be provided in the cover letter.
A seaman's career can contain many unexpected perils, so the seaman cover letter can tell a few of the less common stories from your career and show that you have what it takes when adversity hits. Simply repeating the duties of the role will not impress anyone. Your cover letter should demonstrate adaptability, calmness under pressure, and an iron will to get through even the toughest of situations. Telling the unusual stories shows that you are someone who is ready for the unexpected.
After nine years working as an able seaman on fishing vessels along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts — interspersed with off-season, on-deck adventures in far-flung locales —I’m seeking a new opportunity to pursue my oceanic passions from a UK home base. This has led me to London Marine Consultants, where it seems my qualifications are exceptionally well-matched to your needs and expectations of a seaman.
Initially learning the ropes as a crew member aboard halibut fishing ships in the Gulf of Alaska, I ultimately became knowledgeable about everything it takes to operate and maintain all of the equipment and machinery required on a fishing vessel fleet.
Shrimp fishing off Newfoundland’s northeast coast and the Scotian shelf, south to Maine, reinforced everything I’d learned on the Pacific side, while toughening me to the challenges of unpredictable storms and water condition changes. Although equipment and techniques varied from one ship to another, the tight organization and teamwork with crewmates was always the same. Whether it was a missing piece of hardware or waterlogged lunch fixings, I acquired a reputation for being a positive and practical solution seeker.
Northern winters sometimes found me enjoying working vacations in Mexico or Costa Rica, with stints on charter sport fishing excursions. On other occasions, I volunteered with marine conservation groups on missions to thwart illegal whaling and shark finning in protected waters. The threat of aggressive resistance, or even arrest for trespassing by shady government officials, was omnipresent.
My familiarity with modern technology is second to none, having worked on boats with the latest installations to improve our operation. It was partly to my credit that new safety equipment was adopted to reduce minor accidents and injuries by 75%.
In ship captain support roles, I have extensive navigation experience and have logged hundreds of hours steering a 70-foot fishing vessel, while possessing all required licences.
As I learn more about the mission and operations of London Marine Consultants, new thoughts come to mind about my potential to contribute as a reliable, dedicated seaman with the level of expertise that would benefit your company. I hope we’ll be able to meet soon and discuss this possibility in more detail.
Copy to clipboardEvery seaman has plenty of stories to tell, but how should you structure the format of the seaman cover letter and which stories can you tell in which parts? Every story needs a compelling beginning, solid middle, and memorable end, and a seaman cover letter is no different. For this reason, how a cover letter is structured is similar for most roles.
Here is a suggested structure for a seaman cover letter:
Every section of your cover letter should contain different parts of your seaman experience.
A one-page cover letter is standard for any industry or function. Being a seaman doesn’t usually involve much writing, so it may take some practice to condense your story into one page.
Need more inspiration? View our other related cover letter examples:
Writing a cover letter is more involved than just telling a couple of your stories. There are more choices to make than you might think. Read our article on how to write a cover letter.
After creating the header and addressing the hiring manager, you should think about the career story that will truly set you apart from your competition. Where do you start?
As teamwork is such a key requirement for a seaman, showing that you have years of experience in cooperating with others (in various settings) is a great way to start the letter. Your employer will not be looking for a lone wolf. Include how you have worked with your previous crew mates to do your daily jobs. Don't make your cover letter all about you. How you start a cover letter will set the tone for the rest of your application.
Working with others to solve problems and consistently doing your part in the team should be essential ingredients of any seaman cover letter. Personality fit will play a bigger part in the seaman hiring process as you will be spending a lot of time with your crew mates. Be yourself and you will find a like-minded group of colleagues.
I am eager to apply for the seaman role, bringing over five years of hands-on experience in maritime operations. My background in navigation, ship maintenance, and safety protocols, coupled with a strong commitment to teamwork and efficiency, aligns perfectly with your company's standards. With a proven track record of reliability and dedication, I am confident in my ability to contribute to the success and safety of your maritime operations.
I like going to sea and visiting all the different ports. I enjoy the solitude that life at sea brings. It’s just me, my cabin, and the friendly seabirds. Bliss. I do not get particularly sea sick and am not a fussy eater; galley food is never the best.
Share your passion for your job from those very first few lines.
Adaptable cover letter introduction exampleAfter nine years working as an able seaman on fishing vessels along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts — interspersed with off-season, on-deck adventures in far-flung locales —I’m seeking a new opportunity to pursue my oceanic passions from a UK home base. This has led me to London Marine Consultants, where it seems my qualifications are exceptionally well-matched to your needs and expectations of a seaman.
Copy to clipboardDon’t fall into the trap of simply repeating the job description in your seaman cover letter. The middle part of the letter should draw the reader into your story and explain just how you make your unique difference with what you do on the boat. As mentioned earlier, the safety and wellbeing of your crew mates depends on how you do things as well as what you do. Give context to what you share and quantify your exploits wherever possible.
While a cover letter should be written from a first-person perspective, roles that involve a lot of teamwork should also mention the achievements of those around them in a cover letter. A seaman is a cog in an incredibly slick machine, so when you credit others during your job search, you are tipping your hat to the fact that you are only part of a whole.
Hop onto the website of your future employer. Find out more about them and adapt the language in your cover letter to match theirs, if possible. Think about the type of work you will be doing and demonstrate that you have what it takes.
It might seem obvious, but it is important to mention some of the crucial personal qualities that every seaman should possess, and how your overall personality aligns with the culture of the crew and organization. Maybe delve into your motivations for those long sea voyages or give an insight into your competitive nature. Going to sea is a tough job on many levels, so your future employer will want to know why exactly you do it.
Adaptable cover letter middle part exampleInitially learning the ropes as a crew member aboard halibut fishing ships in the Gulf of Alaska, I ultimately became knowledgeable about everything it takes to operate and maintain all of the equipment and machinery required on a fishing vessel fleet.
Shrimp fishing off Newfoundland’s northeast coast and the Scotian shelf, south to Maine, reinforced everything I’d learned on the Pacific side, while toughening me to the challenges of unpredictable storms and water condition changes. Although equipment and techniques varied from one ship to another, the tight organization and teamwork with crewmates was always the same. Whether it was a missing piece of hardware or waterlogged lunch fixings, I acquired a reputation for being a positive and practical solution seeker.
Northern winters sometimes found me enjoying working vacations in Mexico or Costa Rica, with stints on charter sport fishing excursions. On other occasions, I volunteered with marine conservation groups on missions to thwart illegal whaling and shark finning in protected waters. The threat of aggressive resistance, or even arrest for trespassing by shady government officials, was omnipresent.
My familiarity with modern technology is second to none, having worked on boats with the latest installations to improve our operation. It was partly to my credit that new safety equipment was adopted to reduce minor accidents and injuries by 75%.
In ship captain support roles, I have extensive navigation experience and have logged hundreds of hours steering a 70-foot fishing vessel, while possessing all required licences.
Copy to clipboardSum up your cover letter by reiterating your strongest skills. The last lines of the seaman cover letter should finish on the best possible note. Ask for the interview in a polite and non-presumptuous way. If your application is a good fit, there is nothing wrong with saying that you are looking forward to a potential meeting and learning more about the details of the role.
Adaptable cover letter conclusion and sign-off exampleAs I learn more about the mission and operations of London Marine Consultants, new thoughts come to mind about my potential to contribute as a reliable, dedicated seaman with the level of expertise that would benefit your company. I hope we’ll be able to meet soon and discuss this possibility in more detail.
Copy to clipboardEnd by signing off with your name. End with something formal along the lines of “Yours sincerely.” Formality should be observed wherever possible.
There is considerable opportunity to start a career as a seaman with no previous experience. Consider these points:
You will not be the only person that is applying with little experience, so don’t be apologetic about it. Use this as an opportunity to describe your fit the role, even without previous experience. These points will help balance out the lack of direct experience in your cover letter and illustrate your potential, giving you the best chance to land the job.
A seaman cover letter should mention your relevant skills, but it is your personality and motivations that can shine through in your cover letter.
In each section of your cover letter, ensure your passion for the role is evident.
Try our cover letter builder to experiment with the look and content.
