- Are the effects of all activities connected to recreational boating eco-friendly?
Given the proximity to the water and importance of clean oceans for the enjoyment of boating, users and professionals in the industry have a strong awareness of the environmental pressures on the ocean. The environmental transformation of the sector is a priority, which includes low, and zero-emission engines, circular economy, alternative fuels, waste treatment, renovation of infrastructure alongside many other areas of attention and is creating an increasing number of employment opportunities.
- Are there any special Covid-19 restrictions in the “recreational boating subsector?
There are still a number of restrictions in place to avoid the spread of COVID-19, including in the boating sector. Specific health and safety protected were put in place to ensure that professionals and consumers are protected. These may vary between different companies and countries.
- Are there internship/job opportunities in recreational boating related to quality management, as an auditor, e.g., HACCP system?
The HACCP system is more relevant for other parts of the coastal and maritime tourism sector, such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes as well as cruise ships. However, there are several audits and quality management systems in place across different sub-sectors of recreational boating. These include ISO quality management schemes, environmental certification, health, and safety, as well as conformity assessment of recreational boats according to CE rules and standards, as well as many more. There is certainly something for you in the sector.
- Can I apply online and work from home?
You can certainly apply from your home country. The job environment can differ greatly depending on your area of activity. As the sector covers manufacturing and services, there is a huge variety of work environments. Some of these can certainly be carried out at home partially or fully.
- Can I find free training in recreational boating?
The BlueGeneration website provides a lot of information about training opportunities for jobs in the recreational boating industry.
- Can I receive funding for accommodation if I emigrate from my country and work in one of the countries included in the project?
This is difficult to answer as it will depend on your employer, who may provide accommodation as part of the salary package.
- Do I need special training to become a security officer on a recreational boating marina and where can I find it?
There may be some additional elements to learn and be aware of for a security officer position in a marina for recreational boats. However, a general security officer training will be a good basis. The question on whether you need any more than the usual training will be up to each marina operator or the security company working for them.
- Do people who work in recreational boating need to have insurance and if yes, is the insurance obligatory in this sector?
There are many job profiles in recreational boating, some of which will require additional insurance. However, this is difficult to answer generally, and you should discuss with your (potential) employer who can advise you.
- How big can be the boat I can govern with a skipper’s diploma from Greece?
Usually, professional skipper diplomas allow you to handle a recreational boat up to 24 m with a certain number of passengers. Beyond 24m, you may need a captain’s license. It is something to check with the authority or training institute that manages the skippers’ diplomas in Greece.
- How much time is the average working day on a boat?
This depends very much on the type of position and time of the year. The work in the recreational boating industry, while in Europe, is concentrated on the summer season where the working hours will likely be longer. If you are sailing with the boat as crew, there may be worked to carry out the entire day. When you are in the harbour, this may be a bit more relaxed.
- I am a computer science graduate; in which branch of recreational boating can I look for a job?
There will be IT jobs in the entire recreational boating sector and these sorts of skills are in high demand. This could be in a marina, boat yard, charter company, dealer, or many other sub-sectors of the industry. There are also some exciting digital start-ups in the sector that could be of interest to you.
- I am unskilled, in which branch of recreational boating subsector am I more likely to find a job?
There are many positions that train “on-the-job” and could be interesting for you. You can check out the BlueGeneration careers platform to find out more.
- I’m studying to become a data scientist, what possibilities I have for employment in the industry?
There will plenty of opportunities for you in the recreational boating sector and these sorts of skills are in high demand. This could be in a marina company, boat yard, charter company, dealer, or many other sub-sectors of the industry where work is being done to get the most out of data. There are also some exciting digital start-ups in the sector that could be of interest to you, as well as NGOs and academic institutions doing research in the wider marine science area if that is of interest to you.
- Is there demand for security officers on board?
There will certainly be security officers on larger yachts, but very unlikely on smaller boats.
- What dangers/risks might I face when working at recreational boating subsector?
There are no specific dangers to working in the recreational boating sector. Health and safety guidelines and measures will be in place to support you and avoid any dangers.
- What diploma do I need to handle a crane on a recreational boating marina?
You should check this with your potential employer or a marina to see if there are any specific diplomas or trainings that you should have completed beforehand.
- What jobs in Blue Economy sectors can you get after majoring in management?
There are plenty of management positions across different areas, from marketing to sales, HR and all the classical positions you studied in management. This could be in a marina company, boat yard, charter company, dealer, or many other sub-sectors of the industry where management skills are in high demand.
- What kind of touristic boats exist?
There are many different types of recreational boats for touristic purposes, starting from rental of jet skis, kayaks, SUPs for rental to larger motorboats and sailing yachts that are chartered for one or several weeks at a time.
- Where can a start-up company related with recreational boating find funding opportunities?
There are opportunities for private investment, from VC to business angels and many others. On the public side, there will certainly be many opportunities at national or regional level. Some EU funds, like the recovery and resilience funds and structural finds are also managed at national level. The European level, which we know very well, has several direct funding schemes available. Which one is most relevant depends on your portfolio of activities. This includes
- Blue Invest: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/maritimeforum/en/frontpage/1451
- Horizon Europe: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
- EEA Grants: https://eeagrants.org/
- And many more. The European Commission has also recently published a dedicated Funding Guide for the Tourism sector: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/tourism/funding-guide_en
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