Your ultimate guide to marine welding jobs

Welding jobs can be grueling, but if you are the kind of person who prefers jobs with a manly demeanor, why not consider applying for marine welding jobs. There are so many motivating factors, one being that marine welders are always in demand which means that you will always have job security. Secondly, marine welding jobs are accompanied by fat paychecks that definitely make all the hard work to be worth the trouble.

What are marine welding jobs?

A marine welder is a professional who uses his/her welding skills to cut and weld in aquatic environments. The role requires the candidates to use both their welding and diving skills to effectively lay down strong structures, often in tough oceanic conditions. According to the underwater welding code, a marine welder is a “certified welder who is also a commercial diver”.

What does a marine welder do?

It is easy to assume that everything we need is always on land. As this is not the case, important structures must be set on lakes, seas, and under oceans to help with human survival as well as boost economic growth. Marine welders help create structures such as bridges, ships, nuclear plants, mining structures, pipelines, oil and gas facilities and many others, most of which require welders to perform in open waters.

On top of these duties, marine welders must at all times keenly observe safety procedures while accomplishing the requirements of the welding project in any marine environment.

Where are marine welders needed?

Marine welding jobs can be found in several environments including oil and gas rigs, construction, mining, video production, hazardous material control, and diving instruction. All these industries are always on the lookout for individuals who can use their welding skills to efficiently lay out pipes, build off-the-shore structures or dismantle them alongside many other tasks which might not be directly related to welding such as underwater photography and recording.

Marine jobs are exclusive to coastal locations. Individuals wanting to work as marine welders must, therefore, relocate to these areas.

How do you become a marine welder?

Although the requirements usually vary with the employer, most companies that offer marine welding jobs will require the candidate to submit both a welder and a commercial diver certification. The candidate must, therefore, attend certified institutions that offer these courses to be eligible for a marine welder position.

In addition to the certifications, the candidate must also demonstrate natural tact when it comes to readiness to adapt to any environment.

Can I get a marine welder job with a SCUBA diver certification?

Absolutely not! This is because some critical aspects of commercial diving are not covered by the SCUBA diving certification.

How old do you have to be to become a marine welder

Although there is no specific age requirement for marine welding jobs, the candidates must meet all the requirements as stated out by the employer. Some employers can also decide to specify age requirements in their job descriptions.

Marine welder daily duties

Besides cutting and welding, daily duties of a marine welder involve:

• Selecting welding consumables such as electrodes and stingers
• Identifying weld defects that could compromise the stability of structures
• Assembling power sources
• Performing non-destructive testing
• Determining whether materials can be welded on or not
• Surveying water depths for potential obstacles
• Salvage lost/sunken equipment

Marine welder skills

The following are skills that marine welder should possess

• Project management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Great team workers
• Highly motivated and alert individuals
• Ability to make quick, sound decisions that could prevent potential loss
• Physical strength
• An understanding of the basic welding and diving safety protocol
• Ability to carry out non-destructive testing
• Ability to work under minimal supervision

Marine welder salary

Since there are many factors associated with the occupation, it is not possible to generalize the salaries. The remuneration for each welder is influenced by a number of factors such as the diving methods, danger level attached to the project, the project duration, the employer, and the employees welding and dive grade. According to statistics, however, starter marine welders can bag hourly salaries ranging from $18-$20. This salary increases with experience, of course.

Now that you know what marine welding jobs are all about, it’s time to get that job search on the road!