Ships Officers generally work in two departments - Navigation (often called Deck) and Engineering and this begins when you enroll as an officer trainee! The education and training programs for each discipline are a mixture of academic work combined with practical training, at college/university and at sea. Below you can see the epaulettes (the ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used to show job roles (ranks) in the Merchant Navy). Source: MCA, IMO, ISF, ICS, Marisec
