Able Seaman Jobs for OPT Students
Able Seaman jobs on OPT are available with maritime employers, shipping companies, and federal agencies like the U.S. Maritime Administration. Your OPT work authorization must match maritime operations directly. STEM OPT extension does not apply to this role, so plan your 12-month timeline carefully before your program end date.
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Get Access To All JobsThe Opportunity:
We are seeking Able Seaman to be onboard our subsea rock installation vessel (SRIV) fleet and is an essential part of the deck crew, plays an active role in deck operations such as docking, undocking, and line handling. The duties will include acting as lookout / standing watch and conducting safety/security rounds. Able seaman is a part of ship’s emergency response team in regard of the ship safety and pollution prevention. This is a staff position directly involved in the vessel operations; they will be required to run/operate excavators and obtain an excavator operator NCCER license. They shall assist with equipment repairs, scheduled and preventive maintenance of deck equipment and rock installation equipment. This is a domestic project–based position, with immediate assignment to our SRIV in the United States. The typical work rotation for the Able Seaman is 4 weeks on duty, followed by 4 weeks off.
About the Company:
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC is the largest provider of dredging, land reclamation and beach nourishment services in the United States, and the only U.S. dredging company with international operations. With the largest and most diverse dredging fleet in the US, Great Lakes serves a wide range of customers including the US Army Corps of Engineers; state, local and foreign governments; and private companies both international and domestic. Headquartered in Houston, TX. Our diverse fleet of equipment includes hopper, mechanical and hydraulic dredges, SRIV and approximately 200 support vessels.
Responsibilities:
- Follow all company safety rules and recommended practices during assigned operations and tasks
- Stand watch as helmsman and lookout
- Stand security-related watches, such as a gangway watch or anchor watch while the ship is not underway
- Perform general maintenance, repair, sanitation and upkeep of material, equipment, and areas in the deck department
- Run and operate the ship excavators to move rock cargo during loading operations and to load hoppers during rock installation operations
- Follow the Reliability Assured Maintenance (RAM) program
- Maintain ship's metal structures by chipping, scraping, cleaning, priming, and painting
- Ensures a clean sanitary environment aboard the vessel
- Clean, maintain, and repair the hull, decks, superstructure and rock installation equipment
- Perform maintenance on lifeboats, rescue boats and life rafts, and emergency and damage control gear
- Lowers or raises lifeboats with winch or falls
- Use emergency, lifesaving, damage control, and safety equipment
- Perform all operations connected with the launching of lifesaving equipment
- Operate deck machinery, such as the windlass or winches while mooring or unmooring, and to operate rock installation equipment
- Use the VHF/UHF portable radio
- Splice lines
- Clean rock holds/hoppers/conveyers
- Lines handling
- Perform lubrication services on deck/rock installation equipment
- Loading supplies
- Removing/burning trash
- Accomplishes all tasks as appropriately assigned or requested
Requirements
- Must possess a valid USCG license of unlimited tonnage for Able Seaman
- Minimum 2 years sea time on vessels
- Merchant Mariners Credentials (MMC)
- Valid TWIC
- Valid U.S. Passport
- Must be able to obtain an NCCER certification to operate excavators
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to use Microsoft Office
Benefits:
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company contributes to benefit plans with the Seafarers International Union that are available to its members such as the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, Seafarers Pension Plan, Seafarers Vacation Plan, Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan as well as other fringe benefit plans
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breast-feeding and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability (including medical condition), military or veteran status, political preference, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or other status protected by law or regulation.
GLDD participates in E-Verify as required by law.
The Opportunity:
We are seeking Able Seaman to be onboard our subsea rock installation vessel (SRIV) fleet and is an essential part of the deck crew, plays an active role in deck operations such as docking, undocking, and line handling. The duties will include acting as lookout / standing watch and conducting safety/security rounds. Able seaman is a part of ship’s emergency response team in regard of the ship safety and pollution prevention. This is a staff position directly involved in the vessel operations; they will be required to run/operate excavators and obtain an excavator operator NCCER license. They shall assist with equipment repairs, scheduled and preventive maintenance of deck equipment and rock installation equipment. This is a domestic project–based position, with immediate assignment to our SRIV in the United States. The typical work rotation for the Able Seaman is 4 weeks on duty, followed by 4 weeks off.
About the Company:
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC is the largest provider of dredging, land reclamation and beach nourishment services in the United States, and the only U.S. dredging company with international operations. With the largest and most diverse dredging fleet in the US, Great Lakes serves a wide range of customers including the US Army Corps of Engineers; state, local and foreign governments; and private companies both international and domestic. Headquartered in Houston, TX. Our diverse fleet of equipment includes hopper, mechanical and hydraulic dredges, SRIV and approximately 200 support vessels.
Responsibilities:
- Follow all company safety rules and recommended practices during assigned operations and tasks
- Stand watch as helmsman and lookout
- Stand security-related watches, such as a gangway watch or anchor watch while the ship is not underway
- Perform general maintenance, repair, sanitation and upkeep of material, equipment, and areas in the deck department
- Run and operate the ship excavators to move rock cargo during loading operations and to load hoppers during rock installation operations
- Follow the Reliability Assured Maintenance (RAM) program
- Maintain ship's metal structures by chipping, scraping, cleaning, priming, and painting
- Ensures a clean sanitary environment aboard the vessel
- Clean, maintain, and repair the hull, decks, superstructure and rock installation equipment
- Perform maintenance on lifeboats, rescue boats and life rafts, and emergency and damage control gear
- Lowers or raises lifeboats with winch or falls
- Use emergency, lifesaving, damage control, and safety equipment
- Perform all operations connected with the launching of lifesaving equipment
- Operate deck machinery, such as the windlass or winches while mooring or unmooring, and to operate rock installation equipment
- Use the VHF/UHF portable radio
- Splice lines
- Clean rock holds/hoppers/conveyers
- Lines handling
- Perform lubrication services on deck/rock installation equipment
- Loading supplies
- Removing/burning trash
- Accomplishes all tasks as appropriately assigned or requested
Requirements
- Must possess a valid USCG license of unlimited tonnage for Able Seaman
- Minimum 2 years sea time on vessels
- Merchant Mariners Credentials (MMC)
- Valid TWIC
- Valid U.S. Passport
- Must be able to obtain an NCCER certification to operate excavators
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to use Microsoft Office
Benefits:
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company contributes to benefit plans with the Seafarers International Union that are available to its members such as the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, Seafarers Pension Plan, Seafarers Vacation Plan, Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan as well as other fringe benefit plans
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breast-feeding and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability (including medical condition), military or veteran status, political preference, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or other status protected by law or regulation.
GLDD participates in E-Verify as required by law.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Able Seaman
Target federally contracted maritime employers
U.S. government shipping contractors and Military Sealift Command operators regularly hire Able Seamen. Federal contracts require documented crew eligibility, so these employers understand work authorization paperwork and are more likely to engage OPT candidates systematically.
Get your USCG Merchant Mariner Credential early
Your Merchant Mariner Credential from the U.S. Coast Guard is non-negotiable for any Able Seaman position. Apply before your OPT start date so credential processing delays don't eat into your authorized work window unnecessarily.
Confirm your OPT is directly related to your major
DSOs require your Able Seaman role to relate directly to your degree field, such as marine transportation or nautical science. Document how your daily duties connect to your program before your employer submits any employment verification paperwork.
Prioritize employers with established HR processes
Large shipping lines and established maritime staffing agencies have HR teams familiar with I-9 compliance and OPT EAD cards. Smaller vessel operators may not, so ask directly about their process for hiring international crew members on work authorization.
Account for vessel deployment in your OPT timeline
Extended voyages can leave you offshore when USCIS correspondence arrives or EAD renewal deadlines approach. Confirm your employer has a shore-side contact who can handle time-sensitive immigration mail and respond to any USCIS requests on your behalf.
Report employer changes to your DSO within 10 days
If you switch vessels, operators, or crewing agencies during OPT, you must update your employment record through your DSO within 10 days. Failing to report changes is a common OPT violation that can jeopardize your status and future visa eligibility.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students legally work as an Able Seaman in the U.S.?
Yes, F-1 students on post-completion OPT can work as an Able Seaman, provided the role is directly related to their degree program, such as marine transportation or maritime operations. You must hold a valid EAD card before your first day aboard any vessel. Your DSO must authorize the employment in SEVIS, and you must also hold a valid U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential.
Does an Able Seaman job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Able Seaman is not a STEM-designated occupation under the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT extension list. F-1 students in this role are limited to the standard 12-month OPT period. If your degree is in a STEM field but your job is classified as Able Seaman, the role itself, not your degree, determines STEM OPT eligibility.
How do I find maritime employers willing to hire OPT students as Able Seamen?
Browse Migrate Mate to find maritime employers actively open to OPT candidates. When reaching out, lead with your Merchant Mariner Credential status and EAD validity dates so employers can quickly assess your eligibility. Federal maritime contractors and established shipping lines tend to have more structured onboarding processes for international crew members on work authorization than smaller operators.
What happens to my OPT status if my vessel is deployed internationally for an extended period?
Your OPT authorization remains tied to your U.S. employer, not your physical location. However, re-entering the U.S. after international deployment requires a valid visa stamp in your passport alongside your EAD. If your F-1 visa stamp has expired, you will need to apply for a new one at a U.S. consulate abroad before returning, which can create significant delays.
What documents should I carry aboard a vessel to prove my work authorization as an Able Seaman on OPT?
Carry your EAD card, valid passport, I-20 with OPT authorization notation, and your U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential. Employers complete Form I-9 using your EAD as the work authorization document. Keep digital copies stored securely off the vessel in case documents are lost during a voyage. Your DSO can issue a replacement I-20 if needed.
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