СовКомФлот

Career at SCF

The performance and safety of the maritime fleet, particularly operating in challenging conditions, largely depends on people — vessel crews and shore-based personnel. Their professionalism has always been and continues to be the cornerstone of Sovcomflot success. Hence, the preservation and development of the workforce is a crucial priority for the company. 

Over many years, Sovcomflot has consistently remained amongst the most appealing and dependable employers in the Russian shipping industry. The company is committed to rigorously fulfilling its obligations towards employees, with a strong focus on motivating and developing its staff. The retention rate of personnel is consistently high consistently high, with over 95 percent of seafarers renewing their contracts with the company each year.

Staff development

Sovcomflot fosters the professional development of its employees and provides them with opportunities for growth within the company. This includes promoting candidates from within the company for open positions.

The company has established an in-house training system for seafarers, which includes two training centres located in St. Petersburg and Novorossiysk. Both centres are equipped in line with international industry standards. Centre staff designs training programs to address specific operational needs of the company and prepare crews for specific areas of navigation. 

The company actively enrolls its employees in advanced training courses, including those aimed at expanding high-demand skills, and regularly hosts seminars to facilitate the exchange of professional experience between fleet officers. Sovcomflot encourages its employees to pursue further education to deepen their knowledge of advanced technologies in fleet operation.

Young professionals 

Sovcomflot systematically prepares personnel for its fleet in partnership with leading Russian maritime universities: Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping (St. Petersburg); Admiral Ushakov Maritime State University (Novorossiysk), and Admiral Nevelskoy Maritime State University (Vladivostok). This collaboration meets the company’s future needs for young professionals and allows filling of anticipated vacancies that open up during staff rotation.

Sovcomflot invites university cadets to complete their required sea practice onboard SCF vessels and runs targeted training programmes for key specialists (navigators, engineers, and electrical engineers) in line with the company's requirements. Cadets enrolled in targeted training programmes are offered priority job placement with Sovcomflot upon their graduation.

In addition, Sovcomflot arranges internships for teaching staff and assists universities in upgrading and renewing their basic infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

Social support for personnel 

Sovcomflot places a high emphasis on the social provision for its employees. The elevated standards of social protection for seafarers set by Sovcomflot act as a benchmark for many Russian shipowners and are being successfully adopted across the Russian maritime industry, bolstered by Sovcomflot’s collaboration with the Seafarers' Union of Russia.

SCF fleet personnel are covered by two corporate pension programmes, designed for different staff categories.