Maritime Career Market

Maritime Career Market | 3 + 4 September 2026

Enthralling. International. You at the heart of it.

Do you love the ocean, ships and modern technology? Can you imagine tackling something big alongside others and learning something new time and again? We are delighted that you want to look into your career prospects in an industry that is more varied than almost any other: worldwide, the maritime economy transports more than 90% of all handled goods, takes people to their holiday destinations and leads researchers to new discoveries.

On land and at sea, it offers intriguing possibilities on the path to green shipping – meaning that it’s becoming more sustainable, more digital and even more integrated with other industries such as renewable energies. If you want to help shape the future, you’ve come to the right place.

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Training. Academic study. Job profiles.

The Maritime Career Market offers you a varied programme: here, leading companies and universities will inform you about future-oriented training and study opportunities. No other career fairs presents the maritime industry as comprehensively as this one.

The Career Forum provides exciting insights into various topics - from job profiles and starting salaries to work-life balance and on-the-job training opportunities. You can get a good feel for what a maritime career can offer you here.

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Pay nothing – do everything

In 2024, admission was free for pupils, students and teachers.

Interested parties were able to secure free tickets online which, in addition to participation in the Maritime Career Market, also gave them access to SMM, the world's leading trade fair for the maritime industry, on both days.

We're here

There’s plenty going on across the entire trade show site for SMM, with more than 40,000 specialists from all over the world meeting to see the latest technical developments in the maritime industry.

The Maritime Career Market is located on the upper floor of Hall B2. Opposite the Maritime Career Market is the Open Stage. This is also where the Career Forum was held in 2024 and where the Career Happy Hour took place.

Insights from the Career Forum

Reinventing shipping and saving the oceans with artificial intelligence? What works in practice? What exciting tasks are there? What can I learn, become and earn?

With an extensive stage programme, the Career Forum 2024 at the Open Stage was the place where young trainees and industry insiders unpacked and answered questions about hot topics and entry into maritime professions.

Check the Career Forum programme 2024

Career Happy Hour

After an informative first day, the Career Happy Hour provided the perfect opportunity to relax with music, snacks and drinks and reflect on the impressions.

Be there in 2026! Because: Here you can automatically make valuable contacts for your career.

You could get to know these companies and universities in 2024

Get to know even more employers

And away from the Maritime Career Market, too, there’s plenty of focus on career entry and development prospects in the maritime economy.

As one of six theme routes at SMM, the Job Route guided maritime talents to exhibitors from various sectors who all have one thing in common: interesting career offers for specialists and upcoming young talent.

To Job Route

Action part for pupils

Sustainability in shipbuilding - experience technology live and explore the exhibition centre. That was the Pupil's Rally 2024.

It was organised by VSM, the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association. Under the motto ‘Be Part of the Maritime Future’, students from maritime disciplines guided the pupils around SMM and introduced them to companies in the maritime industry and presented training and study opportunities.

Guided tour for students and trainees

Meet HR managers from companies in the fields of electronics, shipbuilding, marine technology, mechanical engineering and marine equipment - specific offers and discussions about starting a career. This was made possible by the 2024 guided tours.

Will you be there next time?

Quiz:

Landlubber or water baby?

It all comes down to your type: answer four questions on your personality and find out which training path in shipping could suit you best. Along with your result, you’ll receive extensive information on training, careers, salary and much more, as well as links to schools, shipping companies and ship types.

An entertaining and informative website from the Berufsbildungsstelle Seeschifffahrt vocational training centre and the Zentralverband Deutscher Schiffsmakler.

To Mach Meer quiz (DE)

Surfing tips for at home

Following your visit to the Maritime Career Market, you can explore the maritime industry and its numerous training and career paths in more detail from your own home. These websites make it easy to find your way around:

Maritime Zukunft

The Maritime Zukunft information portal for the German maritime industry provides an overview of all study courses, vocational careers and numerous maritime companies that may prove relevant for a career in the shipbuilding and marine technology sector.

To Maritime Zukunft website

Port of Hamburg

The Port of Hamburg career portal provides information on internships, training, dual study and direct hire. Here, you’ll get concrete offers from a range of locations in North Germany.

To Port of Hamburg website

Deutscher Schifffahrtstag

On the Deutscher Schifffahrtstag website, you’ll find out a great deal about vocational careers and study courses with a maritime focus. A broad overview with helpful links to additional info.

To Deutscher Schifffahrtstag website

Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland

On the Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland job board, you’ll find jobs in the field of innovation, management, administration and organisation. You’ll also find vacancies for student trainees here.