Autor izlaže čimbenike privlačnosti rada na moru ili kopnu iz tri empirijska istraživanja provedena 1974., 1979. i 1992. godine. Podacima tih istraživanja dokazuje se tvrdnja da su za ostanak u pomorskom zanimanju presudne sile privlačnosti radnog mjesta na brodu. Te sile izlažu se kroz pojmove opredijeljenosti za plovidbu, napuštanje službe, stupanj aktivnosti ili vrijeme plovidbe za registracije, zadovoljstvo poslom na brodu, stupanj hijerarhijskih odnosa i način provođenja slobodnog vremena na brodu. Based on the three empiric researches carried out in 1974,1979 and 1992, the author aims at presenting the factors attracting jobs at sea or ashore. The results obtained have proved that the attractiveness of a job at sea is the crucial force that influences seamen to remain in the maritime navigation service. These forces are set forth through the notions of their commitment to navigation, of giving up the service, of the activity level or time spent at sea needed to obtain a certificate of competence, of being satisfied with the work on board a ship, of the hierarchical relations on board a ship and of the way in which off-time on board a ship can be spent.