Listings - Marine

Marine

So, what's it all about?

Have a look at a map of the world. Notice anything that makes Britain different from most other countries? Yep, we're entirely surrounded by water.

Being an island nation, we Brits have always taken to the seas. It was our seafaring prowess that built the British Empire. Explorers sailed off to 'discover' new countries. Merchants traded goods over the seas. The all-powerful British Navy patrolled the world's waters. Our shipbuilding industry created the biggest boats the world had ever seen. Britannia, without doubt, ruled the waves.

Things are a little different these days, but the marine industry - that is, anything to do with boats - still plays a key part in our lives. 95% of Britain's international trade comes and goes by sea, while millions of passengers leave and arrive at our ports every year. Boats play a part in our leisure lives as well: rowing and sailing are among the few sports where we still produce world beaters, while pleasure boats, yachts and sailing are more popular than ever.

The fleet of ships that transports goods and people over the seas is called the Merchant Navy (as opposed to the Royal Navy, who fight pirates with canons and muskets. What? They don't do that any more?). They include massive container ships and oil tankers, cruise ships and car ferries, and specialist craft that might, for example, support offshore oil rigs or lay undersea cables.

Work on board is broadly divided between two departments. The deck department is in charge of navigating and 'driving' the ship, while the engineering department makes sure the engines and all the machinery are running smoothly. Either way, it's a far cry from your typical office job: you could be at sea for months at a time, although you'll get plenty of leave when you're back on shore.

If you're more land lubber than salty seadog, there are still plenty of jobs available in the marine sector. Port operators make sure boats moor in the right place, and that everything, and everyone, gets on and off safely and efficiently. Engineers service boats and their equipment, which includes a lot of high-tech electronic stuff.

Shipbuilding is an important industry, too. Gone are the days of vast shipyards constructing giant ocean liners, but we still produce plenty of yachts, powerboats, sailing dinghies, jet skis and the like. The boating industry is growing: there's a particular shortage of skilled craftspeople and technicians at the moment.

What qualities do I need?

be physically fit
have good practical and technical skills
not be afraid of hard work
be prepared to spend long periods away from home or to work antisocial hours
be a good team worker (if you're not, your shipmates will make you walk the plank. Maybe.)
have IT skills
have basic numeracy skills
understand engineering principles
communicate well with other people
be disciplined

Vital Statistics

Hours: A job at sea could mean being away for months at a time - but you'll get long holidays when you're back on shore. Port work involves some antisocial shifts.

Environment: You're likely to be working outside doing some hard manual work. Don't expect the same luxury as the first-class passengers on ships.

Location: Most jobs are found - want to guess? - in coastal areas. The south coast, the south west, Wales, East Anglia and the west coast of Scotland are particular hot-spots. There are also excellent opportunities to see the world.

Apprenticeships in this sector

These are the Apprenticeships currently available in this sector. For more information and for details of the Apprenticeship framework, contact the Sector Skills Council listed after each.