Job Description and Activities
A Marine Operative works on harbour craft used within the port. These craft can include small unpowered workboats, specialist survey craft and high-speed launches used to transport people to vessels outside of the harbour. The type of work required of a marine operative will depend on the type of craft they are working on but would normally include the following:
- Physical tasks – positioning and removing gangways, fuelling craft, rowing unpowered craft, manoeuvring buoys and markers into/out of the water, berthing larger vessels and in some cases operating lock gates.
- Operating craft – marine operatives are normally required to operate craft under supervision. Tasks can include navigation, controlling the engines and operating communications equipment such as radio and radar.
- Transporting people – this can include the movement of passengers from a pier to a cruise ship and the transport of marine pilots to vessels awaiting entry to the harbour.
The Working Environment
- Working hours typically include regular unsocial hours. There may be some on-call requirement and shift or weekend work is very likely.
- Activity involves working outside and on vessels. Marine operatives must be fit and able to work on the water.
- There are more males than females currently employed within the industry, but this is changing.
Salary
Marine Operatives usually start on a wage of around £12,000, which can rise to £25,000. Earnings are often dependent upon the complexity of the equipment stevedores are required to operate and the unsocial hours they are required to work.
Entry Requirements
Many ports will have training programmes in place for new employees, which may include some college study for qualifications such as Efficient Deck Hand (EDH), sea survival, fire fighting and first aid. An N/SVQ level 2 has been developed for Port Operations, with a pathway in Marine Operations. An apprenticeship in Port Operations, with a pathway for Marine Operations, is also currently under development.
Career Development
The natural progression route for a Marine Operative is to become a marine team leader (in larger ports), and from there a marine supervisor. There are two qualifications aimed at preparing employees for these jobs:
- Marine Team Leader – N/SVQ in Port Operations
- Marine Supervisor – N/SVQ in Supervision of Port Operations