Job Description and Activities
A Stevedoring Team Leader is a stevedore selected to ‘look after’ a group of 4 or 5 other stevedores and report to the stevedoring supervisor. The role of Stevedoring Team Leader usually exists in larger ports and harbours, where a supervisor may have too many operatives to effectively supervise at once. A Stevedoring Team Leader will have some supervisory responsibilities, such as assigning work to their team, alongside reporting to their supervisor, and the general operations activities associated with their stevedoring role.
- Physical tasks – the loading or unloading cargo into freight containers, placing passengers’ baggage into trailers, securing containers on the deck of a ship and the tying and untying of ships’ ropes when arriving or leaving the port.
- Driving vehicles – stevedores are often required to drive two sorts of vehicle – those used to transport cargo within the port and vehicles travelling through the port as cargo. Vehicles used to transport cargo can include large trucks and trailers, forklifts and electric trolleys. Vehicles travelling through the port as cargo can include high performance cars, combine harvesters and army tanks.
- Operating equipment – whilst some ships can be loaded and unloaded using trucks, other ships need to be worked using highly technical specialist equipment. This equipment can include ship to shore cranes for containers and general cargo, conveyor belts/suction pipes for grain and pipelines for oil tankers.
- Supervisory – Team Leaders will have some supervisory activities, such as assigning activities to their team, ensuring the work is done safely and on time, and reporting to their supervisor.
The Working Environment
- Those working as a Stevedoring Team Leader must be fit and able to work at height and on the water.
- Team Leaders must have strong leadership qualities to lead their team, and good communication skills for reporting to their supervisor.
- There are more males than females currently employed within the industry, but this is changing.
Salary
A Stevedoring Team Leader can earn around £20,000 to £35,000, depending on the size and location of their port, and their level of experience.
Entry Requirements
Becoming a Stevedoring Team Leader usually requires experience as a stevedore. A Team Leading pathway has been designed for the N/SVQ in Port Operations level 2. Anybody wishing to become a team leader can either complete the qualification on this pathway, or if they have already completed the qualification with a different pathway, do the additional team leading units.
Career Development
Team Leaders are well placed to become supervisors for their area of operations. Promotion is usually based on experience, but a level 3 N/SVQ in Supervision of Port Operations is a useful and respected qualification for supervisors.