Marine Team Leader

Job Description and Activities

A Marine Team Leader varies somewhat from team leaders for other operations. A Marine Team Leader holds an equivalent position to a Boatswain onboard a ship. The role of Marine Team Leader usually exists in larger ports and harbours, where a Supervisor may have too many operatives to effectively supervise at once. A Team Leader will have some supervisory responsibilities, such as assigning work to their team, as well as reporting to their supervisor, and the general operations activities associated with their operative role.

• 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 or ferry, marine pilots to vessels awaiting entry to the harbour and ships crew joining vessels berthed outside the harbour.
• 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

• The work involves working outside and on the water. Those working as a Marine Team Leader must be fit and able to work 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 Marine Team Leader can earn around £18,000 to £20,000, depending on the size and location of their port, and their level of experience.

Entry Requirements

Progression to the role of Marine Team Leader is normally from marine operative. 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

Marine Team Leaders are well placed to become marine supervisors, or ship’s masters if working on a ship. 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.