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Marine craftsperson

  • Hours

    37-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £13,000 + per year



The work

Marine craftspeople work for shipbuilding and ship repair and conversion companies. In smaller marinas and boatyards, they might work for boat-building, repair and maintenance firms. Their work could range from building hulls on sea-going vessels, to restoring the fixtures and fittings on traditional narrowboats.

As a marine craftsperson, you would use carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding and painting skills, as well as more traditional maritime craft skills like rigging and sailmaking. You would work with materials ranging from wood and steel plate, to glass- or fibre-reinforced plastics (GRP/FRP).

On smaller marine craft, your duties could include:

  • marking out construction materials using engineering design templates
  • welding, cutting and shaping parts or sections
  • assembling boat sections and pipework
  • installing engines
  • 'fitting out' the vessel with furnishings, navigation and communications equipment, heating and lighting and, if appropriate, rigging.

In a dockyard or shipyard, you are more likely to work on larger ships, tankers, and oil and gas platforms for offshore sites.


Hours

You would work between 37 and 40 hours a week. Urgent repair work may mean you have to work weekends or shifts, including nights.

Some shipbuilding and boat-building can be done under cover in large indoor sheds, but most of the work would be outside in all weathers. Your working conditions could be cramped and dirty at times, and some jobs may involve working at heights.


Income

  • Starting salaries are between £13,000 and £17,000 a year
  • A qualified craftsperson can earn between £18,000 and £23,000
  • A senior craftsperson can earn more than £25,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You may be able to get into this career as a marine industry apprentice. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

Employers will most likely ask for GCSEs (grades A-C) in subjects like maths, English, science, engineering, design and technology, or equivalent qualifications.

As an alternative, you may be able to take a general engineering college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for this job. Courses include BTEC Certificates and Diplomas in Mechanical, Electrical or Electronic Engineering. You could also take a higher-level qualification, such as a HNC or HND in Marine Engineering.

You may find qualifications and/or experience in other craft areas such as welding, joinery or plumbing useful when looking for work.

Some colleges based in traditional boatbuilding areas may run introductory courses in marine crafts. These are mainly in the south-west, along the south coast and East Anglia. You could also check with inland and coastal leisure marinas for possible opportunities. Unless you live in or near to these areas, you may need to relocate to find work.

For more information about careers in marine engineering, see the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), British Marine Federation and SEMTA websites.

For more general information about engineering as a career, see the Tomorrow's Engineers website.


Training and development

Your employer would usually train you on-the-job. You may also be encouraged to take various work-based or knowledge qualifications, such as:

  • NVQ Engineering Maintenance Level 3
  • NVQ Marine Engineering levels 2 and 3
  • BTEC Certificate/Diploma in Engineering (Operations and Maintenance)
  • City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma in Marine Construction, Systems Engineering and Maintenance levels 2 and 3
  • EAL Certificate in Engineering.

You can find more information about relevant qualifications on the British Marine Federation (BMF) website, as well as details of training providers offering courses such as:

  • laminates and composites
  • liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
  • electrics and plumbing
  • rope/wire splicing.

Visit the BMF website for more information.

You can find details of higher education courses and information about professional development training on the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology website.


Skills and knowledge

  • excellent practical skills
  • good teamworking skills
  • the ability to solve problems
  • good maths and IT skills
  • the ability to understand technical plans and drawings
  • good communication skills
  • a reasonable level of fitness
  • some knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) packages if involved in boat design.

More information

SEMTA (Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK) (Opens new window)
14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0845 643 9001
www.semta.org.uk

Tomorrow's Engineers (Opens new window)
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: careers@engineeringuk.com
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk

Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (Opens new window)
Athlone Wing
Old Building
Great Horton Road
Bradford
BD7 1AY
Tel: 01274 436485
www.theukrc.org/wise

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) (Opens new window)
Aldgate House
33 Aldgate High Street
London
EC3N 1EN
www.imarest.org.uk

British Marine Federation (Opens new window)
Marine House
Thorpe Lea Road
Egham
Surrey
TW20 8BF
www.britishmarine.co.uk


Opportunities

You would find opportunities for work on larger vessels mainly in the shipyards of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. Jobs in boatbuilding and repair tend to be on a much smaller scale and are found in coastal areas, especially around the south-west, south-east and East Anglia.

With experience and qualifications, you could work your way up to technician level, move into marine design or specialist equipment sales and support. You could use your skills to transfer into the wider engineering or construction engineering industries.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The transport equipment manufacturing industry is part of the engineering manufacturing, science and mathematics sector, represented by Semta Sector Skills Council. This sector also includes the following industries: automotive manufacture; electronics and electrical equipment manufacture; mechanical equipment manufacture; metals; and science. Across the sector as a whole, the workforce comprises approximately 2 million people, working across around 75,000 companies. UK engineering and science turnover is over £250 billion. British engineering exports amount to 37% of total UK exports of goods and services. The UK is Europe’s top location for investment in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development.

The UK transport equipment manufacturing industry comprises:

  • Aerospace – covers the manufacture of a range of aircraft and spacecraft (such as satellites), as well as the manufacture of essential mechanical and electrical components (such as rotors on helicopters, avionics/aircraft electrical systems and jet engines). It also includes companies that employ people to maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft.
  • Marine – covers companies that employ people involved in designing, developing, building and maintaining large cargo ships, ferries, warships, and fishing boats. Companies that construct floating and submersible drilling platforms, barges and floating docks are also included.
  • Other transport – covers a smaller number of employers that employ people to manufacture railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock, motorcycles and bicycles and invalid carriages.

Key facts:

  • Aerospace:
    • There are an estimated 96,800 people employed in the industry, across 720 companies in Great Britain.
    • The greatest concentrations of employment in the aerospace industry are in the North West, South West and East Midlands.
    • 97% of the workforce is full‐time.
  • Marine:
    • There are an estimated 33,600 people employed in the industry, across nearly 1,620 companies in Great Britain.
    • The greatest concentrations of employment in the marine industry are in the South West, Scotland and the North West and South East of England.
    • Boatbuilding and leisure marine equipment manufacture is a growth sector in the UK.
    • Some powerboat builders export more than 90% of production.
    • 96% of the workforce is full‐time.
  • Other transport:
    • There are an estimated 14,800 people employed in the industry, across nearly 600 companies in Great Britain.
    • The greatest concentrations of employment in the other transport are in the East Midlands and West Midlands.
    • 95% of the workforce is full‐time.

Jobs in the industry range from: aerospace engineer, design engineer, marine engineer, mechanical engineer, naval architect, laboratory technician, manufacturing production manager, quality control inspector, marine craftsperson, sheet metal worker, welder, shipwright/riveter/plater, labourers in process and plant operations.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are an estimated 20,200 employees in the regional workforce, in around 240 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (14,900) and the second largest was other transport (3,700). There is a total requirement of 2,690 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Statistical Process Control (SPC). The largest industries in terms of employment are metal products, mechanical equipment, aerospace and automotive. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Derby City, Leicester City, South Derbyshire, Charnwood, Hinckley and Bosworth and Ashfield.

East of England – There are an estimated 8,200 employees in the regional workforce, in 360 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (6,400) and the second largest was marine (1,400). There is a total requirement of 2,740 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Material Requirement Planning (MRP11); tool setting; mechanical engineering; and carpentry/woodwork. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, Luton and Basildon.

London – There are an estimated 2,700 employees in the regional workforce, in 140 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in other transport manufacture (1,400) and the second largest was aerospace (1,200). There is a total requirement of 465 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Barking and Dagenham, Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow.

North East – There are an estimated 1,100 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 40 companies. The largest group of employees are employed in marine companies (1,100). There is a total requirement of 850 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: assembly line/production robotics; and metal workers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and Sedgefield.

North West – There are an estimated 28,500 employees in the regional workforce, in 260 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (22,300). There is a total requirement of 4,000 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; welding skills; and fabrication. The largest industries in terms of employment are metal products, mechanical equipment and aerospace. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Fylde, Knowsley, Crewe and Nantwich, Stockport, Oldham and Preston.

South East – There are an estimated 16,600 employees in the regional workforce, in 640 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (10,600) and the second largest was marine (4,900). There is a total requirement of 2,185 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Computer Aided Engineering (CAE); Computer Aided Design (CAD); Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); Materials Requirement Planning (MRP); Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); and aircraft engineering. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around West Berkshire, Basingstoke and Deane, Milton Keynes, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, Crawley and Medway.

South West – There are an estimated 30,500 employees in the regional workforce, in 480 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (17,700) and the second largest was marine (11,500). There is a total requirement of 6,530 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; and aircraft engineering. There are above average concentrations of employment in the marine and aerospace industries. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Stroud, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon, South Somerset, Poole and Plymouth.

West Midlands – There are an estimated 9,300 employees in the regional workforce, in 230 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (5,700) and the second largest was other transport (2,700). There is a total requirement of 1,110 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: multi‐skills. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Coventry, Dudley and Telford and Wrekin.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 4,300 employees in the regional workforce, in 170 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (2,600) and the second largest was other transport (1,100). There is a total requirement of 815 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Rotherham and Kingston upon Hull.

Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 5,400 employees in the workforce. There is a total requirement of 150 employees needed per year between 2005 and 2014. 63% of the workforce is metal plate workers, shipwrights and riveters. Skills gaps include: welding; CNC machine operations; mechanical engineering skills; metalworking; and electrical engineering skills. Northern Ireland has above average concentrations of employment in the aerospace sector.

Scotland – There are an estimated 12,600 employees in the workforce, in just over 200 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in marine manufacture (6,000) and the second largest was aerospace (5,500). There is a total requirement of 2,170 employees needed between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: assembly line/production robotics; electronics; and mechanical fitters. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around the City of Glasgow, Fife, South Lanarkshire, the City of Aberdeen, North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.

Wales – There are an estimated 11,200 employees in the workforce, in 160 companies. The largest group of employees are involved in aerospace manufacture (9,900) and the second largest was other transport (700). There is a total requirement of 1,470 employees needed between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: general engineering skills; electronics; and electrical engineering. The largest industries in terms of employment are automotive, basic metals, mechanical equipment and aerospace. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda, Cynon and Taff, Bridgend and Wrexham.

[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, Census, 2001, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007.]


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