Career Suggestion

Port operative

Port operatives work with cargo, passengers and marine craft in ports and harbours.

Average salary (a year)

£24000.0 to £31000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

40.0 to 45.0 a week

You could work

days / nights / weekends on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Port Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a port company .

This apprenticeship can take between 1 and 2 years to complete. It combines on-the-job training with learning off site.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Direct Application

You can apply directly to port companies for cargo operations jobs if you've got experience in warehouse work, operating mobile cranes and plant machinery, or driving forklift trucks.

You can also work in passenger operations if you have experience in customer service or travel.

More Information

Career Tips

Your employer will put you through port safety training when you start.

Further Information

You can find out more about working in ports and harbours from:

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • observation and recording skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • pass a medical check
  • have forklift truck driver training for some jobs

You may need a full driving licence for some port operations roles.

Day-to-day tasks

As a port operative or stevedore you could:

  • load and unload containers, using ship or dockside cranes
  • transfer cargoes to storage areas with loading shovels or forklift trucks
  • operate conveyors and pumps for bulk cargoes like grain, gravel and fuel

As a passenger worker, you could:

  • help passengers get on and off boats and ferries
  • check travel documents
  • direct vehicles to and from parking bays aboard vessels

In marine operations, you would:

  • refuel vessels
  • place marker buoys in the harbour to guide boats in and out
  • help navigate vessels into position at the quayside

Working environment

You could work at a port or at a marina.

Your working environment may be physically demanding.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

With experience, you could be promoted to foreperson or supervisor, and then move on to become a superintendent or port operations manager.

You could also take further training to specialise in engineering to maintain the heavy machinery used in ports.

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