Maritime Careers
Starting your maritime career... The UK is proud to have one of the most vibrant and competitive maritime sectors in the world. With sea trade expected to double in the next 20 years, the need for a highly skilled workforce has never been greater. The international maritime community recognises the UK’s unequalled expertise, thought leadership, and world-leading innovation – and it never stops looking for enthusiastic people to join the industry. The career opportunities are as broad as they are exciting.
About Isles of Scilly Steamship Group In March 1920, the people of the Isles of Scilly started a company, to deliver a reliable transport link to the mainland. We are that company. Today, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group is a little bigger. As well as transporting passengers, we deliver luggage and carry freight including all the services and engineering that makes it happen. To keep delivering a transport service for Scilly we’ll keep investing to improve our facilities, vessels, and systems. We also need great people and we’ll invest for the long term here too – to make sure our people keep learning, and moving forward in their careers. As well as gaining the latest skills, this will help to keep everyone motivated to give their best.
Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are particularly suited
are keen to encourage businesses to
to the maritime sector because so
offer more apprenticeships, providing
many jobs require the mix of practical
subsidies to all sizes of business,
learning and theoretical study which
whether they pay the Apprenticeship
is at the heart of the apprenticeship
Levy or not.
model. From managing a busy port to catering on a cruise ship, from navigating the open sea to lifting a customer’s yacht ashore to clean it, from building a fast ferry to driving it, the maritime sector offersa wide and growing range of apprenticeships
For individuals, apprenticeships have the major attraction that apprentices get paid (in many cases, well-paid) while they are learning – rather than accumulating debt as university students do.
as the starting-point for some very
Apprenticeships are currently
rewarding careers.
available for crew in the shipping
Apprenticeships are jobs which mix practical learning on-the-job alongside a more experienced colleague, and more theoretical study.
sector (particularly ferries and cruise ships), with roles both on deck and in the engine room, for crew on the Thames and other inland waterways (leading to the Boatmaster licence),
They’re designed to give apprentices
and for workboat operatives (mostly
a strong foundation for their career,
supporting the construction sector).
and the fact that so many senior people in the industry started their
There is a specialist boatbuilding
careers as apprentices is powerful
apprenticeship covering both building
evidence of just how successful
and repair for all types and sizes
apprenticeships are.
of boats and yachts. And there are
And they’re not just for school leavers
engineering field.
like the apprenticeships of the past. Many people join the maritime sector after doing something else first and an apprenticeship offers an
many related apprenticeships in the
Ports offer apprenticeships for port operatives and a wide range of engineering and other roles.
excellent foundation, with training
In marinas and boatyards there
to a standard agreed nationally be
are apprenticeships for the people
employers. More than that, there are
who provide a variety of operations,
some apprenticeships for people
including vessel moving, lifting,
who re-train after gaining substantial
launching and storage. And there’s
experience first, such as the marine
a huge range of apprenticeships in
pilot apprenticeship, which enables
the Royal Navy and in the Royal Fleet
someone who’s been to sea to gain
Auxiliary (the civilian fleet which
the additional skills they need to
supplies Royal Navy vessels at sea).
become a pilot. Governments throughout the UK
The list of maritime apprenticeships is growing all the time.
For further infomation on apprenticeships visit maritimeskills.org
Merchant Navy A career at sea offers a wealth of
electrotechnical and on-board
Those who decide to pursue a career
exciting opportunities for anyone
services disciplines at both officer
at sea by following the officer training
looking for adventure and a job away
and rating levels. There are a
route will, on completion, be in a
from the normal humdrum of a desk
variety of entry routes available
management position ensuring that
job.
to start a career at sea within the
the vessel and its crew are safe, all
The Merchant Navy is the collective
Merchant Navy, which includes fully
the machinery is maintained and the
term for commercial shipping and
sponsored training programmes and
cargo reaches its destination on time
includes a variety of vessels from
apprenticeships.
and intact. Ratings are the ‘support
cruise ships to tankers and cargo
With world-class institutions and a
ships of all description.
by the officers to ensure the running
robust training system, UK seafarers
of the ship is a safe and efficient
This fast moving and technologically
are sought after internationally and
operation. There are also roles for
advanced industry requires
the range of skills they acquire during
those interested in on-board services
highly trained seafarers working
their training enables them to thrive in
and hospitality, on vessels such as
across navigation, engineering,
a competitive industry.
cruise ships and passenger ferries.
staff’ working on vessels and directed
For further infomation on careers in the Merchant Navy visit careersatsea.org
RICHARD ‘NABO’ NICHOLLS AB GRY MARITHA After ten years on North Sea gas
gas rigs. My role was Rescue
What do you get up to outside of
rigs, Able Seaman Nicholls is
Coxswain and Medic, so a little
work?
working a lot closer to home. He
different to my role here. I worked
I joined the RNLI in 1987 and
tells us why he has “the best job”.
away, usually up to six weeks at a
still volunteer as lifeboat crew at
time.
Penlee, just down the road. I’ve
Tell me a little about your day-
just received my 30 years’ service
to-day role…
In the summer it was great, but
At the moment, I’m working as
the winters were a lot colder than
award.
an Able Seaman (AB) onboard
they are on Scilly, that’s for sure!
It’s a little more difficult to
Why did you decide to join the
volunteer when I’m working
company?
onboard the ships, so I use my
I grew up in Mousehole, before
weekends and weeks off to crew
moving around the corner to
the lifeboat.
Newlyn, so the company has
What’s do you enjoy most about
always been part of the local
your role?
Scillonian III, which mainly involves looking after passengers once they’re onboard, general maintenance of the vessel and handling cargo. I also work on Gry Maritha as a forklift driver, loading and unloading cargo.
community for me. (It’s also great
We all move between vessels, so
to be able to work five minutes
a typical rotation would be one
down the road.)
week onboard Scillonian III, one week onboard Gry Maritha, and then one week off.
What does an average day look like for you? During the summer, if I’m working
The view from onboard is pretty spectacular; I’ve seen dolphins, Minke whales, sunfish… Every day is different really, but in the summer, nothing beats sailing along the coastline from
What did you do before working
onboard Scillonian III, a typical
for ISSG?
day means being onboard at
Until I joined the Group 18 months
07:00 for a 07:30 start. If I’m
ago, I spent 10 years working in
lucky, I finish at around 19:45 – if
On a good day, it’s second to
the North Sea as a standby on
I’m not, its usually closer to 21:00!
none – the best job.
Penzance on a nice day; stunning views, so much so see.
PETE CRAWFORD SCILLONIAN MASTER We’ve caught up with Master
on really well, there’s also a lot
you next, you’ll start a job thinking
Peter Crawford to find out about
of paperwork to catch up on and
this is a small job and it turns into
life aboard Scillonian in the winter
courses; it’s a busy time for us.
a big job or the other way around.
months.
It’s quite nice because the
Every day is different.
When the Scillonian’s not sailing
summer season and the winter
How long have you been part of
what does a ‘normal’ day look
season are completely different
Scillonian’s crew?
like for you?
and it breaks up the year nicely.
37 years, I joined in 1983 aged 22,
There’s no such thing as a normal
Which do you prefer, summer or
I’ve completed 37 seasons and
winter?
I am the longest-serving officer
Summer, I prefer warm weather,
with the company. I think this ship
light evenings and being at sea.
will see me out until retirement.
the day.
Are the crew kept busy through
What’s your favourite part of the
the winter months?
job?
The jobs can depend very much
Very, people think we get the
Meeting people, in the
on the weather, if it’s dry weather
winter off, you bump into people
summertime its meeting
we’ll try to do outside jobs. It’s
in Penzance and they say “oh
passengers and keeping a smile
not the best time of year to
you’ve got the winter off” its
on their faces.
paint a ship, we always seem to
actually a really busy time for us.
get it done but we always panic
We do a 7.30 am – 5 pm day and
thinking we’re not going to get it
work weekends, there is lots to
done in time; it’s been very wet so
do.
day! But the normal day starts off with a ‘toolbox talk’, up on the bridge with a cup of coffee and the crew, discussing the jobs for
far this winter.
What’s it like ‘behind the scenes’
Today is a beautiful day,
when she’s not sailing?
everybody’s out on deck doing
Interesting, to say the least, you
those jobs and inside is coming
don’t know what’s going come at
It’s a great office, we can watch the wildlife which is another favourite part of mine but a concurring theme of good weather.
Engineering Engineering is all about solving
found in all kinds of ships, boats and
problems using specialist technical
offshore installations.
and practical skills. It’s all about maths, science, research, prototypes, design, maintenance and production.
Marine engineers work on engines and auxiliary equipment in the boatbuilding and shipbuilding
Every industry and every area of
industries and associated companies.
society depend on the precise and
A number of engineering disciplines
efficient work of engineers. Engineers
– such as mechanical, electronic
provide technological solutions to the
and structural – are involved. Marine
problems, issues and ideas that affect
engineers need to understand the
every area of our lives.
effects of wind, waves and corrosion.
There are roles for engineers in the
Ships, boats, underwater structures,
maritime sector on shore and at sea.
and the systems within them must be
Marine engineers are involved in the design, construction, installation,
capable of operating in demanding conditions.
vessels, from cruise ships to tankers. They are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the engines, as well as the electrical and electronic equipment. Engineering ratings undertake routine maintenance and
operation, maintenance and repair
Marine engineers employed by
repair work in the engine room, check
of the main propulsion engines and
merchant shipping companies work
instrument readings and operate
auxiliary machinery and systems
on engines and different kinds of
controls.
For further infomation on maritime careers in engineering & technology visit imarest.org
Workboats & Tugs The workboat sector covers a wide
The vessel Master will be supported
variety of vessel types from tugs and
by multipurpose workboat crew
harbour launches to larger multicats
members who may have gained
and the fast crew transfer vessels
experience in other marine sectors or
often seen going in and out of many
have come straight into the industry
of our ports today. These vessels usually work with small crews of 2-6 persons, who cover a wide variety of duties as they work with a range of
through a workboat apprenticeship. Large crew will have a ‘Mate’ or Officer of the Watch assisting the Master with watchkeeping duties. UK operated workboats are currently
is currently available as well as
in use all over Europe and in many
further training leading to Restricted
other parts of the world e.g. The
Masters Certificates of competency
the offshore energy industries,
Middle East, South America, the
in a relatively quick timescale. The
constructing and operating offshore
Caribbean and West Africa, so this is
workboat sector continues to
wind farms. The work tends to be
an excellent way to make a career at
grow and expand into new areas
quite varied allowing crew to quickly
sea and travel to many parts of the
giving further opportunities to crew
gain a wide range of experiences.
world. A workboat apprenticeship
members.
contractors on port construction and infrastructure projects or supporting
For further infomation visit workboatassociation.org and britishtug.com
For more information on maritime careers with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group please contact: Human Resources, Isles of Scilly Steamship Group Steamship House, Quay Street, Penzance, TR18 4BZ recruitment@issg.co.uk www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk Clyde Marine Training Scotia House, 6 Murdoch Drive, Clydebank, Glasgow G81 2QQ, Scotland 0141 4276655 www.clydemarinetraining.com