Marine craftspeople work in various sectors, including:

• shipbuilding
• ship repair and conversion
• boat building, repair and restoration.

Work ranges from building hulls and super-structures on sea-going vessels to installing the fixtures and fittings on a narrowboat. Depending on the job, different craft skills are used - carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding and painting, as well as traditional maritime crafts such as rigging and sailmaking.

Craftspeople involved in shipbuilding deal with the construction of larger ships, tankers, and oil and gas platforms for offshore sites. Ship repair workers are normally based at a dockyard working on all sizes and types of vessel. Boat builders and restoration craftspeople are usually found in smaller yards, marinas and workshops, often working on leisure or traditional craft.

Craftspeople work with many materials including steel plate, glass and fibre reinforced plastic (GRP/FRP), composites, wood, solvents, adhesives and coatings. They work from engineering designs and the process involves:

• marking out materials using templates
• welding, cutting and shaping materials
• assembling sections and pipework
• installing engines.

Once they have carried out the major construction/repair work, craftspeople start 'fitting out' the vessel with furnishings, navigation and communications equipment, internal heating and lighting and, if appropriate, rigging.

Hours and Environment

Marine craftspeople normally work 37 hours a week. Urgent repair work may mean working weekends and shifts, including nights.

Craftspeople do some shipbuilding and boat-building work under cover in large indoor sheds, but much of the work will be outside in all weathers. Working conditions can be cramped and dirty, and working at heights may be required.

Skills and Interests

As a marine craftsperson, you should:

• have an aptitude for practical work
• be a good team worker
• have good analytical skills
• be computer literate
• have good numeracy skills
• be able to understand technical plans and drawings
• have good communication skills
• be physically fit.

You will need some knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) packages if involved in the design process.

Entry

A common route for young people is to train as an apprentice. Most apprentices start at 16 to 19, but entry may be possible up to 24 (see Training section for contacts). You will need four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), such as maths, English, science, engineering, design and technology or appropriate equivalents.

Broader engineering courses, which are open to all age groups, offer an alternative route into this career. These include the Edexcel (BTEC) Certificates/Diplomas in Mechanical, Electrical or Electronic Engineering.

Engineering courses are widely available at local colleges and can be used to gain a position with a marine engineering company or used as the basis for higher level study, for instance, a BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Marine Engineering.

Qualifications in other craft areas such as welding, joinery or plumbing may be useful for seeking employment in this sector. These are widely available at colleges throughout the country.

Some colleges based in traditional boatbuilding areas may run introductory courses for people interested in this sector. These are mainly in the south-west, along the south coast and East Anglia. It may also be useful to check inland and coastal leisure marinas for possible openings. Unless you live in or near these areas, a willingness to relocate will be necessary.

For information about marine crafts and engineering as a career, see the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), British Marine Federation and SEMTA websites in Further Information.

Training

Training is usually done on the job, with part-time study for qualifications. There are several awards available for those working as a marine craftsperson:

• NVQ/SVQ Engineering Maintenance levels 2 and 3
• NVQ/SVQ Marine Engineering levels 2 and 3
• NVQ Boat Production and Support Services Level 2
• NVQ Boat Building and Maintenance Level 3
• NVQ/SVQ Marine Engineering Operations levels 3 and 4
• BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Operations and Maintenance Engineering
• City & Guilds Certificate in Boat Building, Maintenance and Support (2451) levels 2 and 3 (contains units on yacht and boat construction, hull assembly, fitting out and propulsion systems).

The last two awards may be available to people outside of the industry; check with colleges for details.

The British Marine Federation has information on relevant courses and qualifications; it also has details of short-course training providers throughout the country, covering areas such as:

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

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology holds details of higher education courses and, for employees within the industry, professional development training.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland; Wales; and Northern Ireland

Opportunities

In the UK, this sector employs approximately 8,000 people in boat building and around 1,500 in repair and maintenance.

Opportunities for work on larger vessels are mainly in shipyards in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England, whilst openings in boatbuilding and repair tend to be on a smaller scale in areas all round the coast of the UK, especially in the south-west, south-east and East Anglia. There may be the possibility of work overseas.

With experience and qualifications, craftspeople can progress to technician level - see the profile for Marine Engineering Technician. They can also move into marine design or specialist equipment sales and support. Craft skills can be used to move into the wider engineering and construction engineering sectors.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries are between £12,000 and £17,000 a year.
A qualified craftsperson can earn between £18,000 and £22,000.
Senior craftspeople can earn up to £25,000.

Further information

14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0800 282 167 80 Coleman Street
London
EC2R 5BJ Marine House
Thorpe Lea Road
Egham
Surrey
TW20 8BF