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Marine Craftsperson

Do you want to become a Marine Craftsperson? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Marine craftsmen or craftswomen work in one of three areas:

• Shipbuilding - building large ships, tankers, and oil and gas platforms.
• Ship repairing and conversion - which is carried out on all types and sizes of ships.
• Boat-building and repair - working with small craft such as pleasure boats, usually up to 60 metres in length.

Marine craftsmen/craftswomen assemble a vessel from a design, they:

• mark out from templates
• weld, cut and bend metal
• assemble sections and pipework
• install engines
• put in internal heating, lighting and fittings.

Craftsmen/craftswomen skills are those of electrician, joiner, plumber and painter as well as the traditional maritime crafts such as rigging and sailmaking.

They work 37 hours a week. Shift work, overtime and weekend work may be required. Much of the work is outside in all weathers, and may involve cramped, dirty or oily conditions, strenuous lifting and working at heights.

Salaries range from about £14,000 up to £25,000 a year.

Craftspeople in a shipyard or boat-building environment should:

• be interested in maritime matters and the sea
• be a good team worker
• be good at finding practical solutions to problems
• have some knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD).

Shipbuilding and ship repairing is done at large shipyards at deep water berths - usually in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.

Entry is with a good basic education, and employers normally expect GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) in English, maths and a science subject. A good way to train is through a Modern Apprenticeship. Adults can start if they have a suitable engineering or boat-building background.

Promotion is to supervisor or foreman over a section or workshop, or to inspector. There may be opportunities to work overseas.

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