How To Become A Port Operative

What Is A Port Operative?

Similar jobs: Docker, dock worker, stevedore

A port is like a train station for ships where they can come in from the sea to load/unload passengers and precious cargo from afar. The UK has the biggest port industry in Europe, so when you work in a UK port you can be part of something massive!

Maybe you’ve always dreamed of a job where you can breathe the fresh salt air. Maybe you’ve never thought of ports as a place to work before, but if there’s a port in your home town, it can be a big opportunity for employment where you can discover a whole new (sea)side to life.

There are three types of port operatives…

• Stevedores load and unload cargo from ships and vessels.
• Marine operatives work on harbour craft used in the port itself, like safety boats or small powered work boats.
• Passenger operatives help passengers move to and from the boats in the safest and easiest way that gives them the best customer experience. This is called logistics.

What Does A Port Operative Do?

Stevedores load and unload cargo like food, manufactured goods and raw materials. Your main tasks could include operating cranes, operating forklift trucks, and driving vehicles on and off the ships – which could even include combine harvesters and sometimes army vehicles.

Marine port operatives tend to get the transport boat from the land to the ship prepared and positioned, and they also fuel the ship. Marine operatives also tie and untie the ships when either arriving or leaving. Sometimes they also steer and operate the ship under supervision.

Passenger port operatives help passengers move around the ship and port. These passengers could be travelling on a ship, a seagoing passenger ferry or even a cruise ship. Their main jobs include moving passengers’ luggage, helping those with disabilities, making sure barriers are secure, and directing vehicles.

You can work days, nights, or weekend shifts.

Useful Skills To Put On Your CV:

• Resilience
• Physical fitness (there may be lifting and carrying involved in the work you do)
• Understanding the importance of health and safety
• Adapting to the ever-changing weather
• Teamwork skills
• Having to handle difficult situations e.g. dealing with rude or frustrated customers as a passenger operative
• Good timekeeping (which is part of self-management skills) and flexibility when it comes to working hours

How Do You Get These Skills?

Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.

Build Your Skills With the FREE Young Professional Programme

School, College And Training

You won’t need any special qualifications from school – or anywhere else – to become a port operative. It doesn’t matter how you did in your GCSEs or their equivalents. What does matter is that you’re willing to get stuck in, turn up on time, and work as a team.

As a passenger operative you’ll need to be 16 or 17 years old to apply because of health and safety reasons. As a stevedore/marine operative you’ll normally need to be 18 or over to apply, and you’ll also need to pass a medical check before you get hired, to make sure you can safely do the work.

• Can you drive? If so, you can help out with a greater range of activities. You may even get a chance to operate cranes, heavy goods vehicles and forklift trucks.

Apprenticeships

There is an apprenticeship in port operations that is currently available, which will shortly include NVQ Level 2 in port operations, with a relevant Technical Certificate at Level 2. If you choose to do a port operations apprenticeship you will be paid at least the minimum wage (however this could be more).

Your employer of choice may be advertising apprenticeships on their career websites, or it’s always worth checking the Find An Apprenticeship website.

• Can you speak more than one language? When you apply to be a passenger operative you may have an advantage if you can speak different languages so you can give passengers that extra feeling of being well taken care of.

Work Experience Tips

Working in a port is a very unusual working environment, it’s outside and operates in all types of weather… literally come rain or shine.

In the UK, we have 120 commercial ports, making the UK’s port industry the largest in Europe. Therefore, there is most definitely a port you can find to do some shadowing and work experience if it’s something you’d like to follow up on.

Getting Experience

If you’ve already worked on a construction site or in a warehouse you’ll find it could make employers very excited about your CV indeed.

Examples of relevant work experience include:

• Work shadowing (even if it’s just for a day)
• Work placements in a company
• Work placements on a degree course

To find jobs for young people in this role, search on jobs boards for early career roles with these words in the title:

• port operative jobs
• stevedor jobs
• marine operative jobs
• port operative apprenticeships

These links can help you find out more and get started:

• Find an Apprenticeship
• Port Skills & Safety
• UK Major Ports

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.