Occupational map - Ports and Harbours

Overview | Commercial Sea Fishing | Marine Leisure | Maritime Search and Rescue | Merchant Navy | Ports and Harbours

Port and Harbours - Roles

Port Operations

Port operations include passenger, cargo, and marine operations. Occupational roles could be across the full range of cargo, passenger and marine functions or they could be focused in one area, such as Marine Pilotage.

Managing Director - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Port Operations Director - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Security Manager - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Ports Facility Security Manager - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Safety Manager - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Harbour Master - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Deputy Harbour Master - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Hydrogrpahic Surveyor - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Port Operations Manager - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Marine Pilot - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Vessel Traffic Services Officer - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Port Operations Supervisor - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Port Operations team leader - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Port Operative - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications

Engineering Operations

Director of Engineering - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Port Engineer - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Civil Engineer - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Engineering Manager - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Engineering Supervisor - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Technician - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications
Maintenance Assistant - Role | Career Pathway | Required Qualifications

Port Operations

Managing Director
Oversees all the business aspects of one or several ports. This can include monitoring profit and loss and ensuring that an efficient service is provided for all port clients.

Port Operations Director
Oversees the operational activity at one or several ports. Would normally have overall responsibility for the efficient use of port facilities and resources with specific responsibilities for health and safety and security

Security Manager
Some ports may have a dedicated Security Manager where as others may have someone with designated responsibilities for security, such as the Port Operations Director or Port Operations Manager. The Security Manager is responsible for advising on all aspects of security. Sometimes this role is contracted out to a dedicated safety security firm.

Ports Facility Security Manager
Co-ordinates security under the ISPS legislation, across the whole port. The PFSM's responsibilities include the security of vessels and their interface with the port during mooring and unmooring.

Safety Manager
Some ports may have a dedicated Safety Manager but others may have someone with designated responsibilities for safety, such as the Port Operations Director/Manager. The Safety Manager is responsible for advising on all aspects of health and safety at work. Specific duties could include advice and follow up actions regarding: investigating accidents, keeping up to date with safety legislation/ codes of practice, carrying out safety audits and inspections, and delivering safety training to staff.

Harbour Master
The role of a Harbour Master varies depending on the different types of organisations operating within the port area. In a very small port the Harbour Master may be the only person working in the port and would therefore have a very wide-ranging role. The Harbour Master normally manages the waterways within the port, and is responsible for ensuring that the harbour is safe for shipping. In a larger port this would include managing vessel movements, the environment, hydrographic survey vessels, and leisure activity. Specific duties could include overseeing management of the port control centre, provision of a pilotage service, monitoring and preventing water pollution, regulating and licensing commercial craft etc.

Deputy Harbour Master
Some ports may have a Deputy Harbour Master as a full-time job role. Other ports may have a nominated Deputy who has another, related full-time job, such as Harbour Superintendent. The Deputy Harbour Master must be a qualified Harbour Master so that they can undertake the role if the Harbour Master is unavailable.

Hydrogrpahic Surveyor
Hydrographic Surveyors measure and map the underwater surfaces and study the construction of the seabed. This information is used in navigation, dredging, or planning dock installations. They work in a wide range of differing situations and applications: from inland waters and rivers, to ports and the deep oceans. The Surveyor may be involved in activities related to offshore engineering and construction, ports, harbours and coastal engineering operations. Hydrographic Surveyors would normally need small boat skills/qualifications.

Port Operations Manager
Management of day-to-day activity within the port or terminal. Normally responsible for either stevedoring and /or passenger operations. They facilitate the transfer of passengers and cargo between the ship and shore. Specific responsibilities could include managing vessel loading and discharge operations, managing safety and security, liaising with customers and other port users, managing customer service, catering and other facilities at the port or terminal.

Marine Pilot
The Marine Pilot assists the ship's Master to enter and exit the port safely. Marine pilots normally board moving vessels from small high powered launches. Before boarding a vessel, the Marine Pilot plans the passage of the vessel taking into account tides, weather, length, draft, tonnage and handling characteristics of the vessel and if there is a need for tugs. Once aboard, the Pilot is responsible for navigating the vessel safely in and out of the harbour and works closely with the Master and other crew to achieve this.

Vessel Traffic Services Officer
The VTS Officer works in a harbour authority port control centre. They co-ordinate the movement of all vessels in the harbour area. The tasks vary according to the size of the port and the number of vessels movements. Specific responsibilities could include operating equipment such as marine radar and radio telephone, and using paper and electronic nautical charts to record a vessels current position, plot courses and forecast traffic flows. The VTS Officer has to communicate effectively with various people including the ship's Master, Maritime Coastguard Agency and weather forecasters. They also have to handle emergency situations.

Port Operations Supervisor
The Port Operations Supervisor oversees the work of the Port Operatives, and assists the Port Operations Manager. Normally responsible for either cargo, marine or passenger operations. The Supervisor ensures that the team(s) undertake their work safely and to the requirements of the port and its customers. Specific duties could include supervising vessel loading and discharge, supervising the operation of harbour craft, supervising catering, customer services and recreational services, and liaising with customers and other port users.

Port Operations team leader
The Team Leader normally works in larger ports and assists the Supervisor in co-ordinating the work of the Port Operatives. The Team Leader may be responsible for a small team, such as a team of passenger operatives, marine operatives or passenger operatives. Sometimes they may have specific responsibilities in a large team, such as security.

Port Operative

Cargo Operative (Stevedore)
The Cargo Operative (or Stevedore) loads and unloads cargo from ships. In some ports the Stevedore has a wide range of responsibilities including the physical loading, securing and unloading of cargo, driving vehicles to transport cargo within the port, and operating highly technical loading and unloading equipment. In other ports, job roles may be very focused. For example, some Stevedores work solely as Crane Drivers and their job title reflects this.

Marine Operative
The Marine Operative works on harbour craft used within the port, such as workboats and pilot launches. Responsibilities could include the operation and navigation of harbour craft, the berthing of vessels, fuelling craft, and transporting people to and from larger vessels.

Passenger Operative
The Passenger Operative may have a specific role such as directing vehicles at a ferry port (Traffic Controller), or a wider role covering customer service and dealing with incidents in the passenger terminal.

General Operative
The General Operative normally exists in smaller ports and would combine activities undertaken by a cargo operative, marine operative or passenger operative.

Engineering Operations

Director of Engineering
Oversees the operation of the engineering functions of one or several ports. They are responsible for all aspects of engineering and technical support for the port, including mechanical, electrical, electronic and civil engineering (although the latter may be a separate responsibility in some cases). Main duties are to:

• agree asset design and specification meet s business requirements
• ensure cost effective procurement of engineering assets or spares
• create engineering Health and Safety strategies

Port Engineer
Day-to-day management of the engineering function at the port.

Civil Engineer
Maintains the port infra structure including roads, building and piles.

Engineerng Manager
Normally responsible for the control and co-ordination of specified engineering activities, such as the engineering activities within a Container Terminal or port workshop.

Engineering Supervisor
Supervises a team of technicians. This team could be cross-disciplinary or specialist e.g. a team of fitters or electricians.

Technician
Many ports require a large amount of both mechanical and electrical equipment to transfer passengers and cargo. Electrical equipment could include container cranes, ships ramps and passenger walkways. Mechanical equipment can include heavy goods vehicles, fork lift trucks, mobile cranes and harbour craft. Some ports will use contractors to do this work, but others will employ their own maintenance staff, often both mechanical and electrical. The activities undertaken would include physical tasks such as lifting, mechanical maintenance and repair, and electrical maintenance and repair.

Maintenance Assistant
Undertake routine and regular maintenance work on machinery and provide assistance to engineering technicians.