Engineering Opportunity: Marine Craftsman

Marine Craftsman Current Vacancies

2006-12-23:

Marine craftspeople work in the shipbuilding, ship repair and conversion, and the boat building, repair and restoration sectors.

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 a variety of 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 can involve: welding, cutting and shaping materials installing engines.

Once the major construction, repair work has been carried out, craftspeople move on to fitting out the vessel with furnishings, navigation and communications equipment, internal heating and lighting and, if appropriate, rigging.

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

Working conditions can be cramped and dirty, and working at heights may be involved.

Boatbuilding, boat repair and manufacturing of marine equipment is estimated to be worth around a thousand million pounds in the UK, and employs approximately 8,000 people in boat building and around 1,500 in repair and maintenance.

With experience and qualifications, craftspeople can progress to technician level.
Senior marine craftsmen and women can earn up to 25,000. (Permalink)