jobfacts

Ship and hovercraft officers

SOC 2020 3512

Ship and hovercraft officers command and navigate ships and other craft, co-ordinate the activities of officers and deck and engine room ratings, operate and maintain communications equipment on board ship and undertake minor repairs to engines, boilers and other mechanical and electrical equipment.

Also calledMerchant Navy deck officerChief officerNavigation officerCaptainMasterMerchant Navy engineering officerand 92 more titles
People in the job15,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month196↑ 1.4%on last year · 346th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
Typical pay by regionUK median —
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
Show as table
UK median, —
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 196 jobs for ship and hovercraft officers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (2 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026265
Jul 2026221
Jun 2026Not published
May 2026178
Apr 2026176
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026176
Jan 2026237
Dec 2025105
Nov 2025223
Oct 2025208
Sept 2025173
Aug 2025135
Jul 2025236
Jun 2025284
May 2025271
Apr 2025274
Mar 2025197
Feb 2025170
Jan 2025204
Dec 2024123
Nov 2024169
Oct 2024160
Sept 2024192
Aug 2024170
Jul 2024201
Jun 2024226
May 2024228
Apr 2024222
Mar 2024203
Feb 2024201
Jan 2024291
Dec 2023212
Nov 2023180
Oct 2023209
Sept 2023184
Aug 2023212
Jul 2023231
Jun 2023351
May 2023318
Apr 2023362
Mar 2023299
Feb 2023335
Jan 2023361
Dec 2022313
Nov 2022394
Oct 2022364
Sept 2022329
Aug 2022360
Jul 2022342
Jun 2022316
May 2022412
Apr 2022339
Mar 2022360
Feb 2022352
Jan 2022354
Dec 2021316
Nov 2021288
Oct 2021269
Sept 2021266
Aug 2021250
Jul 2021378
Jun 2021259
May 2021279
Apr 2021305
Mar 2021371
Feb 2021175
Jan 2021217
Dec 2020172
Nov 2020167
Oct 2020199
Sept 2020199
Aug 2020145
Jul 2020150
Jun 2020133
May 2020168
Apr 2020162
Mar 2020284
Feb 2020326
Jan 2020279
Dec 2019177
Nov 2019247
Oct 2019331
Sept 2019277
Aug 2019311
Jul 2019349
Jun 2019293
May 2019323
Apr 2019233
Mar 2019252
Feb 2019255
Jan 2019308
Dec 2018192
Nov 2018231
Oct 2018276
Sept 2018303
Aug 2018264
Jul 2018352
Jun 2018250
May 2018278
Apr 2018221
Mar 2018360
Feb 2018321
Jan 2018303
Dec 2017154
Nov 2017236
Oct 2017215
Sept 2017249
Aug 2017254
Jul 2017210
Jun 2017260
May 2017248
Apr 2017271
Mar 2017251
Feb 2017194
Jan 2017237
Is there a shortage of ship and hovercraft officers?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedWell above usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthUsual
  • Pay against similar jobsAbove usual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
24%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for business and public service associate professionals, which includes ship and hovercraft officers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London139
Birmingham17
Glasgow City14
Leeds14
Manchester14
Bristol, City of10
Nottingham10
Buckinghamshire8
City of Edinburgh8
Southampton8
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where ship and hovercraft officers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 625 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, ranking it 28th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of ship and hovercraft officers
n/p
42%!
16%!
22%!
19%!
1.2%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3442% (small sample)
35–4416% (small sample)
45–5422% (small sample)
55–6419% (small sample)
65+1.2% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!20%
Higher education below degree!36%
A levels or equivalent!26%
GCSEs or equivalent–
Not published
Other qualifications!16%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent20% (small sample)
Higher education below degree36% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent26% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalentNot published
Other qualifications16% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: sea and coastal freight water transport (20%), inland passenger water transport (18%), building of ships and floating structures (8.3%), sea and coastal passenger water transport (7.6%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
20%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
Higher education below degree
held by 36%
Registration
Maritime and Coastguard Agency or MCA
required for some roles: Maritime and Coastguard Agency or Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Apprenticeships
7
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
2 to 4 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

Merchant Navy deck officer

You can get into this job through:

University

You can start your career as a Merchant Navy officer cadet (deck) on an industry sponsored course at a maritime college or university.

You can choose a course that suits your needs, from a foundation degree, higher national certificate (HNC) or diploma (HND), up to a degree.

Subjects include:

  • nautical science
  • marine operations
  • navigation and maritime science

Courses can last up to 3 years and include 12 months of onboard practical training spread over 5 phases. Phases 2 and 4 are spent at sea.

Alongside an academic qualification, you will get a professional qualification known as an unlimited Certificate of Competency. This is internationally recognised and allows you to work on ships anywhere in the world.

You will need to apply directly to a sponsoring company to do an officer cadetship. Your course costs will be funded by your sponsor and you will receive a bursary payment throughout your training.

Entry requirements for academic courses vary. Sponsoring companies may also have their own entry requirements beyond those needed for the courses themselves.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Officer of the Watch (Near Coastal) Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This allows you to work on vessels that operate in near coastal waters around the UK.

This apprenticeship and its assessment takes around 42 months to complete, including time at sea.

Another option is to do a Seafarer (Deck Rating) Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a shipping company. On completion and with some experience, your employer may support you through further training to become a deck officer.

You may also be able to do a Ship's Master Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship to work on support vessels up to 500 gross tonnage.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Other ways in

Work your way up

If you’re a Merchant Navy rating, you may be able to apply to the Slater Memorial Fund for financial help towards deck officer training. This is for seafarers who wish to do training without the support of an employer.

Apply directly

If you have been in the Royal Navy, or are an experienced Merchant Navy rating, you may be able to apply directly for jobs.

Details of the conversion routes from Royal Navy to Merchant Navy can be found in the Royal Navy Memorandums of Understanding.

Other routes

If you do not meet the entry requirements for deck officer cadet training you can do a pre-cadetship course at a nautical training college.

This lasts around 1 year and will help you develop your knowledge and skills, so you can apply for Merchant Navy deck officer training.

What you’ll need

  • get a seafarer medical certificate
  • hold a Certificate of Competency

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

You can learn more about careers at sea through open days and events held by maritime colleges around the country.

You can also join a cadet group to learn new skills and take part in activities on the water. Groups include:

  • Sea Cadets for young people between 12 and 18 years old
  • Sea Rangers for young women aged 13 to 21
Further information

You can find out more about becoming a Merchant Navy deck officer from:

  • Careers at Sea
  • Maritime UK
  • Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for merchant navy deck officer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Merchant Navy engineering officer

You can get into this job through:

University

You can start your career as a Merchant Navy officer cadet (engineering or electro-technical) on an industry sponsored course at a maritime college or university.

You can choose a course that suits your needs from a foundation degree, higher national certificate (HNC) or diploma (HND), up to a degree.

Subjects include:

  • marine engineering
  • marine electrical and electronic engineering

Courses can last up to 3 years and include 8 months of onboard practical training spread over 5 phases. Phases 2 and 4 are spent at sea.

Alongside an academic qualification, you will get a professional qualification known as an unlimited Certificate of Competency. This is internationally recognised and allows you to work on ships anywhere in the world.

You will need to apply directly to a sponsoring company to do an engineer cadetship. Your course costs will be funded by your sponsor and you will receive a bursary payment throughout your training.

Entry requirements for academic courses vary. Sponsoring companies may also have their own entry requirements beyond those needed for the courses themselves.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply to do a Small Vessel Chief Engineer Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, with a maritime company involved in the development of this apprenticeship.

This can take around 4 years to complete and applies to vessels up to 3,000 gross tonnage.

With experience and further training, you may be able to work as an engineer on larger ships.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Apply directly

If you have worked in the Royal Navy, or are an experienced Merchant Navy engineering rating, you may be able to apply directly for jobs.

Details of the conversion routes from Royal Navy to Merchant Navy can be found in the Royal Navy Memorandums of Understanding.

Other routes

If you do not meet the entry requirements for engineering officer cadet training, you can do a pre-cadetship course at a nautical training college.

This lasts around 1 year and helps prepare you for the application for Merchant Navy deck officer training.

What you’ll need

  • get a seafarer medical certificate
  • hold a Certificate of Competency

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

You can learn more about careers at sea through open days and events held by maritime colleges around the country.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a Merchant Navy engineering officer from:

  • Careers at Sea
  • Maritime UK
  • Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for merchant navy engineering officer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

7 for this job
Level 3About 3 years

Officer of the watch (near coastal)

You gain
STCW Personal Survival Techniques (PST); STCW Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
Registration
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Employers may ask for
Every civil apprentice without exception will need to pass the MCA’s strict ENG1 [3] medical requirements. MoD Apprentices will without exception need to pass…
Details on Skills England
Level 4About 4 years

Ship’s master – less than 500 gross tonnage near coastal

You gain
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping…; STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Registration
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Employers may ask for
This is a regulated occupation. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are the regulatory body. Training Provider must be approved by regulatory body. EPAO…
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 2 years

Boatmaster

You gain
Manual Handling half day; STCW Personal Survival Techniques
Registration
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Details on Skills England
Level 4About 4 years

Small vessel chief engineer

You gain
An apprentice must complete the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) mandatory…
Registration
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Employers may ask for
To meet the Merchant Shipping regulations individuals must meet medical standards (including eyesight). If you are considering a seagoing career, it is…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Engineering, manufacturing, processing and control​T Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • allocates duties to ship’s officers and co-ordinates and directs the activities of deck and engine room ratings
  • directs or undertakes the operation of controls to inflate air cushions, run engines and propel and steer ships, hovercraft and other vessels
  • locates the position of vessel using electronic and other navigational aids such as charts and compasses and advises on navigation where appropriate
  • monitors the operation of engines, generators and other mechanical and electrical equipment and undertakes any necessary minor repairs
  • maintains radio contact with other vessels and coast stations
  • prepares watch keeping rota and maintains a look-out for other vessels or obstacles
  • maintains log of vessel’s progress, weather conditions, conduct of crew, etc

Skills

  • use maritime English
  • use water navigation devices
  • conduct water navigation
  • ensure vessel security
  • plot shipping navigation routes
  • provide first aid
  • steer vessels
  • supervise loading of cargo
  • supervise unloading of cargo
  • use different communication channels
  • use meteorological information
  • work in a water transport team
  • act reliably
  • have computer literacy

Knowledge

  • principles of cargo stowage
  • vessel safety equipment
  • vessel stability principles
  • distinguish ship construction methods
  • environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation
  • european classification of inland waterways
  • functions of vessel deck equipment
  • Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes ship and hovercraft officers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.