Qualifications and Training

As with other maritime careers, the larger the vessel the more complex the need for effective communications and the more technically trained the people must be to be able to use and maintain those communications.

Both the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy offer excellent ways to learn the modern uses and maintenance of onboard communications. This can be by way of direct entry after school or after university, either as rating or officers.

There are also a variety of jobs in other maritime organisations such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Port Authorities where communication is key.

At the MCA you could become a Maritime Operations Officer. As this is a Civil Service job you can find out about how to enter and the qualifications you need by following the Department of Transport link below.

Vessel traffic services operatives work in a port or harbour control centre, controlling the safe movement of ships and boats around the port/harbour area. They use marine radar and communicate with vessels by VHF radio, radio telephone and other electronic means. There are routes into this career even if you don’t have prior maritime experience. You will have to complete a range of courses including the VTS Operators course.

Salary Brackets

Up to around £45,000 with experience

Colleges/Universities

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

https://hmcoastguard.uk/careers

https://careers.dft.gov.uk/mca/

South Shields College VTS courses

https://www.stc.ac.uk/courses/

Companies/Organisations Offering Apprenticeships

Department of Transport

https://careers.dft.gov.uk/recruitment-programmes/