Maritime Occupations at SCQF Level 5

Modern Apprenticeships in Maritime Occupations

The maritime sector comprises the following main sub-sectors (in alphabetical order):

• Fishing
• Leisure marine, including superyachts, but excluding boat and ship-building
• Merchant Navy
• Ports
• Royal Navy
• Search and rescue
• Tugs
• Vessels operating in restricted waters (Rivers, inland waterways and limited distances to sea)
• Workboats and jack-up barges.

  The maritime sector plays a significant role in the life and economy of Scotland. It provides:

• jobs, both directly and indirectly
• skilled people for shore-based jobs, shipbuilding and repair
• environmental benefits from moving goods by sea compared with other forms of transport
• wider, societal benefits by enabling the movement of people, goods and services to and from island communities and providing access to education, healthcare and social activities
• infrastructure for offshore industries.

  Summary of the Framework

  The Maritime Occupations Framework has five pathways, four of which involve work at sea; the fifth – port operations – is
  shore-based. There is considerable overlap between the skills required, particularly between the four sea-going roles,
  though each requires its own specialist knowledge and skills. Because of that overlap, there are good opportunities for
  former apprentices not only to progress within their own specialism, but also to cross over to other parts of the wider
  maritime industry.

  The sector has been estimated to contribute well over £400m pa to the Scottish economy and to employ 4,700
  people.

“The Glasgow area remains a leading world centre for commercial ship management. Scotland has a long tradition in
the industry and contributes over 50% of the annual cadet officer intake to the Merchant Navy. Former merchant navy
officers are the backbone of the shore-based maritime sector in Scotland.” (Scottish Enterprise)

Of particular importance are key international and coastal shipping routes including ferry services to the Scottish
islands. In 2010 279,000 passengers and 5,000 vehicles were carried on vessels leaving and entering Scottish ports.
In addition 84,000 tons of cargo was handled. A few ports specialise in specific cargos, but the majority are
multipurpose even if they are well known for one particular commodity, such as Peterhead for fish and Aberdeen in
supporting North Sea oil and offshore renewable energy.

The Scottish fishing industry makes a significant contribution to the Scottish economy, and the value of the catch
landed at Scottish ports is some 70% of the UK total. In 2010 the Scottish fishing fleet consisted of 2,000 vessels with
5,000 crew. It is particularly important provider in the Highlands and Islands and when those working on shore in the
fish markets, fish processing and other support activities are taken into account, a key contributor to those local
economies.

There is a pressing need to attract new young entrants to the maritime sector, and to help young people start long-
term careers. The development of Modern Apprenticeships with a number of pathways is central to that work,
providing them with opportunities both for progression and for movement between the sub-sectors.

Maritime Occupations at SCQF Level 5 website