Carrying out a range of tasks involving handling cargo, passengers or marine craft.
Occupational Profile
Port Operatives have key roles in enabling businesses to deliver on time and safely. Cargo can include any goods imported to, or exported from the UK, such as cars, food, manufactured goods and raw materials and the work they do depends on the type of ship or cargo. Operatives in larger ports tend to specialise, but smaller ports often require them to perform a wide range of duties.
Port operatives may be involved in:
- Loading, unloading, handling and securing cargo (including general, bulk, project, liquid and freight containers).
- Warehousing, storage and retrieval e.g. checking, marking and despatching cargo.
- Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel operations, e.g. moving all kinds of wheeled vehicles via ramps.
- On-shore mooring and vessel handling operations.
- Passenger operations e.g. directing passengers and handling baggage.
- Workplace transport operations, e.g. directing and moving driving vehicles/cargo
- Infrastructure operations e.g. operating lock gate and bridges.
- Operate heavy machinery, operate specialised port operating equipment (such as ship-to-shore container and general cargo cranes, conveyor belts/suction pipes for grain and pipelines for oil tankers) and lifting and handling equipment (such as mobile cranes, lift trucks, materials handlers, straddle carriers, reach stackers etc.).
A Port Operative may be required to work on board any type and size of moored or anchored vessel in a port. Port Operatives typically work in teams under the direction of a supervisor and are an essential part of the core function of a port and maintaining a safe environment. Working hours may include unsocial hours and working outdoors in inclement weather is probable. There may be some on-call requirement and shift and weekend work is likely.
The Port Operative’s occupation is most commonly broken down into cargo and passenger roles:
Cargo Operatives safely and efficiently load and discharge vessels in a wide range of locations. They handle cargo commodities which can include break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, RoRo and containers. They enable the onward movement of all cargo types in support of warehousing and storage operations.
Passenger, Ferry and Cruise Operatives safely and efficiently load and unload passengers, their baggage and vehicles from vessels. They monitor travel documentation and assist security procedures such as search and screening. They have a direct role in responding to emergencies and in assisting passengers and third parties in the event of an emergency. They interact directly with members of the public as well as trade customers and are required to demonstrate a high degree of customer care.
Summary of Standard
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/port-operative/
Full Standard
