United Kingdom · Harbour Masters
Harbour master
Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is and how people get here. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.
As a Harbour master, a good place to start is Building a Department's Capacity to Learn, a free Future Fluency module at Level 5. You'd practise working out what skills your department will need next, and leading your people as they build them.
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- UK framework levelUsually someone running a function, or a director
Two short quizzes about you
1From this job to a course
The qualifications matched to this job
DAO Level 7 Diploma in Applied Maritime Navigation Defence Awarding Organisation · Level 7 · covers 1 of 17 standards
CIWM (WAMITAB) Level 4 Medium Risk Operator Competence for Dredgings Management CIWM · Level 4 · covers 1 of 17 standards
EAL Level 2 NVQ in Port Operations Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · Level 2 · covers 10 of 17 standards
Open Awards Level 2 Award in Maritime Studies: Deck Rating (RQF) Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 6 of 17 standards
Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Studies: Workboats (RQF) Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 4 of 17 standards
EAL Level 2 Certificate in Stevedoring Essentials Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · Level 2 · covers 3 of 17 standards
Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.
The units you would start with
Pilotage and passage planning DAO Level 7 Diploma in Applied Maritime Navigation
Manage disposal operations of non-hazardous waste to land on a single waste stream site CIWM (WAMITAB) Level 4 Medium Risk Operator Competence for Dredgings Management
Maintain marine equipment EAL Level 2 NVQ in Port Operations
Maritime Employment, Environmental and Health and Safety Practice Open Awards Level 2 Award in Maritime Studies: Deck Rating (RQF)
Understand how to undertake routine servicing, maintenance and repair of port plant and equipment EAL Level 2 Certificate in Stevedoring Essentials
Built for Harbour master
5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.
- Pilotage and passage planning Level 7
- Manage disposal operations of non-hazardous waste to land on a single waste stream site Level 4
- Maintain marine equipment Level 2
- Maritime Employment, Environmental and Health and Safety Practice Level 2
- Understand how to undertake routine servicing, maintenance and repair of port plant and equipment Level 2
What happens when you start
Next, a free account. We build your Harbour master plan as you set up, starting with the free Growth Mindset module. No card.
Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.
2What this role really is
A harbour master enforces safety and environmental regulations in a port, harbour or marina, overseeing vessel movements and port operations.
What you'd own
- Conduct formal risk assessments for land-side marine activities in consultation with stakeholders.
- Assess risk levels associated with identified hazards using recognized methods.
- Document hazards and risks in a formal risk assessment.
- Identify and document suitable control measures for workplace safety.
- Implement control measures to maintain risks at As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
- Operate a documented Safety Management System (SMS) that ensures ongoing monitoring and maintenance of controls.
- Circulate safety policies and procedures to relevant stakeholders.
- Monitor and maintain safety control mechanisms per SMS standards.
- Set and assess key performance indicators for land-side safety.
- Measure and report land-side safety performance to management.
- Facilitate the safe and efficient use of the harbour
- Document hazards and risks in a Risk Register
- Conduct formal port marine risk assessments
- Identify and document control measures to maintain risks at ALARP
- Produce and operate a Safety Management System
- Produce and operate a Navigational Safety Policy
- Produce and operate a Marine Operations Safety Plan
- Circulate safety policies and information to stakeholders
3What you’ll use
What you’ll use
Skills this role draws on
Technical
- Develop, operate, evaluate and amend in light of new information a fully functional Marine Safety Management System
- Develop and implement auditable port marine policies, plans and procedures based on sound evidence and delivers an inclusive and effective service, consulting with stakeholders who might be affected
- Implement a system for formally reviewing the appropriateness and effectiveness of local and nationally conferred legislation at pre-defined periods
- Identify and apply for new powers as needed to facilitate safe and efficient port marine activities
- Operate an Enforcement Policy in line with statutory and local powers and industry good practice including: - systematically collecting, preserving and documenting evidence and witness statements - take enforcement action up to criminal prosecution - initiate criminal prosecution
- Conduct investigations; systematically collect, preserve and documenting evidence and witness statements
- Communicate findings and proposals to appropriate stakeholders
- Implement and monitor remedial action appropriate to incident findings
- Manage the provision, maintenance and inspection of aids to navigation
- Develop a comprehensive method for the provision of timely and accurate navigational safety information and warnings to maintain the safe passage of vessels
- Ensure accurate hydrographic surveys are undertaken, communicate the information to affected stakeholders and maintain accurate hydrographic and hydrological records
- In consultation with affected stakeholders, develop, exercise review and amend in light of new information an integrated Response Plan for port emergencies. Communicate the plan to affected stakeholders
- In consultation with affected stakeholders, develop, exercise, review and amend in light of new information, a port counter-pollution plan to minimise navigational, environmental, commercial, and reputational impact. Communicate the plan to affected stakeholders
- Determine the need for, and scope of, port pilotage services based on a formal, navigational risk assessment
- Produce documented findings and recommendations in line with accepted practice. Circulate findings and outputs to affected stakeholders
- Identify and implement suitable and sufficient alternate navigational risk management measures where a pilotage service is assessed to be unnecessary
- Determine the need for, and scope of, vessel traffic services based on a formal, navigational risk assessment
- Identify and implement suitable and sufficient alternate navigational risk management measures where a vessel traffic service is assessed to be unnecessary
- Develop, comprehensive procedures and rules for the administration of pilots and operation of a pilotage service in consultation with stakeholders and communicate findings and outputs to affected stakeholders
- Manage a pilotage service appropriate to the port, that takes account of pilotage regulations, guidance and codes
- Review procedures and rules for the administration of pilots and operation of a pilotage service periodically and in light of new information
- Develop comprehensive procedures for the operation of a vessel traffic service or local port information service appropriate to the port, in consultation with stakeholders and communicate them to affected stakeholders
- Implement a vessel traffic service or local port information service appropriate to the port that takes account of local context, regulations, guidance and codes
- Review procedures and rules for the operation of a vessel traffic service or local port information service periodically and in light of new information
- Manage the potential risk posed by dangerous and polluting substances and dangerous vessels
- Manage (and/or monitor) the safe and effective provision, of other marine services such as towage and mooring
- Develop, operate, evaluate and amend in light of new information, a fully functional port environmental Safety Management System which incorporates management of maintenance and capital dredging and port waste
- Assess the risk and mitigation effect of conservation measures
- Conduct a port security assessment in consultation with stakeholders to establish the type and level of security required and develop appropriate port security policies and plans
- Manage port security and cooperate with enforcement and other relevant agencies to ensure effective port security, complying with regulatory security requirements
- Assess operational needs to identify the resourcing structure and skill levels required to deliver a safe and efficient service
- Manage employees, including (but not limited to):- - recruitment and selection - training - professional development - performance management - succession planning
- Develop and implement effective employee communications, including dialogue with workforce representatives
- Develop and manage a port marine budget
- Plan, lead and implement change within the Harbour Master's jurisdiction
- Contribute to quality management processes relating to port management
- Deliver effective customer service relating to port management
- Promote the port in business and other forums
- Manage projects to quality, time and cost
- Conduct a formal risk assessment to identify correctly all hazards and levels of risk associated with land-side marine employee work place activities, in consultation with stakeholders
- Operate a formally documented Safety Management System (SMS) ensuring controls are monitored and maintained and risks remain as low as reasonably practicable
Functional
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to marine safety management
- Marine Safety Management Systems which ensure that every port complies with mandatory rules and regulations and follow codes of practice and guidelines
- Policies required to underpin a Marine Safety Management System
- How to evaluate evidence to support sound judgement
- Effective oral and written communication strategies and a working knowledge of the terminology used in this occupation
- How to commission and implement an independent internal and an independent external audit
- Principles of change control and auditable record keeping
- National and international marine legislation applicable to ports
- Local legislation, bylaws and direction applicable to ports and the processes for updating these
- How to develop and operate marine enforcement policies and procedures
- How to collect evidence, take statements and initiate criminal prosecutions in-line with national regulations
- Enforcement options available as an alternative to prosecution
- Current regulatory reporting requirements and guidance relating to marine accidents/incidents
- How to conduct systematic, well-documented investigations and produce remedial recommendations based on report findings
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to marine conservancy
- How to use formal Risk Assessment to establish the need for activities including (but not limited to) surveying, dredging, the use of Aids to Navigation, marking and wreck recovery
- Operating procedures and the administration involved in port recreational activities
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to emergencies and pollution incidents
- The powers and working practices of statutory and other organisations that may be concerned with responding to a port emergency or pollution incident
- The nature of the interaction between the port and statutory or other organisations, including the extent of the port's obligation to cooperate on emergencies or pollution incidents
- How to develop and manage effective relationships with statutory and other organisations (including the media) involved in an emergency or pollution incident
- Principles of business continuity planning
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to pilotage, vessel traffic services and navigation
- What alternate risk management and safety management systems might typically be required when a pilotage service is assessed to be unnecessary
- What alternate risk management and safety management systems might typically be required when a vessel tracking service is assessed to be unnecessary
- The powers and working practices of a Competent Harbour Authority and other organisations that may be concerned with pilotage services
- How a pilotage service is typically administered
- Procedures for promoting and conducting pilotage directions
- The powers and working practices of a Competent Harbour Authority and other organisations that may be concerned with vessel traffic services
- How a vessel traffic service is typically administered
- The nature, purpose, powers and working practices of statutory and other organisations that may be concerned with vessel traffic services
- What port activities are likely to have an impact on the environment, and what adverse consequences could potentially arise from those activities
- The types and classification of port environmental and conservational features
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to the management of the port environment, including requirements for licenses and consents
- Typical conservation measures a port might use to protect the environment within its jurisdiction
- The typical format, content and issues addressed in maintenance and capital dredging policies and plans
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to port security
- Operating procedures and the administration involved in a local port security plan
- How to design and run a port security exercise
- How a marine department is typically constituted and managed
- Who the stakeholders and workforce representatives are in the marine organisation
- Current employment regulations, guidance and codes affecting marine employees
- The principle revenue and expenditure streams of the port and the contribution made to port business by the marine function
- The factors likely to affect the financial performance of a port
- The principles and practice of effective change management, quality management, customer service, business networking and project management
- Current international and national regulations, codes of practice and guidance relating to health & safety in the workplace
- The port marine operations and activities typically undertaken in the physical environment for which the harbour master has responsibility and authority and/or which might impact on safety
Ways of working
- Is self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and with integrity
- Takes personal responsibility for their actions and shows resilience
- Works well under pressure and to tight deadlines, delivering quality results
- Leads by example, demonstrating impeccable safe behaviours at all times
- Encourages team effort and develops and interdependent culture
- Implements best practice in technical and safety management
- Promotes and adopts a safety culture within the organisation, where challenges are welcomed and valued
- Takes responsibility for effective problem-solving, emergency response and safeguarding the company's reputation
4The pathway
The pathway
Getting in, in the UK
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Harbour master (Level 6) — Skills England standard ST0765
5Pay and demand
Pay & demand
Typical pay £47,504 a year
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 (provisional), under the Open Government Licence v3.0
The figure is the median for full-time employees in the ONS occupation this job title codes to (Managers in transport and distribution), from the April 2025 survey, about six months old when published, as ASHE always is. It is that occupation's middle, not this role's. Half earn more.
How you would learn this
One to one, on the work you already do
A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.
A lesson from Pilotage and passage planning, worked against Harbour master.
Applied to your work in Harbour master
The objective of this unit is to enable learners to prepare and brief pilotage and passage plans, taking into account various factors and potential risks, and to execute pilotage effectively. This includes planning for periods at anchor or mooring and disseminating appropriate information.
How the thinking builds
- 1 Remember
- 2 Understand
- 3 Apply
- 4 Analyse
- 5 Evaluate
- 6 Create
It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.
Harbour master
- Develop, operate, evaluate and amend in light of new information a fully functional Marine Safety Management System
- Develop and implement auditable port marine policies, plans and procedures based on sound evidence and delivers an inclusive and effective service, consulting with stakeholders who might be affected
- Implement a system for formally reviewing the appropriateness and effectiveness of local and nationally conferred legislation at pre-defined periods
- Identify and apply for new powers as needed to facilitate safe and efficient port marine activities
- Operate an Enforcement Policy in line with statutory and local powers and industry good practice including: - systematically collecting, preserving and documenting evidence and witness statements - take enforcement action up to criminal prosecution - initiate criminal prosecution
- Conduct investigations; systematically collect, preserve and documenting evidence and witness statements
- Communicate findings and proposals to appropriate stakeholders
- Implement and monitor remedial action appropriate to incident findings
Free tools
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6Where to go from here
This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.
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