How to become a ship and hovercraft officer
Official title: Ship and hovercraft officers
Also called: Officer, Ship master, Ships master, Deck officer, Chief officer, First officer, Petty officer, Radio officer, Third officer, Ship's purser, Ship's captain, Second officer
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.
Main 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
How to become one
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades and A levels/H grades. Good colour vision without spectacles or contact lenses is required for some posts and candidates must undergo a medical examination. Training lasts three to four years and combines taught courses and assessed training at sea.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Boatmaster (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0621.
- Apprenticeship (England): Marine pilot (level 5). England. Typically 30 months. Skills England standard ST0427.
- Apprenticeship (England): Small commercial vessel crewmember (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0400.
Pay · Outlook
- About 20,600 people work in this job now, and about 21,500 are projected by 2035. (+4.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a ship and hovercraft officer?
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades and A levels/H grades. Good colour vision without spectacles or contact lenses is required for some posts and candidates must undergo a medical examination. Training lasts three to four years and combines taught courses and assessed training at sea.
Is a ship and hovercraft officer a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 20,600 to about 21,500 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a ship and hovercraft officer?
Usually not. Only 20% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Boatmaster (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03