Overview of the role

Conduct a wide range of marine electrical work.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the engineering and manufacturing sector within the marine industry. Marine electricians may work for boat manufacturers, refit and repair boatyards, marinas and specialist marine electrical and marine electronic companies. These can be small, medium or large businesses within the marine leisure, small commercial, and superyacht sectors. These sectors employ over 33,000 people. Marine electricians can undertake work on a variety of boats including for example motorised cruisers, narrowboats, sailing boats, work boats, and superyachts. The broad purpose of the occupation is to conduct a wide range of marine electrical, and marine electronic work operations that include the design and installation of marine assemblies and sub-assemblies. Upgrades, diagnostics, and maintenance to existing marine electrical and electronic systems and marine electrical and electronic repairs on boats, ensuring the safe and optimal use of a boat’s electrical and electronic systems and services, that meet customers’ requirements.They are responsible for installing, maintaining, monitoring, fault finding and repairing a wide range of marine electrical and electronic systems. They are responsible for undertaking the work from inception through to completion, including commissioning the electrical work, testing it and supporting sea trials. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other marine electricians, line managers and a wide range of associated marine trades such as boat builders, marine engineers, stock control staff, and project managers. They also interact with customers, suppliers, other technical staff, and regulatory and industry bodies (e.g. Lloyds Register, Maritime Coastguard Agency, Royal Institution of Naval Architects, and Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology).

Marine electricians’ work operations can be undertaken on boats in a workshop environment, or on boats moored or stored outside on hard standing near water, or in the water and they may also attend sea trials. Marine electricians need to work safely and may work in confined spaces, on or near water, aloft, or at height. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their work to agreed timelines and in accordance with work instructions and relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant guidance and information. Marine electricians are responsible for designing and producing solutions to boat layouts and requirements, and producing marine electrical and electronic systems from electrical, engineering and technical drawings and specifications.

Marine electricians are responsible for performing a range of calculations, using formulae and electrical measuring equipment and galvanic bonding and cathodic protection.

Marine electricians are required to maintain effective lines of communication and solve problems relating to the marine electrical and electronic work requirements. They are required to discuss and understand customers’ electrical and electronic requirements and are responsible for undertaking diagnostic and problem solving to identify faults and make repairs.

They need to understand navigation systems, radar, radio and communications, helm control systems, alarm and monitoring systems, boat communication systems and interface protocols, including alternating current (ac) and direct currents (dc) distribution and loadings and power generation.

Marine electricians must comply with Health and Safety and the Electrical Safety at Work Acts including the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), the waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations (WEEE), and work at height and work on or near water requirements. They need to understand the dynamics of water and electrical systems and components to ensure the safety of themselves, the boat users and the vessel.

Typical job titles include:

Marine electrical commissioning technician Marine electrical fitter Marine electrical technician Marine electronics installer Marine electronics technician

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers, suppliers, technical support staff, and other relevant personnel, to ensure that customer and business requirements are met.

K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S14 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 2 Maintain their own safety and that of others at work, ensuring a safe working environment and prevention of damage to property and the wider environment.

K1 K2 K3 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K19 K21 K22

S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S11 S12 S16 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 3 Plan, set up, and produce marine electrical and electronic systems including designing solutions to meet vessel performance and customer requirements, following approved work methods using marine electrical drawings, technical specifications and electrical formulae and organisational policies and procedures.

K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K18 K24

S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 4 Plan, organise and monitor wiring support systems (for example, conduit, trays, trunking, bulkhead penetration and glands).

K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K13 K14 K16

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S9 S11 S17 S18 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 5 Install cable runs in boats correctly in accordance with relevant specifications and industry standards.

K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K21 K24

S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S16 S17 S18 S19 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 6 Install electrical and electronic system assemblies and sub-assemblies on boats correctly in accordance with required specification, industry standards and to the customer's satisfaction.

K2 K3 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K24

S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S16 S17 S18 S19 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 7 Install Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems and networking and other relevant systems in accordance with required specification and industry standards.

K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24

S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 8 Support the commission of electrical and electronic systems, tests and sea trials.

K2 K3 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K21 K22 K23 K24

S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S10 S11 S12 S14 S15 S21 S22

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 9 Maintain, fault find, and diagnose issues with electrical and electronic systems and equipment on boats.

K2 K3 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S14 S15 S16 S17 S20 S21 S22

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 10 Modify, add, and upgrade electrical and electronic circuits in boats.

K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23

S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 11 Conduct routine marine electrical and electronic servicing.

K2 K3 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K21 K22 K23 K24

S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S19 S20 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 12 Monitor marine batteries, charging and ancillary alternating current (ac) or direct current (dc) supply charging systems.

K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K21 K22 K23

S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S22

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 13 Seek opportunities to improve quality and efficiency of marine electrical and electronic work operations, where relevant.

K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K24

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S11 S18 S19 S21

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 14 Restore work area and return tools, and unused materials and equipment to a safe and reliable condition, to prescribed standards of cleanliness on completion of marine electrical and electronic work operations.

K7 K9 K11 K14 K16

S3 S4 S11 S17

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

Duty 15 Complete documentation at the relevant stages of the marine electrical and electronic work operations in accordance with organisational policy, procedures and any other relevant information and guidance.

K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K9 K14 K15 K19

S7 S8 S10 S12 S15 S17 S18

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8


KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Characteristics and features of the national and international marine industry and marine electrician's role and placement within the industry, and who marine electricians interact with in order to perform their work operations. Back to Duty

K2: Effective communication techniques and methods, their role and features, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each when communicating with different customers and stakeholders (internal and external). Organisational processes and procedures regarding communication channels, methods and techniques, and how communications and their outcomes are recorded and documented. Back to Duty

K3: Uses of information technology in the marine industry and when performing marine electrical and electronic work operations. Marine electrical and electronic and other general marine terminology and their meanings. Back to Duty

K4: Different diagnostic and problem solving techniques and methods used to resolve marine electrical and electronic problems relevant to their area of responsibility. Back to Duty

K5: Sourcing of components, costing, pricing and budgeting principles and reporting discrepancies and quality issues. Back to Duty

K6: Organisational process and procedures for the design, planning and set up, and installation of marine electrical and electronic systems including assemblies and sub-assemblies. Back to Duty

K7: Relevant legislation, regulations, relevant industry guidance, and organisational policies, practices and procedures that direct health and safety and environmental sustainability at work and the importance of complying with control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and work at height regulations and work on or near water requirements. The hazards and risks when undertaking marine electrical and electronic work operations and how these can be minimised. Personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used when undertaking marine electrical and electronic work operations, the selection of the PPE and how to use the different PPE. How to deal with emergencies and responsibilities in responding to these within their own area of responsibility. Back to Duty

K8: Ways of ensuring quality of marine electrical and electronic processes and work products, including continuous business improvement techniques and how they are integrated into marine electrical and electronic work processes and procedures. Back to Duty

K9: The different sources of information and guidance that directs marine electrical and electronic work operations, typically including marine electrical drawings and technical specifications, where this information and guidance can be found and when and where it should be used. Back to Duty

K10: The mathematical techniques, formulae, and calculations that underpin marine electrical and electronic work. Back to Duty

K11: Range of tools, materials, equipment and components used when performing marine electrical and electronic operations, their characteristics, features and their safe use, movement and operation. Back to Duty

K12: Purpose and operation of different marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems and their characteristics and features. Back to Duty

K13: Vessel design and construction and complex shapes and the relationship between systems and efficient use of space. Back to Duty

K14: Principles, process, approved methods and techniques and organisational policy and procedures that need to be followed when undertaking different marine electrical and electronic work operations. Back to Duty

K15: Importance of accurate completion and maintenance of marine electrical and electronic information, documentation and the records and information that needs to be recorded and where, during different stages of marine electrical and electronic work operations. Back to Duty

K16: Importance of restoring the work area to a tidy and safe state on completion of marine electrical and electronic work operation and what this entails. Back to Duty

K17: Necessary checks, tests and diagnostics and inspections undertaken when performing different marine electrical and electronic work operations and how these are undertaken for the different types of marine electrical and electronic work operation. Back to Duty

K18: Operation principles of different electrical and electronic systems. Back to Duty

K19: Importance of isolation procedures for marine electrical and electronic operations. Ways of minimising electrostatic discharge. Back to Duty

K20: Basic operational principles of marine electrical and electronic equipment and components being serviced and their servicing requirements. Back to Duty

K21: Methods for checking that marine electrical and electronic components are fit for purpose and actions that need to be taken if they are not. Back to Duty

K22: Means of powering down and correctly operating locking out systems. Back to Duty

K23: How to check, test, and diagnose the condition of different marine electrical and electronic systems. Back to Duty

K24: Importance of customer service and effective customer service principles and techniques. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Prepare for and contribute to meetings and hold discussions. Use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques and marine terminology to aid effective interactions with colleagues, customers, contractors, suppliers and others, to achieve required marine electrical and electronic task outcomes. Back to Duty

S2: Make recommendations to customers and other interested parties to ensure optimal compliance and performance of marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems, that meet customer requirements. Apply appropriate customer service principles and techniques. Meet customer needs (internal and external) and deliver required customer service in accordance with organisational policy and processes when undertaking a marine electrical and electronic work role. Back to Duty

S3: Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work when conducting marine electrical and electronic work operations. Identify and comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations. Back to Duty

S4: Consider sustainability and environmental impacts and apply environmental best practice when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations. Back to Duty

S5: Follow approved industry guidance and techniques, and operational work methods, practices, processes, principles, and procedures when undertaking the different marine electrical and electronic work operations, within required time frames. Back to Duty

S6: Select, use, maintain, and store appropriate resources safely and correctly (tools, equipment, machinery and consumables). Back to Duty

S7: Design, plan and set up to produce and install marine electrical and electronic systems including assemblies and sub-assemblies from marine electrical engineering drawings, electrical formulae and technical specifications in the correct manner (This will typically include design of electrical panels, power distribution requirements and best use of available space), ensuring the necessary resources are selected. Back to Duty

S8: Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement. Back to Duty

S9: Use various wiring support mechanisms and systems to route and secure cables in accordance with regulations and best practice and install cables using appropriate segregation and separation methods, in accordance with required specifications in relation to positioning bulkhead penetration. Back to Duty

S10: Conduct required tests and checks when performing work operations on different marine electrical and electronic systems. Back to Duty

S11: Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational policy and procedures. Back to Duty

S12: Complete relevant records and documentation relevant to marine electrical and electronic systems, in accordance with organisational documentation and any other relevant information and guidance. Back to Duty

S13: Install, position and secure marine electrical and electronic equipment and components (propulsion, navigational, safety, domestic, operational, generation, communication, audio visual and IT, protection and ancillary systems) in accordance with design specification and following all required steps and checks for the approved work operation process and operational standards. Back to Duty

S14: Support commission and system tests in accordance with the manufacturer's design specification, company best practice and processes and perform basic crew roles. Back to Duty

S15: Check, test, and diagnose marine electrical and electronic equipment and components in boats to company and marine standards, using appropriate company and marine standards and other relevant documentation. Back to Duty

S16: Power down, remove, repair and reuse or replace electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables. Lockout and tagout electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables. Back to Duty

S17: Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures. Back to Duty

S18: Carry out required modifications and rewiring using approved materials and techniques, adhering to required specifications and instructions. Back to Duty

S19: Fit required new marine electrical and electronic equipment adhering to best practice. Back to Duty

S20: Perform routine servicing in the specified sequence using appropriate techniques and procedures. Back to Duty

S21: Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility. Back to Duty

S22: Check, test, and diagnose battery condition and alternating current (ac) power systems and record results. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Embrace a safety culture and situational awareness including being hazard and risk aware when working on and near water and when working aloft or at height. Challenge any unsafe practices. Back to Duty

B2: Embrace an environmentally sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the appropriate use of resources and own actions. Back to Duty

B3: Demonstrate commitment to quality, commercial awareness and continuous improvement. Back to Duty

B4: Focus on the requirements of the customer (internal and external), seeking to provide outstanding customer service, meeting customer requirements. Back to Duty

B5: Work individually and as part of a team, communicating effectively at different levels to achieve positive work results. Back to Duty

B6: Consistently treat everyone with respect and courtesy, valuing diversity. Back to Duty

B7: Motivated, meticulous, proactive and adaptable, with a focus on continuous personal development. Back to Duty

B8: Manage own time efficiently to complete work operations within the confines of job responsibility, and effectively schedule and manage stakeholder expectations. Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

Other mandatory qualifications

City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Marine Construction, Systems Engineering and Maintenance - all relevant units.

Level: 2

Ofqual regulated

City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Marine Electrical Engineering (Advanced) – with the exception of unit 312 learning outcome 5 which is integrated in to the EPA

Level: 3

Ofqual regulated

British Marine Electrical Technician (BMET)

Level: 2

Marine Electronics Installer (MEI)

Level: 2

Very High Frequency (VHF) License.

Level: 2


Additional details

Occupational Level:

3

Duration (months):

42

Review

this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

Status: Approved for delivery
Level: 3
Reference: ST0808
Version: 1.2
Date updated: 15/11/2023
Approved for delivery: 17 May 2021
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Typical duration to gateway: 42 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £23000
LARS Code: 625
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: Berthon, Raymarine UK Ltd, Pendennis Shipyard Ltd, Princess Yachts Ltd, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Osprey Technical Consulting Ltd, Sunseeker International Ltd, Cockwells Modern and Classic Boat Building Ltd, Volt Master Systems, Bournemouth and Poole College/Sunseeker

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date Latest end date
1.2 End-point assessment plan revised 15/11/2023 Not set Not set
1.1 End-point assessment plan revised 20/01/2022 14/11/2023 Not set
1.0 Retired 20/05/2021 19/01/2022 Not set

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