This apprenticeship has been retired
Represent the vessel operators or owners to facilitate the efficient arrival, working, and departure of their vessels in a port.
This occupation is found in the shipping industry and located in ports around the country. These ports range considerably in size, from major import/export centres through to much smaller and sometimes remote ports. Port agents work for commercial companies, that may be based in a port or off site.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to represent the vessel operators/owners to facilitate the efficient arrival, working, and departure of their vessels in a port. They do this by supporting vessel progress during a voyage (anywhere in the world) and by ensuring the vessel captain has the help and assistance they need. This support can be very wide-ranging, from making sure the vessel has the right permissions, and the correct crew complement, through to having enough provisions onboard.
Port agents spend a lot of their time communicating with other stakeholders to agree and coordinate activities, ensuring a safe and smooth voyage. While this occupation is often office based, port agents can expect to spend time working onboard vessels when moored in port. Typically, they may have a home port they work in most of the time, yet sometimes need to travel to different ports around the UK. A port agent must work flexibly, including some unsociable hours. And they can expect to be in and around the port in all weathers.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the vessel’s captain and crew who may be of any nationality. The scale and purpose of ports varies a lot, with each port being unique. The port agent will identify and interact with all parties involved in port operations, such as importers and/or exporters, the port authority, terminal operator, stevedores, government authorities (HMRC, Border Force, Port Health, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Immigration), marine pilots, harbour masters, docking masters, company representatives, local ship providores, repairers and maritime equipment suppliers. A port agent is appointed by a Principal, who might be the vessel owner or vessel operator. A port agent must work to the overall instruction of the Principal.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their own port agency work within the limits of their responsibility. They must follow instructions, by delivering on the agreed commercial arrangement between their own organisation and the vessel owner or vessel operator.
They are also responsible for providing advice and support to the vessel captain during the voyage, for providing financial services (including cash float) as instructed by vessel owner/operator, and for arranging and overseeing cargo operations when in port.
They will arrange crew, purchase supplies needed by the vessel, and negotiate any work needed with local port suppliers. They also help support the safety and security of vessel related operations. And they must submit any reports or applications needed to comply with port requirements.
They do not arrange an agency agreement themselves or win new work for their organisation; this is instead the responsibility of a senior port agent or a sales/business development manager. They are expected to respond to incidents that affect the vessel, by taking decisions that help bring the operation back on course. Although a port agent must try to resolve any problems themselves, they will escalate issues beyond their authority to a senior port agent or manager in their own organisation and the vessel owner/operator. When a voyage is completed, the port agent must provide their closing reports, including a financial summary.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. The EPA period is typically 4 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
For the port agent, the qualification required is:
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Foundation Diploma in Port Agency
Multiple-choice test
You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials.
The test will have 30 multiple-choice questions. You will have 45 minutes to complete it.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 45 minutes. They will ask you at least 7 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You can use it to help answer the questions.
Practical assessment with questions
You will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 2 hours. They will ask you at least 5 questions.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 20/07/2022 | 12/02/2025 |
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