This occupation is found in a wide range of specialist vessels, both commercial and military such as tugs, multi-purpose workboats, aquaculture and fast pilot boats. It also covers crew transfer vessels that take personnel out to vessels or installations offshore.
Small Commercial Vessels operate in varying marine environments such as construction of offshore wind farms, providing a range of services within a port or inland waterways, including surveys and towage. In addition, they may act as support vessels in major salvage operations and wreck removal.
Many employers are based around the coastal ports of the UK or by rivers and canals. They range from large organisations like the Royal Navy, through to small private operators offering specialist services.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to complete mission specific tasks that cannot be completed by land. They typically do this by navigating a specialist vessel to the site and then using the machinery and equipment on that vessel. They must be able to carry out all core tasks on board a vessel with minimal supervision, including but not limited to; communication, navigation and vessel handling, berthing, access & egress, towing operations, laying moorings, personnel transfers and cargo handling
Small Commercial Vessel Crewmembers usually work in teams of 2 or 3 people onboard, including the Master who is in overall charge. While some tasks can be completed within a day, some missions can instead involve vessels being at sea for weeks. This means crewmembers must work flexibly and take their turn to be in charge, for instance when the vessel Master is asleep.
A Small Commercial Vessel Crewmember must make key decisions on safety, security and navigation, sometimes in rapidly changing situations. Their work directly impacts the safety of all those onboard and also impacts protection of the marine environment. A Small Commercial Vessel Crewmember can expect their working patterns to vary considerably, depending on the mission. Some might normally work day shifts. However, this occupation can include working at any time of day or night and in all weathers. Lengthy operations at sea are potentially followed by a similar length of leave.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the Master of the vessel, who they report to, and other crew members. They may also interact with other professionals, such as passengers they are transferring, or seafarers on board other vessels. A Small Commercial Vessel Crewmember interacts with colleagues ashore, alongside, and on fixed structures at sea (e.g. oil platforms). This could include engineers, port and navigational authorities, Coastguard Officers and other Search and Rescue professionals. As well as interacting in person, it’s common for a lot of communication to involve UHF or VHF radio, mobile phones, and onboard IT systems.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for following the instruction of the Master of the vessel, and discharging their duties on the vessel compliantly by following regulations.
They are also responsible for their vessel whenever they are navigating, mooring/anchoring, steering or keeping watch. They must use bridge equipment to check the vessel position. They must manoeuvre a vessel, bring it alongside, and handle mooring ropes to secure the vessel. They must use equipment like winches correctly (if provided). They must guide on safe transfer of personnel from and to their vessel.
They are also responsible for fulfilling mission specific tasks, by correctly using specialist equipment and machinery onboard the vessel (e.g., when handling cargo, they must assist in slinging of loads, crane operations and securing cargo on board).
The Small Commercial Vessel Crewmember must also take appropriate action and respond during emergencies to ensure the safety of the vessel and those working on board. When needed, they must provide emergency first aid. Working together in a very small team to meet mission objectives is a key feature of this occupation.
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 1 Follow the instructions of the Master and work compliantly with regulations. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K36 K41 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S24 S25 S26 S27 S29 S30 S31 |
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Duty 2 Ensure their responsibilities under the Companies Safety Management Systems (SMS) are being complied with, including liaising and communicating with others to ensure the safe working of the vessel |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K33 K34 K35 K40 K41 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S23 S25 S28 S29 |
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Duty 3 Follow the instructions of the Master, to ensure good housekeeping, cleanliness and hygiene on board |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K12 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K22 K30 |
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Duty 4 Take charge of the vessel should, in an emergency, the Master become incapacitated, following the appropriate contingency plan |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K41 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S22 |
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Duty 5 Assist in preparing a vessel for sea, including pre-departure checks. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K41 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S22 |
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Duty 6 Operate, check and maintain onboard machinery and equipment. Make simple running and emergency repairs while at sea |
K1 K12 K13 K16 K17 K19 K20 K22 K24 K30 K37 |
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Duty 7 Manage the deck during mooring or anchoring operations |
K1 K5 K6 K14 K16 K17 K19 K20 K30 |
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Duty 8 Be able to contribute to a safe navigational watch, determining the vessel’s location using bridge equipment; navigating and steering a vessel as per the passage plan |
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Duty 9 Ensure sufficient supplies of water, food, and consumables are onboard for the passage |
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Duty 10 Manage the safety of those onboard the vessel, promoting a safe working environment |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K40 K41 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S22 S30 |
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Duty 11 Respond to emergencies on board ship as per the vessel contingency plan |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K19 K20 K21 K24 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K40 K41 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S18 S19 S20 |
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Duty 12 Use specialist machinery and equipment to perform operational tasks appropriate to the vessel |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K19 K20 K21 K22 K24 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K41 |
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Duty 13 Create, maintain and enhance productive working relations on board (Refer to Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities) |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K32 K34 K38 K39 K41 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S24 S32 |
K1: Operating procedures for the equipment that is used on vessels, for example main engines, pumps and winches.
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K2: Procedures when providing support to diving operations.
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K3: The principles of salvage work.
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K4: Methods for laying and recovering moorings.
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K5: Anchor handling methods.
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K6: The different ways in which vessels contribute to construction work at sea.
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K7: Transfer of personnel and equipment: ship to ship, ship to shore, use of vessels, crew responsibilities.
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K8: Ship manoeuvring: steering systems and their functions, avoiding and navigating locks, docks and bridges.
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K9: Guard and survey duty procedures.
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K10: How vessels support aquaculture.
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K11: Radio communication methods and their application.
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K12: Setting up and recovery of a towline, including all components (wire, shackles, swivel, delta plate, stretcher, bridles).
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K13: The Minimum Breaking Load that applies to a towing set.
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K14: Emergency procedures, applicable to vessel environments and locations.
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K15: Survival techniques in water, including the use of LSA and PPE, for example, lifejacket usage, boarding survival craft, operate location devices.
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K16: Operation of survival equipment carried on vessels, for example, retrieval equipment.
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K17: Techniques for safe working practices across small commercial vessel operations. For example, crane operations, international signalling system.
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K18: Hygiene procedures for the safe preparation of meals on board.
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K19: Statutory and industry regulations for safe working on board a vessel, for example, The Workboat Code, International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea.
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K20: The impact of external forces on a vessel such as sea state, swell and wind.
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K21: The basic stability of a vessel and the factors which may affect it, for example, distribution of cargo and fuel.
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K22: Maintenance techniques for vessel equipment.
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K23: The security regulations and processes of challenge and identification checks for any person boarding a vessel.
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K24: Information technology and digital systems for example computer based recording systems and navigation equipment. GDPR and cyber security regulations.
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K25: Paper chart work and tidal navigation techniques.
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K26: Radar use for position monitoring and collision avoidance techniques.
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K27: Electronic chart use for position monitoring.
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K28: Principles and use of weather forecast and general terms.
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K29: Code vessel paperwork to ensure regulatory compliance.
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K30: Own responsibilities under the organisational safety management system (SMS).
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K31: Maintenance of survival equipment carried on vessels, for example, retrieval equipment.
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K32: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Unconscious bias.
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K33: Emergency first aid techniques and procedures.
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K34: The signs of fatigue in themselves and others and how to recognise them.
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K35: Documentation: methods and requirements - electronic and paper.
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K36: Environmental and sustainability regulations and guidance. Environmental hazards that can arise from small commercial vessel operations.
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K37: Loading and unloading cargo and equipment using a deck crane.
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K38: Verbal communication techniques and maritime terminology.
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K39: Principles of team working.
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K40: Fire fighting equipment (FFE) carried on vessels, for example, manual and mechanical fire pumps, the use of fixed fire systems, and fire alarms.
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K41: Capabilities techniques for keeping a safe navigational watch.
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S1: Operate vessel equipment including main engines, pumps, emergency equipment and winches.
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S2: Support the safety of those on board, for example, passengers, technicians and other crew.
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S3: Maintain a vessel's weather and watertight integrity and take necessary action if breached.
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S4: Operate life saving appliances (LSA) and firefighting equipment (FFE).
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S5: Administer emergency first aid.
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S6: Coordinate a response to an emergency situation.
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S7: Steer a vessel in different marine environments, for example, maintain and alter course when required to do so, taking into account local environment and conditions.
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S8: Manoeuvre a vessel to enable recovery of "man overboard" and the safe boarding of emergency services and authorities.
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S9: Load and unload cargo and equipment using deck cranes, for example, the correct slinging of loads, use of international signalling methods and correct stowage of dangerous goods.
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S10: Anchor a vessel.
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S11: Communicate with others verbally using maritime terminology for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
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S12: Perform deck operations as appropriate to the vessel type, and on board equipment, for example, plough dredging, survey activities, setting up a tow, recovery of towline in adverse weather conditions, transfer of personnel and equipment.
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S13: Contribute to maintaining vessel equipment including main engines, pumps, emergency equipment and winches
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S14: Respond to emergency situations, for example, deploying life rafts, deploying man overboard equipment, using emergency towlines.
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S15: Undertake running and emergency repairs.
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S16: Create a safe means to board and disembark from a vessel.
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S17: Recognise and respond to the signs of fatigue in self and others.
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S18: Prepare food on board.
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S19: Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations.
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S20: Keep a safe navigational watch
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S21: Use vessel radio equipment.
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S22: Maintain lifesaving appliances (LSA) and firefighting equipment (FFE)
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S23: Follow safe working practices.
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S24: Apply equity, diversity and inclusion policies.
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S25: Complete security checks for persons boarding a vessel
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S26: Moor a vessel.
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S27: Unmoor a vessel.
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S28: Follow safe working practices under the organisational safety management system (SMS)
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S29: Record or enter information - electronic or paper based, for example, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, work sheets, checklists.
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S30: Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S31: Use electronic navigational charts to fix the vessels position.
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S32: Apply team working principles
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B1: Prioritise health and safety.
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B2: Flexible in dealing with new and changing situations.
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B3: Team-focus to meet work goals.
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B4: Consideration and respectful of others, including, those who need to sleep whilst others are awake.
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B5: Actively protects the marine environment from pollution
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B6: Act ethically
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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.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Occupational standard and End-point assessment plan revised. | 25/03/2025 | Not set |
| 1.1 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 27/11/2023 | 24/03/2025 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 07/08/2018 | 26/11/2023 |
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