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This occupation is found in the maritime industry covering a wide range of commercial activity on inland tidal and non-tidal waterways. Boatmasters often navigate vessels through busy and highly challenging waterways. Opportunities in this industry are very wide-ranging, for example a Boatmaster could be the captain of a single vessel tourist boat or could be working for a large freight operator responsible for safely moving freight up the river to a port.
Inland Waterways vessels might typically operate within a limited navigational area based around a standard working day. However regulations also allow the Boatmaster to navigate a limited distance out to sea. Inland waterways vessels come in all shapes and sizes but are usually designed for short riverine or inshore trade, never more than 5 miles from land or 15 miles from the point of arrival and/or departure. Boatmasters are therefore rarely out of sight of land. Vessel types include but are not limited to vessels from the freight and civil engineering sector and passenger boats that carry up to 12 persons on board.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to ensure safe operation and passage of the vessel. A Boatmaster is responsible for, and has command of, commercial passenger or non-passenger (freight and ‘other service’) vessels and all those on board.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other Boatmasters, crew and any passengers, other vessels and emergency services. Much of their time will be spent on the water. Boatmasters can expect to work outdoors in all weathers. A Boatmaster is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the vessel, ranging from the equipment on-board through to mechanics. The Boatmaster must plan their navigation, handle the vessel and ensure safe mooring/anchoring.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for leading their crew and will report to the vessel owners. Often, there is just one Boatmaster on board but dependent on the type of vessel there can be two or even more Boatmasters present; in these circumstances just one of the Boatmasters will be appointed Captain (in overall charge). Career options are many and varied - depending on how a Boatmaster wants to specialise in future they will need to gain additional "endorsements" (certificates from the MCA) - such endorsements sit outside this Apprenticeship. The KSB's covered in this apprenticeship aim to prepare the candidate for a MCA generic Boatmaster Licence at the appropriate Tier. Specialist operations such as those for a towing or a passenger vessel that carries more than 12 persons on board fall outside this apprenticeship. Important notice: passing the MCA Oral and Practical exams culminate in the MCA award of a Certificate of Competency to practice as a Boatmaster. These exams also form part of the partially integrated approach to End Point Assessment (EPA). These exams must not therefore be completed during the apprenticeship on-programme. All of the remaining mandatory qualifications must be passed by gateway to EPA.
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Duty 1 Manage conformance and maintenance of all equipment onboard and the use of IT management systems |
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Duty 2 Continuously assess operational conditions, stability, trim, watertight integrity, taking corrective actions as necessary |
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Duty 3 Prepare the vessel for operation, ensuring function testing of all systems, machinery and equipment to ensure seaworthiness and also ensure sufficient amounts of consumables, spare parts and stores |
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Duty 4 Maintain effective communications with all parties onboard and ashore. |
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Duty 5 Comply with all relevant laws and regulations, and with organisational procedures, including completing records as required. Accept the overriding authority and responsibility to make decisions with respect to safety and pollution prevention in line with the company's SMS |
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Duty 6 Handle the vessel competently in all conditions that could be encountered on inshore waterways and limited distances to sea |
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Duty 7 Take charge as Master of a navigational watch, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew by taking decisions on navigation, collision avoidance and safe watchkeeping. Continuously monitor and record the safe navigation and operation of the vessel |
K3 K4 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K16 K17 |
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Duty 8 Ensure that human element is reviewed; including safety and operational culture, equality, and crews are fit to work, competent, well rested and meet operational requirements |
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Duty 9 Plan and manage the vessel passage plan berth to berth using both digital and paper systems |
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Duty 10 Ensure all reasonable measures are undertaken and recorded, to prevent pollution of the environment. Work towards methods of sustainability within the workplace. |
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Duty 11 Implement the safety, quality and environmental protection policy of the company ensuring effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to deliver business objectives |
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Duty 12 Take charge of a response during an emergency, including communication with emergency services, search and rescue coordinators and crew |
K1: All Health and Safety Law that pertains to the safe management and passage of a commercial vessel, including certification
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K2: All appropriate terminology, uses and applications of rope work, access, egress, safe movement and lifting gear.
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K3: How a passage plan is executed with all the leadership skills necessary for that voyage to be undertaken safely, securely, and with consideration to the environment.
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K4: The processes for safely and securely anchoring a vessel.
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K5: All International Maritime Organization Conventions e.g. SOLAS, MARPOL, COSWP and IRPCS needed so that a passage plan may be executed appropriately. Company procedures on the bridge. IALA Buoyage ‘A’
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K6: Find a position and plan a route using chart work, electronic navigational aids, publications and navigational tools. To appraise available information, plot, execute and monitor progress whilst recognising when pro-active actions are most suitable.
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K7: Understand relevant regulations and company policies to follow in the event of an emergency. The role of the M.A.I.B, HSE and Local Port procedures
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K8: All aspects of ship manoeuvrability including steering systems and their functions, steering by compass and the responsibilities and implications of locks, docks and bridges
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K9: How the use of propulsion and steering systems varies in different tidal, fluvial and sea-going conditions including poor weather.
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K10: How to use maritime publications and charts to plan a voyage. Know how to access the digital resources available to keep such publications up to date.
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K11: A basic understanding of the principles of IT on board including electronic chart systems, GNSS, and Radar, including their limitations, performance checks and other supporting navigational aids that are commonplace. Principles of communication between vessels and amongst crews.
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K12: Legislation, codes and guidance in vessel operations and vessel construction. To know how to keep and execute maintenance plans in regards to deck machinery and to affect ship stability. To understand factors that affect seaworthiness and survivability.
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K13: General engineering practice and procedures, including pumping and associated control systems and electrical equipment, including digital reporting and recording systems for planned and ongoing maintenance. Shows awareness of UK clean maritime plan as part of the government’s Maritime 2050 long-term strategy. Including awareness of new technologies relating to hybrid vessels and alternative fuels.
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K14: How to apply legislation and guidance to prevent pollution of the marine environment and has knowledge of policies and procedures for vessel operations.
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K15: Equity, diversity and inclusion legislation in the workplace.
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K16: Business objectives considerations: Efficiency, costs, customer satisfaction, Minimising risks to operation.
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K17: Forecast weather, recognise and interpret deteriorating conditions and review a passage plan accordingly whilst taking action on board to be able to complete the voyage or reach a safe haven.
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K18: Demonstrates a knowledge of the content and application of the International and National Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea as appropriate for vessels in inland waterways, harbours and coastal sea waters (as would be applicable to Boatmasters Licence (BML)
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K19: Information Technology systems including word processing and email software
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S1: Take responsibility for the preparation of the vessel prior to going to sea including safe means of access to and egress from the boat and Life saving and fire fighting equipment checks.
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S2: Respond and manage all emergency situations on board including the operation of emergency equipment coordination with the coastguard and other vessels (Sarco) and the liaison with DP and third party organisations.
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S3: Handle a vessel in a high traffic density environment in tidal or non-tidal conditions including in locks and in the vicinity of weirs, bridges and other fixed infrastructure.
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S4: Manoeuvre vessels safely with a variety of propulsion systems including single screw, twin screw, variable pitch, Schottel and other propulsion configurations
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S5: Ensure vessels are operated and remain in a safe and seaworthy condition in accordance with regulations and company procedures. Maintain machinery including main engines, deck equipment and lifesaving and firefighting equipment in full operational condition.
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S6: Uses information and digital technology within own organisation. Complies with GDPR and Cyber Security Regulations and policies.
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S7: Apply team working principles.
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S8: Comply with International, National and local regulations, and health and safety regulations, standards and guidance
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S9: Build, manage and lead your team onboard, developing work relationships and performance management skills.
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S10: Uses verbal communication techniques both at sea and onshore, adapting style and use of terminology to suit the audience.
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S11: Lead procedures including planning and communications in the event of an emergency situation.
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S12: Able to manoeuvre a vessel in all conditions to respond to all types of emergency (e.g. man overboard).
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S13: Use appropriate mooring configurations and equipment in relation to the prevailing tidal, weather conditions and vessel design characteristics.
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S14: Select a suitable anchorage and executing the procedure as required. To use an anchor(s) to aid in manoeuvring.
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S15: Prepare for meteorological impacts affecting the safe management and passage of a commercial vessel.
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S16: Navigate shallow and height restrictive navigations using knowledge of depths, air drafts, vessel dimensions and tide predictions in tidal waters.
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S17: Offer emergency assistance to help another vessel running into danger. To arrange an emergency tow or offer some powered assistance to reach safety.
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S18: Adjusts appropriately the passage plan of the vessel under their command, taking account of safety, time and business objectives.
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S19: Take charge of navigational watch, be able to establish risk of collision and take effective action to avoid collision.
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S20: Monitors business objective considerations and commercial issues, adjusting actions accordingly.
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B1: Follows safe working practices and promotes a safety culture.
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B2: Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
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B3: Takes ownership of work.
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B4: Calm and effective under pressure
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B5: Actively protects the marine environment from pollution.
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B6: Role-models own organisations equity and diversity requirements
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B7: Actively protects the marine environment from pollution.
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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.
This is a regulated occupation.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Training Provider must be approved by regulator body
EPAO must be approved by regulator body
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | End-point assessment plan revised. | 21/03/2025 | Not set |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment, standard and funding band revised | 25/04/2023 | 20/03/2025 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 04/11/2019 | 24/04/2023 |
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