This occupation is found in the maritime sector which can include ships and submarines involved in defence and it also can be found in commercial shipping.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to work from engineering drawings, data and documentation in order to undertake the manufacture, installation, testing, fault diagnosis, maintenance, overhaul and removal of mechanical and fluid power equipment on ships and submarines. This can include propulsion machinery, weapons, reactor or auxiliary systems (such as water, air conditioning and power generation). It requires knowledge and expertise in the use of common and specialist machine and hand tools, and the use of a variety of measuring and diagnostic equipment and processes to ensure individual components and assemblies meet the required specification.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of other stakeholders such as other mechanical fitters, supervisors, engineers and colleagues. They could be based on a submarine or ship or could be shore-based working on ships and submarines in dock or within a workshop environment. The role could involve working in confined spaces.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for complying with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements and they will be expected to work both individually and as part of a team. They will be able to work with minimal supervision, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work they undertake and will be proactive in finding solutions to problems and identifying areas to improve business processes.
Individual employers will set the recruitment and selection criteria for their apprenticeships. Candidates will typically have 4 GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 or equivalent, including mathematics, English and a science.
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Duty 1 Receive, read and interpret engineering data and documentation such as engineering drawings, technical data, blueprints, schematic drawings, and technical documentation. |
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Duty 2 Plan and prepare maritime mechanical maintenance, installation and other work activities to cause minimal disruption. Agree planned actions and obtain any required permits or permissions required to carry out the work. |
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Duty 3 Select, obtain and prepare resources required to carry out the task. Carry out pre-use checks of equipment, tools and other resources. |
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Duty 4 Comply with safe systems of work ensuring statutory regulations and organisational compliance requirements are met. Ensure the safe and secure isolation of equipment as required by organisational policies. Report any accidents and near misses through the required process. |
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Duty 5 Use common and specialist machine and hand tools to perform tasks. |
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Duty 6 Keep stakeholders informed about work, for example customers, colleagues and line managers. |
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Duty 7 Use a range of testing and measuring equipment to carry out the task and to aid in fault diagnosis. |
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Duty 8 Carry out installation, removal, overhaul or planned maintenance on mechanical equipment, machinery and systems within the maritime sector such as fluid power, pumps, valves, hydraulic systems or air systems to required specifications. Ensure all parts and consumables used in the activity comply with specifications. |
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Duty 9 Carry out reactive work and resolve breakdown or failure conditions on mechanical equipment within the maritime sector. Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults using recognised methods and techniques. Diagnose and resolve faulty items relevant to the maritime environment. |
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Duty 10 Identify, communicate and report health, safety, performance and functionality issues and environmental conditions affecting mechanical equipment. |
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Duty 11 Return mechanical equipment to operational condition and carry out required functional, quality and operational checks to confirm equipment serviceability and fitness for purpose. |
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Duty 12 Maintain and restore the work area, performing housekeeping and waste management as appropriate in line with environmental and organisational requirements. Ensure tools, unused materials and equipment are returned to a safe, clean and approved condition on completion of work. |
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Duty 13 Complete electronic or paper-based documentation at all required stages of the work activity. |
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Duty 14 Carry out continuous improvement opportunities and identify possible opportunities for improvements and efficiencies. Identify and complete professional development activities. |
K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, relevance to the occupation and the mechanical fitters responsibilities. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Display Screen Equipment. Due diligence. Electrical safety and compliance. Emergency evacuation procedures. Health and Safety at Work Act – responsibilities. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. L8 Legionella. Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). Lone working. Manual handling. Near miss reporting. Noise regulation. Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Risk assessments. Safe systems of work. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Situational awareness. Slips, trips and falls. Types of hazards. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Working at height. Working in confined spaces.
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K2: Engineering, mathematical and scientific principles, methods, techniques, graphical expressions, symbols, formulae and calculations used in a maritime mechanical fitting environment.
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K3: The structure, properties and characteristics of common materials and fluid properties used in mechanical fitter activities in the maritime sector.
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K4: Problem solving techniques.
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K5: Testing, inspection and diagnostic methods and techniques for maritime mechanical problems.
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K6: Approved processes and procedures for maritime mechanical activities: how to access and follow.
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K7: Principles of interpreting engineering data and documentation in a maritime mechanical environment.
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K8: The different roles and functions in the organisation and how they interact.
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K9: Maritime engineering technology and principles applied in the design, build, manufacture, operation and maintenance of maritime vessels.
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K10: Awareness of electrical systems safety when working on mechanical systems on vessels.
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K11: The function and operation of hand tools, power tools and jigs used in a maritime mechanical environment.
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K12: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them. Maritime engineering terminology.
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K13: Documentation: methods and requirements - electronic and paper.
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K14: Principles of sustainability and circular economy. Energy efficiency and reuse of materials. Environmental and sustainability procedures. Principles of control and management of emissions and waste. Efficient use of resources.
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K15: Equality Act. Equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Unconscious bias.
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K16: Escalation procedures.
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K17: Business operation considerations: efficiency, customer satisfaction, competitiveness, minimising risks to operation, and ethical issues.
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K18: Team working principles.
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K19: Continuous improvement techniques.
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K20: Planning techniques: resources, tools, equipment, access and time management.
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K21: Maritime mechanical maintenance practices and techniques: planned, preventative, and corrective methods and their frequency.
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K22: Techniques for measuring and marking out maritime mechanical components.
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K23: Maritime mechanical assembly methods and techniques: lubrication, inspection, alignment, balancing, tightening, fastening, cleaning and calibrating.
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K24: Principles of quality assurance in a maritime mechanical environment.
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K25: Principles and practices of restoring the work area on completion of work.
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K26: Techniques for cutting, shaping and finishing maritime mechanical components.
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K27: The range of propulsion plants and auxiliary equipment used in maritime vessels.
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K28: Ship systems: their purpose and how they function. Hydraulics, fuel, water and air systems.
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K29: The practical and theoretical requirements of maritime mechanical and fluid power equipment and systems used on board vessels.
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S1: Obtain, read, analyse and interpret engineering data, drawings or documentation used in the design, build, operation and repair of maritime vessels such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation.
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S2: Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
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S3: Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for safety, quality, cost, security and environmental impact.
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S4: Use approved processes and procedures for maritime mechanical work.
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S5: Carry out maritime mechanical quality assurance checks.
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S6: Resolve maritime mechanical engineering problems within the limits of their responsibility. Escalate un-resolved fault issues or problems.
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S7: Restore the work area on completion of the activity. Return any resources and consumables.
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S8: Measure and mark out maritime mechanical components.
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S9: Select and use hand and power tools to cut, shape and finish maritime mechanical components.
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S10: Install and remove maritime mechanical equipment or components, sub-assemblies or whole systems.
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S11: Apply maritime mechanical assembly and use methods and techniques such as lubrication, inspection, alignment, balancing, tightening, fastening, cleaning and calibrating on board maritime vessels.
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S12: Apply testing, inspection and diagnostic techniques used in the maritime mechanical environment.
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S13: Apply planned, preventative and corrective maintenance techniques on mechanical maritime components, equipment and systems.
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S14: Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
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S15: Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
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S16: Apply team working principles.
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S17: Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
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S18: Record and enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
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S19: Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards for example, segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S20: Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
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B1: Put health and safety first.
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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: Take personal responsibility for their own sustainable working practices.
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B4: Take account of diversity and inclusion requirements.
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B5: Respond and adapt to work demands and situations.
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B6: Take responsibility for completing work.
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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 standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
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| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 10/09/2024 | Not set |
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