Ship master
Take command of a ship. You’ll be responsible for safely transporting passengers, cargo and crew.
Also known as: ship captain, vessel master
About the job
What it's like
As the master of a ship, you'll take command and lead the crew on journeys over water. You'll be responsible for the safety of passengers and cargo, getting them where they need to go.
In this role, you hold the highest rank on board. You'll direct the work of deck officers, looking after areas such as navigation, maintenance and safety.
You could be the captain of many different types of vessel. These include container ships, tankers, commercial yachts, ferries, tugboats and cruise ships. You might captain a commercial ship that forms part of the Merchant Navy. Or you could command a vessel that serves other purposes such as research, fishing, search and rescue, leisure or other specialist work. In offshore wind, for example, you might captain support vessels that transport staff and equipment to and from wind farms.
What you do each day will depend on the industry you're in and the type of ship you command. In general, you'll plan journeys, manage budgets and staff, oversee operations on board and keep your ship well maintained.
Your tasks might include:
planning a ship's course, you'll think about sea conditions, weather, traffic and hazards
overseeing the loading and safe storage of cargo
managing the crew, including assigning duties, supporting training and maintaining discipline
responding to emergencies and making sure everyone follows safety procedures
following international maritime laws and environmental regulations
communicating with other vessels, coastguard and port authorities about the ship’s position and plans
Other similar roles include skipper or boatmaster. These involve taking charge of smaller vessels, for example on inland waterways, in coastal areas or on short routes.
Green job
In this job, you may carry out duties that help the environment. This could be:
working in the renewables sector, such as on offshore wind projects
following environmental regulations to limit pollution at sea
planning or adjusting routes to avoid wildlife or sensitive marine habitats
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Skills Development Scotland – learn more about career opportunities in Scotland across offshore wind
Careers at Sea – explore apprenticeship opportunities with shipping companies
Merchant Navy Training Board – discover the shipping industry's body for sector-specific education, training and skills
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Related industries
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- making decisions
- taking responsibility
- resilience
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- motivating others
- developing a plan
- making decisions
- adaptability
- attention to detail
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Physics
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Engineering Science
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English
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Geography
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Environmental Science
Becoming a ship master takes years of dedication. You'll need to work on vessels to gain experience and build up your knowledge. As you progress through different ranks, you'll gain professional maritime qualifications.
The main qualification you'll need for this role is a Master Certificate of Competence (CoC). In the UK, these are issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and recognised across the world.
Explore some of the routes into this career.
Work
You can start in an entry-level job, such as deckhand. From there, you can train and gain experience to progress to deck officer roles.
With the right sea time, training and exams, you can continue working towards the rank of master.
As you progress, you’ll gain industry certifications and licenses, which may include:
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) safety training
Officer of the Watch (OOW) certificate
Chief Mate certificate
Master’s Certificate of Competency (CoC) (the qualification needed to take command of a ship)
College
You can apply for a deck officer cadetship. This is an MCA-approved programme that takes three years to complete. It combines experience at sea with academic learning and provides some of the certifications you'll need for this career.
Other useful subjects include:
Nautical Science
Maritime Skills
Access to Maritime
Use the My World of Work course search to explore college opportunities.
Apprenticeships
A Modern Apprenticeship (MA) means you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. Check out this Maritime Occupations MA on Apprenticeships.scot.
Completing this MA will not lead to the MCA-approved qualifications you'll need. But it’s a great starting point for getting into a maritime career.
Having a basic grasp of other languages is beneficial. You may work with a multicultural crew, so this’ll help you communicate with them.
Employers will list the specific professional qualifications they're looking for in job adverts. If you've completed a Master's Certificate of Competency, you'll likely hold all the certifications needed.
You'll also need to pass background and medical checks to work as a ship's master.
Continued learning is important for this career to stay qualified.
Joining the Sea Cadets (for ages 10 to 18) or Sea Rangers (for ages 18 to 29) can help you build confidence and learn valuable water-based skills.
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