Marine Pilot

Port of London Authority; Greater London; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Port of London Authority seeks a Marine Pilot – Trainee to join a structured training plan at Gravesend, Kent. You will progress through a defined training timetable while gaining hands-on bridge duties and tug coordination under supervision.

The role requires STCW II/2 Masters Unlimited or progression towards it, ENG1 medical clearance, a full driving license, and exceptional communication in English, including VHF use. You must live within an hour’s travel of Gravesend.

Qualifications

• Eligible to work in the UK.
• Hold STCW II/2 Masters Unlimited or achieve by training start.
• Hold ENG1 medical certificate (or equivalent).
• Hold a full current driving license.
• Excellent communicator and fluent in English, especially on VHF.
• Good spatial awareness and decisiveness.
• Team player with IT skills.
• Must live within one hour travel to Gravesend HQ.

Responsibilities

• Provide navigational advice to vessel masters.
• Support vessel masters in communication with personnel and other vessels.
• Perform navigation and bridge management duties.
• Record and submit passage plans.
• Coordinate tug activity.
• Maintain PLA reputation for safe operations and customer service.

Skills

Fluent English

Excellent communicator

Team player

Good IT skills

Spatial awareness

Decisive and confident

VHF communication

Live within 1 hour of Gravesend

Education

STCW II/2 Masters Unlimited Certificate

ENG1 medical certificate

Full driving license

Tools

None

Job description

Find out more information relating to our ‘Marine Pilot – Trainee’ role and training plan

Minimum Requirements

To apply to be a Port of London Authority Trainee Pilot you must:

• Be eligible to work in the UK – Find out more about eligibility
• Hold a STCW II/2 Masters Unlimited Certificate of Competency, or have achieved this by the time of training commencement if successful (Evidence of Notice of Eligibility will be required)
• Hold an unrestricted ENG1 medical certificate (or equivalent)
• Hold a full current driving license
• Be an excellent communicator and fluent in English, in particular when using VHF
• Have good spatial awareness
• Be decisive and able to act confidently
• Be a team player with good I.T. skills
• You must live within one hour travelling time to our Gravesend headquarters

Desirable Skills

• Experience of tug operations (berthing & unberthing)
• Experience of working aboard a variety of commercial vessels
• Knowledge of the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code
• Local knowledge of the river Thames

One or more of these skills would be highly desirable, however training will be provided for the right candidate.

Key Accountabilities

Some of the key accountabilities of our Pilots:

• Providing clear navigational advice and information on regulatory requirements to vessel masters
• Supporting vessel masters in their communication with personnel and other vessels
• Conduct of navigation and bridge management duties
• Recording and submitting passage plans
• Coordinating tug activity
• Upholding the reputation of the Port of London Authority in the delivery of safe operations and excellent customer service

Salary: Marine Pilot - Trainee starting salary - £73,297 (6-month training period).

Salary will increase with pilot progression.

Pilot Class IV - £ 92,269 up to Pilot Class I – £130,387

Our Interview Process

• Submit application

Candidates must supply a CV with a covering letter and provide answers to screening questions.

• Screening call

If your application meets our first stage screening criteria, you may be invited to an online interview to explore your suitability for the role further.

• Interview & simulator test

If your application is successful, you will be invited to a face-to-face interview at our headquarters in Gravesend, Kent. This will include a 1-hour interview of competency-based questions and a 1-hour ship simulator assessment.

• Interview outcome

Within two weeks of your interview, you will receive an outcome. If you have been successful, it is at this point you will receive a conditional job offer and we will conduct our pre-employment checks.

The PLA are not registered with the UK Home Office and do not sponsor candidates who require a visa or work permit to work in the UK, therefore an offer of employment cannot be made unless you currently hold the rights to live and work in the UK.

A thriving tidal Thames and home to the UK’s number one port.

We are driven by our purpose to protect and improve the 95 mile stretch of the River Thames which is tidal – from Teddington Lock on the border of Surrey, through the heart of London, Kent, Essex and out to the North Sea.