Quay Assistant/Cleaner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council's Port Service invites applications for a Quay Assistant role. The position involves berthing and slipping ships, maintaining the quayside, cleaning port areas, and assisting with cargo handling, under the Berthing Master.

You will work outdoors in all weathers on a rotating early/late shift pattern, averaging about 43 hours per week. You must be physically fit and able to swim short distances, with APHIDS registration for restricted area access.

Qualifications

• Trained and competent in manual handling techniques.
• Awareness of the Health & Safety at Work Act.
• Customer-focused communication with staff, port users and the public.
• Happy to work shifts and outdoors in all weathers.
• Confident working alone and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Berthing and slipping of ships, including associated equipment and handling.
• Maintaining the quayside and related equipment.
• Cleaning throughout the port, including using machinery where needed.
• Loading, unloading, stores distribution and baggage handling as directed.
• Conducting linkspan safety watches.
• Assisting the Berthing Master with routine tasks.
• Complying with port and council policies, procedures and quality standards.
• Carrying out other reasonable tasks requested by management.
• Delivering the service expected by the council and the port.

Skills

Manual handling

Health & Safety awareness

Customer-focused communication

Shift work outdoors

Team and independent work

Job description

This quay role with Portsmouth City Council's Port Service sits in a team of twelve Quay Assistants across three gangs, reporting to the Berthing Master. The work centres on berthing and slipping ships, linkspan safety watches, quayside maintenance and cleaning. Shifts rotate between early and late turns, averaging 43.16 hours a week including weekends, and much of the work is outdoors. Candidates must be able to swim short distances and register on the Home Office APHIDS database to enter the restricted area.

What the job involves

• Berthing and slipping of ships, including associated equipment and handling
• Maintaining the quayside and related equipment
• Cleaning throughout the port, including using machinery where needed
• Loading, unloading, stores distribution and baggage handling as directed
• Conducting linkspan safety watches
• Assisting the Berthing Master with routine tasks
• Complying with port and council policies, procedures and quality standards
• Carrying out other reasonable tasks requested by management
• Delivering the service expected by the council and the port

What's required

Skills & knowledge

• Trained and competent in manual handling techniques
• Awareness of the Health & Safety at Work Act
• Customer-focused communication with staff, port users and the public
• Happy to work shifts and outdoors in all weathers
• Confident working alone and as part of a team

Checks & eligibility

• Right to work in the UK
• Registration on the APHIDS database
• Subject to the port's drug and alcohol testing policy

Other

• Physically fit and healthy
• Able to swim short distances
• Written examples against each person specification point in the application

Nice to have

• Seamanship skills and competence with ropes and heaving lines
• Previous experience of berthing and slipping vessels
• Experience operating linkspans and quayside equipment
• Experience in firefighting and lifesaving procedures