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Apprenticeship training course

Port operative (level 2)

There are 10 training providers who offer this course. Check if a training provider can deliver this training in the apprentice's work location.

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Information about Port operative (level 2)

Carrying out a range of tasks involving handling cargo, passengers or marine craft.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Regulations and legislation that impact the port sector.
  • Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role and its safe operation. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Hazards and risks that occur in the workplace.
  • Methods to promote safe working including, risk assessments, method statements, control measures and safe systems of work.
  • Importance of compliance with regulations and legislation.
  • Associated regulations and legislation relating to control of substances hazardous to health. (COSHH) and the international maritime dangerous goods (IMDG) code.
  • Policies, procedures and working practices.
  • Port security and the security levels that are associated with the port industry.
  • Information sources: text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, and permits to work.
  • Principles and considerations for responding to incidents and emergencies.
  • Principles of using equipment and machinery.
  • Principles and methods of safe movement of traffic, goods, and pedestrians around the port.
  • The principles and techniques of pre-operational checks.
  • Environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Impact of the sector on the environment and efficient use of resources.
  • Port waste management techniques including recycling, reuse, and safe disposal of waste.
  • Factors that delay the completion of planned work for example the impact of the weather, tides, and road traffic.
  • Limits of authority and escalation procedures.
  • Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
  • Information systems used to support port operations. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Written communication techniques.
  • Verbal communication techniques.
  • Documentation: methods and requirements – electronic and paper.
  • Principles of team working and wellbeing.
  • Techniques of identifying and handling cargo.
  • Toolbox talks.
  • Classifications of cargo including dangerous goods, liquid bulk, dry bulk, break bulk, roll on; roll off, (roro), and containers.
  • Principles and techniques for loading, unloading, and storing of products including transport weight limits and loading distribution principles.
  • Loading, lift or stow plans.
  • Processes for identifying, recording, and reporting pre-existing damage and any new damage.
  • The principles and techniques of securing loads.
  • Principles and techniques of radio communication and hand signalling following associated legislation, regulations, and recognised standards such as The Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations and BS 7121.
  • Regulations and legislation that impact the port sector.
  • Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role and its safe operation. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Hazards and risks that occur in the workplace.
  • Methods to promote safe working including, risk assessments, method statements, control measures and safe systems of work.
  • Importance of compliance with regulations and legislation.
  • Associated regulations and legislation relating to control of substances hazardous to health. (COSHH) and the international maritime dangerous goods (IMDG) code.
  • Policies, procedures and working practices.
  • Port security and the security levels that are associated with the port industry.
  • Information sources: text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, and permits to work.
  • Principles and considerations for responding to incidents and emergencies.
  • Principles of using equipment and machinery.
  • Principles and methods of safe movement of traffic, goods, and pedestrians around the port.
  • The principles and techniques of pre-operational checks.
  • Environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Impact of the sector on the environment and efficient use of resources.
  • Port waste management techniques including recycling, reuse, and safe disposal of waste.
  • Factors that delay the completion of planned work for example the impact of the weather, tides, and road traffic.
  • Limits of authority and escalation procedures.
  • Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
  • Information systems used to support port operations. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Written communication techniques.
  • Verbal communication techniques.
  • Documentation: methods and requirements – electronic and paper.
  • Principles of team working and wellbeing.
  • Types of equipment or assistance for passengers to safely embark and disembark a vessel.
  • The security and safety risks posed when a passenger embarks and disembarks a vessel.
  • Principles and techniques of the operational activity associated with passenger vessels.
  • Procedures for managing damaged, lost, unclaimed, unlabelled, unaccompanied, or suspect baggage and items.
  • Techniques for handling baggage and other items taking into account the kind of baggage and items.
  • The principles of making safe and secure the quayside and the transit areas of a port for the passengers.
  • The impact of weather and tide considerations on passengers.
  • Customer service techniques including understanding diverse needs.

Skills

  • Follow port sector procedures in line with sector regulations and legislation.
  • Follow procedures in line with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Identify and report hazards and risks in the workplace. Take action to mitigate hazards and risk.
  • Comply with safe systems of work and apply control measures.
  • Identify hazardous goods.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Comply with port security measures.
  • Follow instructions provided from information, for example, text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, or permits to work.
  • Use equipment and machinery.
  • Follow procedures to ensure safe movement of traffic, goods, or pedestrians around the port.
  • Carry out pre-operational checks.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Follow techniques for waste management across the port.
  • Escalate issues of concern.
  • Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
  • Use information systems. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
  • Apply team working and wellbeing principles.
  • Uses cargo handling techniques.
  • Use toolbox talks.
  • Classify cargo.
  • Load, unload, or store cargo.
  • Follow a loading, lift or stow plan.
  • Identify, record and report pre-existing damage or new damage.
  • Secures the load, for example to maintain the integrity of the cargo, or to prevent damage to the vessel.
  • Use techniques to coordinate planned cargo movements for example, hand signalling or radio communication.
  • Follow port sector procedures in line with sector regulations and legislation.
  • Follow procedures in line with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Identify and report hazards and risks in the workplace. Take action to mitigate hazards and risk.
  • Comply with safe systems of work and apply control measures.
  • Identify hazardous goods.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Comply with port security measures.
  • Follow instructions provided from information, for example, text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, or permits to work.
  • Use equipment and machinery.
  • Follow procedures to ensure safe movement of traffic, goods, or pedestrians around the port.
  • Carry out pre-operational checks.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Follow techniques for waste management across the port.
  • Escalate issues of concern.
  • Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
  • Use information systems. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
  • Apply team working and wellbeing principles.
  • Provide equipment or assistance for passengers to embark and disembark a vessel.
  • Follow procedures for secure passenger access.
  • Carry out operational tasks related to passenger vessels, such as loading and unloading commodities and products, assisting the vessel, its occupants and vessel staff.
  • Follow procedures for damaged, lost, unclaimed, unlabelled, unaccompanied, or suspect baggage.
  • Use techniques and equipment to handle baggage and items.
  • Complete site checks.
  • Take action to mitigate the risks to passengers where there are adverse weather conditions.
  • Identify customer needs and deliver a service to meet those needs, resolving queries or problems.

Behaviours

  • Prioritise health, and safety.
  • Considers the environment and sustainability.
  • Team-focus to meet work goals.
  • Supports an inclusive workplace.
  • Act in a professional manner.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands and situations.
  • Prioritise health, and safety.
  • Considers the environment and sustainability.
  • Team-focus to meet work goals.
  • Supports an inclusive workplace.
  • Act in a professional manner.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands and situations.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Transport and logistics
Qualification level
2
Equal to GCSE
Course duration
12 months
Maximum funding
£8,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Cargo operative
  • Container operative
  • Ferry operative
  • Passenger operative
  • Port operative
  • Port plant operator
  • Port warehousing operative
  • Roll-on roll-off operative
  • Stevedore

View more information about Port operative (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.