The new apprenticeship standard for Ship’s Master on vessels less than 500 gross tonnes, in near-coastal waters, builds upon the success of the existing Officer of the Watch apprenticeship which has been running within the sector for four years.

In a world-first, the apprenticeship will include time spent on cutting-edge ship simulators, as part of a pilot education programme with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). This will enable the apprentices to train for difficult, potentially high-risk and challenging scenarios to be run on the simulators, boosting the students’ competence and ability, within a safe environment.

The Standard has been allocated the highest funding band of £27,000 over four years. It will allow apprentices on completion of their training to become the most senior rank on a vessel, taking charge of a vessel’s safety and navigation at sea and in harbour.

As Master, they will be required to make decisions about the safe navigation, collision avoidance and security of the vessel, ensuring both the safety of anyone working on the outside decks or in the engine room, and for the protection of the environment. Masters on vessels of this size are found across a wide range of specialist vessels, in both commercial and military sectors, including vessels carrying cargo or passengers, Royal Navy landing craft, tugs, fishing boats, commercial yachts and workboats.

The Trailblazer process, bringing together commercial vessels’ operators, was supported by Boluda Towage Europe, Boluda Towage SMS, British Tugowners Association, Forth Ports, Maritime Skills Alliance (MSA), Ministry of Defence, Port of Dover, Svitzer, Serco, Towage, The Workboat Association, and Williams Shipping.

The Secretary of State formally agreed and approved the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s (IFATE) recommendation of funding on 19 February 2025 and the apprenticeship standard has been approved for delivery by them. However, starts on the apprenticeship will only be possible once a suitable end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) has obtained Ofqual recognition – a process now underway. 

Full details of the Apprenticeship can be found here

Maritime Minister, Mike Kane MP, said:

This Government is serious about breaking down barriers to opportunity and encouraging more people into their dream careers.

I’m proud to see this support for apprenticeships in the maritime sector, which will help develop and nurture the next generation of skilled, hardworking UK seafarers.

David Carter, Chair of the Master 500GT Trailblazer Group, and Royal Navy's Merchant Navy Liaison Officer said:

The apprenticeship is the maritime sector’s first “Zero to Hero” fully funded apprenticeship to gain a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Master Mariner Certificate of Competency 500GT, building on Officer of the Watch 500GT near coastal apprenticeship, facilitating the Government’s ambition for growth in UK maritime skills in offshore energy, towage, and workboat sectors.

I am delighted to see the apprenticeship approved, a huge thank you to the Trailblazer Group in getting this over the line. We have IfATE and DfE endorsement for the maximum permissible funding for 100% of the training costs and that is a fantastic achievement.

It has been especially rewarding to have support from the MCA and IfATE to go beyond statutory minimum requirements in the apprenticeship. To include management level human element and leadership training and funding for the MCA Bridge Watchkeeping Skills Simulator Course, an industry first, means the apprenticeship offers A+ standards and ground-breaking new training methods.

Carmel Grant, Acting Chief Executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) said:

I want to congratulate the Trailblazer group of expert employers for developing this innovative apprenticeship. It is exciting to see how a combination of new technology and established training will enhance the skills of future ship’s masters, for smaller vessels, to ensure safety and to support navigation both at sea and in harbour.

Svitzer Apprentice, Shaun Lock, who started his career in the sector having completed the Officer of the Watch apprenticeship, and will move on to this Master 500gt programme to further enhance his skills, said:

Apprenticeships have given me the opportunity to work up the ladder within an industry that I am very passionate about to achieve my dream career goal of being a Tug Master. It has given me the necessary skills and qualities to undertake such a specialised role with the guidance from an array of experienced crews, that I have worked with over my career.

“Now that the Master 500gt Near Coastal has been approved, I am looking forward to taking the knowledge that I have gained throughout my career, plus the expert teachings within this next phase and take the final leap to achieving my dream role and life ambition as a Tug Master.

Svitzer UK Managing Director, Michael Paterson, and Vice Chairman of the British Tugowners Association (BTA), commented:

This is fantastic news for the Maritime community and we very much welcome this apprenticeship funding for the UK small vessel sector, in which we operate in excess of 70 tugs. 

The towage industry is an essential part of the UK Maritime trade ecosystem and this funding and pathway will ensure the future of the next generation of seafarers.

Press enquiries should be directed to Stephanie Kenyon, Director of External Affairs, skenyon@ukchamberofshipping.com