Mid Green occupation

Engineering and manufacturing

Marine electrician

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Conduct a wide range of marine electrical work.

Summary

This occupation is found in the engineering and manufacturing sector within the marine industry. Marine electricians may work for boat manufacturers, refit and repair boatyards, marinas and specialist marine electrical and marine electronic companies. These can be small, medium or large businesses within the marine leisure, small commercial, and superyacht sectors. These sectors employ over 33,000 people. Marine electricians can undertake work on a variety of boats including for example motorised cruisers, narrowboats, sailing boats, work boats, and superyachts. The broad purpose of the occupation is to conduct a wide range of marine electrical, and marine electronic work operations that include the design and installation of marine assemblies and sub-assemblies. Upgrades, diagnostics, and maintenance to existing marine electrical and electronic systems and marine electrical and electronic repairs on boats, ensuring the safe and optimal use of a boat’s electrical and electronic systems and services, that meet customers’ requirements.They are responsible for installing, maintaining, monitoring, fault finding and repairing a wide range of marine electrical and electronic systems. They are responsible for undertaking the work from inception through to completion, including commissioning the electrical work, testing it and supporting sea trials. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other marine electricians, line managers and a wide range of associated marine trades such as boat builders, marine engineers, stock control staff, and project managers. They also interact with customers, suppliers, other technical staff, and regulatory and industry bodies (e.g. Lloyds Register, Maritime Coastguard Agency, Royal Institution of Naval Architects, and Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology).

Marine electricians’ work operations can be undertaken on boats in a workshop environment, or on boats moored or stored outside on hard standing near water, or in the water and they may also attend sea trials. Marine electricians need to work safely and may work in confined spaces, on or near water, aloft, or at height. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their work to agreed timelines and in accordance with work instructions and relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant guidance and information. Marine electricians are responsible for designing and producing solutions to boat layouts and requirements, and producing marine electrical and electronic systems from electrical, engineering and technical drawings and specifications.

Marine electricians are responsible for performing a range of calculations, using formulae and electrical measuring equipment and galvanic bonding and cathodic protection.

Marine electricians are required to maintain effective lines of communication and solve problems relating to the marine electrical and electronic work requirements. They are required to discuss and understand customers’ electrical and electronic requirements and are responsible for undertaking diagnostic and problem solving to identify faults and make repairs.

They need to understand navigation systems, radar, radio and communications, helm control systems, alarm and monitoring systems, boat communication systems and interface protocols, including alternating current (ac) and direct currents (dc) distribution and loadings and power generation.

Marine electricians must comply with Health and Safety and the Electrical Safety at Work Acts including the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), the waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations (WEEE), and work at height and work on or near water requirements. They need to understand the dynamics of water and electrical systems and components to ensure the safety of themselves, the boat users and the vessel.

Typical job titles include

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1:

Characteristics and features of the national and international marine industry and marine electrician's role and placement within the industry, and who marine electricians interact with in order to perform their work operations.

K2:

Effective communication techniques and methods, their role and features, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each when communicating with different customers and stakeholders (internal and external). Organisational processes and procedures regarding communication channels, methods and techniques, and how communications and their outcomes are recorded and documented.

K3:

Uses of information technology in the marine industry and when performing marine electrical and electronic work operations. Marine electrical and electronic and other general marine terminology and their meanings.

K4:

Different diagnostic and problem solving techniques and methods used to resolve marine electrical and electronic problems relevant to their area of responsibility.

K5:

Sourcing of components, costing, pricing and budgeting principles and reporting discrepancies and quality issues.

K6:

Organisational process and procedures for the design, planning and set up, and installation of marine electrical and electronic systems including assemblies and sub-assemblies.

K7:

Relevant legislation, regulations, relevant industry guidance, and organisational policies, practices and procedures that direct health and safety and environmental sustainability at work and the importance of complying with control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and work at height regulations and work on or near water requirements. The hazards and risks when undertaking marine electrical and electronic work operations and how these can be minimised. Personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used when undertaking marine electrical and electronic work operations, the selection of the PPE and how to use the different PPE. How to deal with emergencies and responsibilities in responding to these within their own area of responsibility.

K8:

Ways of ensuring quality of marine electrical and electronic processes and work products, including continuous business improvement techniques and how they are integrated into marine electrical and electronic work processes and procedures.

K9:

The different sources of information and guidance that directs marine electrical and electronic work operations, typically including marine electrical drawings and technical specifications, where this information and guidance can be found and when and where it should be used.

K10:

The mathematical techniques, formulae, and calculations that underpin marine electrical and electronic work.

K11:

Range of tools, materials, equipment and components used when performing marine electrical and electronic operations, their characteristics, features and their safe use, movement and operation.

K12:

Purpose and operation of different marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems and their characteristics and features.

K13:

Vessel design and construction and complex shapes and the relationship between systems and efficient use of space.

K14:

Principles, process, approved methods and techniques and organisational policy and procedures that need to be followed when undertaking different marine electrical and electronic work operations.

K15:

Importance of accurate completion and maintenance of marine electrical and electronic information, documentation and the records and information that needs to be recorded and where, during different stages of marine electrical and electronic work operations.

K16:

Importance of restoring the work area to a tidy and safe state on completion of marine electrical and electronic work operation and what this entails.

K17:

Necessary checks, tests and diagnostics and inspections undertaken when performing different marine electrical and electronic work operations and how these are undertaken for the different types of marine electrical and electronic work operation.

K18:

Operation principles of different electrical and electronic systems.

K19:

Importance of isolation procedures for marine electrical and electronic operations. Ways of minimising electrostatic discharge.

K20:

Basic operational principles of marine electrical and electronic equipment and components being serviced and their servicing requirements.

K21:

Methods for checking that marine electrical and electronic components are fit for purpose and actions that need to be taken if they are not.

K22:

Means of powering down and correctly operating locking out systems.

K23:

How to check, test, and diagnose the condition of different marine electrical and electronic systems.

K24:

Importance of customer service and effective customer service principles and techniques.

Technical Educational Products

: ST0808: Marine electrician (Level 3) Approved for delivery

Reference:: OCC0808

Status:: Approved occupation

Average (median) salary:: £35,946 per year

SOC 2020 code:: 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5241/03 Installation and maintenance electricians
- 5246/00 Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers

S1:

Prepare for and contribute to meetings and hold discussions. Use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques and marine terminology to aid effective interactions with colleagues, customers, contractors, suppliers and others, to achieve required marine electrical and electronic task outcomes.

S2:

Make recommendations to customers and other interested parties to ensure optimal compliance and performance of marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems, that meet customer requirements. Apply appropriate customer service principles and techniques. Meet customer needs (internal and external) and deliver required customer service in accordance with organisational policy and processes when undertaking a marine electrical and electronic work role.

S3:

Maintain the safety of self along with others by following safe systems of work when conducting marine electrical and electronic work operations. Identify and comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations.

S4:

Consider sustainability and environmental impacts and apply environmental best practice when planning and performing marine electrical and electronic work operations.

S5:

Follow approved industry guidance and techniques, and operational work methods, practices, processes, principles, and procedures when undertaking the different marine electrical and electronic work operations, within required time frames.

S6:

Select, use, maintain, and store appropriate resources safely and correctly (tools, equipment, machinery and consumables).

S7:

Design, plan and set up to produce and install marine electrical and electronic systems including assemblies and sub-assemblies from marine electrical engineering drawings, electrical formulae and technical specifications in the correct manner (This will typically include design of electrical panels, power distribution requirements and best use of available space), ensuring the necessary resources are selected.

S8:

Follow quality improvement principles, techniques, and methods and identify any areas for improvement.

S9:

Use various wiring support mechanisms and systems to route and secure cables in accordance with regulations and best practice and install cables using appropriate segregation and separation methods, in accordance with required specifications in relation to positioning bulkhead penetration.

S10:

Conduct required tests and checks when performing work operations on different marine electrical and electronic systems.

S11:

Restore work area to a safe and tidy condition in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.

S12:

Complete relevant records and documentation relevant to marine electrical and electronic systems, in accordance with organisational documentation and any other relevant information and guidance.

S13:

Install, position and secure marine electrical and electronic equipment and components (propulsion, navigational, safety, domestic, operational, generation, communication, audio visual and IT, protection and ancillary systems) in accordance with design specification and following all required steps and checks for the approved work operation process and operational standards.

S14:

Support commission and system tests in accordance with the manufacturer's design specification, company best practice and processes and perform basic crew roles.

S15:

Check, test, and diagnose marine electrical and electronic equipment and components in boats to company and marine standards, using appropriate company and marine standards and other relevant documentation.

S16:

Power down, remove, repair and reuse or replace electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables. Lockout and tagout electrical and electronic equipment, circuits and cables.

S17:

Dispose of waste materials, in accordance with safe working and environmental practices and approved procedures.

S18:

Carry out required modifications and rewiring using approved materials and techniques, adhering to required specifications and instructions.

S19:

Fit required new marine electrical and electronic equipment adhering to best practice.

S20:

Perform routine servicing in the specified sequence using appropriate techniques and procedures.

S21:

Deal with any problems that may present themselves within their own area of responsibility.

S22:

Check, test, and diagnose battery condition and alternating current (ac) power systems and record results.

Technical Educational Products

: ST0808: Marine electrician (Level 3) Approved for delivery

Reference:: OCC0808

Status:: Approved occupation

Average (median) salary:: £35,946 per year

SOC 2020 code:: 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5241/03 Installation and maintenance electricians
- 5246/00 Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers

B1:

Embrace a safety culture and situational awareness including being hazard and risk aware when working on and near water and when working aloft or at height. Challenge any unsafe practices.

B2:

Embrace an environmentally sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the appropriate use of resources and own actions.

B3:

Demonstrate commitment to quality, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.

B4:

Focus on the requirements of the customer (internal and external), seeking to provide outstanding customer service, meeting customer requirements.

B5:

Work individually and as part of a team, communicating effectively at different levels to achieve positive work results.

B6:

Consistently treat everyone with respect and courtesy, valuing diversity.

B7:

Motivated, meticulous, proactive and adaptable, with a focus on continuous personal development.

B8:

Manage own time efficiently to complete work operations within the confines of job responsibility, and effectively schedule and manage stakeholder expectations.

Technical Educational Products

: ST0808: Marine electrician (Level 3) Approved for delivery

Reference:: OCC0808

Status:: Approved occupation

Average (median) salary:: £35,946 per year

SOC 2020 code:: 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5241/03 Installation and maintenance electricians
- 5246/00 Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers