Work Environment
Skippers typically work in the following Career Sectors:
Videos & Interviews
Ivan Toole & Paul O'Sullivan, Fisherman / Skipper
Ivan Toole is a Fisherman based in Dun Laoghaire, fishing mostly crab, lobster and whelk. Paul works with a team of up to three people on board the fishing vessel.
Paul O’Sullivan is a Skipper in his local area of Castletownbere. He is currently completing his Skipper Full course with BIM which will allow him to fish in a boat of any size globally.
Liz O'Toole, Skipper
It was a personal choice to follow a career in the fishing industry. I did a NCUA course in fishing in the area of becoming a Deckhand. A Deckhand is someone who accompanies and assists the Skipper and his crew. This course led to a work placement on a boat. Three years later, the Skipper on the boat on which I worked gave me the position of 2nd Skipper so I completed the certificate of competency (skipper 2nd hand).
Videos on the Web
- Skipper- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialised knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hasards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
- Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
- Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
- Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
- Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
Further Information
- Skipper - from: N.C.S. [UK]
Qualities - Skipper
- A person who is open-minded, adaptable to different situations
- Able to think on their feet
- change to fit into different cultural and work environments.
- A person who can make decisions quickly and can mix with a wide range of personalities will do well working in the Maritime industry.
Interests - Skipper
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Entry - Skipper
A skipper aborad ships & boats can be the executive supporting many functions. Boat Skipper can also be the main executive leader onboard passenger boats. In a commercial fishing, or transport function. many functions to manage, many pathways into Skipper / ships Officer in the Martitime/ fishing/ aquaculture sector.
Training & Development
FET Centre PLC course Commercial fishing & engineering competency NFQ level 5 search our PLC coursefinder
Training offered by BIM’s National Fisheries Colleges provide all the specialist skills necessary for the skippering of ships Search BIM training
Key Skills
STCW Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (or STCW) Seafarers Key certs
-Navigation
-Core Deck Officer
-Skipper Full Certificate of Competency (Fishing).
-Offshore Health & safety
Professional Development
Last Updated: April, 2023
Pay & Salary - Skipper
Salary Range (thousands per year)* 40k - 150k
Salaries vary by employer commercial & Shipping/ Military/ Leisure, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.
€45,000 (ships officers) -€150,000 (master mariner) per year, depending on experience.
Irish Military/ Naval Service: Military.ie
Data Source(s):
SalaryExpert/ IMDO/ Indeed/ Payscale/ WEI/ Gov-Military
Last Updated: March, 2024
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available
Labour Market Updates - Skipper
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment growth was negative for this occupation, with little change in employment levels since 2020. Most are employed as taxi drivers and bus and coach drivers; although employment levels remained unchanged for taxi drivers between quarter 4 2021 and quarter 4 2022, there was a fall in the number of persons employed as bus and coach drivers. At 43%, the share aged 55 years and older far exceeded the national average and may lead to an increase in replacement demand across the roles in the coming years. Issues with recruiting taxi drivers that occurred with the reopening of the economy post-COVID-19 appears to have eased somewhat; the data does not point to any evidence of shortages.
In a statement to the Joint Oireachtas committee on Transport and Communications, the National Transport Authority noted issues with retaining and recruiting bus drivers in a time of full employment. There have been advertising campaigns (e.g. Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann) to recruit new bus drivers. As a result of issues with recruitment, a quota for 1,500 new permits for bus and coach drivers was added in December 2022 which has yet to be reflected in the data. The Skills for Growth data also indicates issues with filling vacancies for bus drivers (including for those with good communication skills). Despite the negative employment growth for this occupation overall, skills shortages have emerged for bus and coach drivers.
Aircraft pilots, ship officers, air traffic controllers [numbers too small to report.
Useful Contacts - Skipper
-
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)
- Crofton House, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
- (01) 214 4100
- Click Here