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Useful experience for ship's masters includes:

• service in the Navy
• work as a deckhand or other seafarer roles.

Ship's masters may do some or all of the following:

• look after passengers, cargo and the vessel's safety
• plan and execute the vessel's route
• ensure all maritime laws, rules and regulations are followed and records are kept correctly
• ensure maintenance and repairs are carried out
• oversee any emergency operations
• supervise cargo handling.

Tug masters and pilots may also:

• guide and assist ships in and out of harbours and other difficult waterways
• assist with hazard identification, firefighting, pollution control and rescues.

Shortage of qualified and experienced ship’s masters

Demand for ship’s masters with the relevant certificates and experience to command vessels is growing due to:

• an ageing workforce, which means more vacancies are arising as ship’s masters retire
• the increasing volume of exports by sea, which means more ship's masters are needed to work on ships sailing from New Zealand.

According to the Census, 744 ship's masters worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Opportunities vary depending on type of ship's master qualification you have

Opportunities are best for ship’s masters who are qualified to work on large ships, tugboats and piloting ships, as these roles require experienced ship's masters with an advanced level of navigation skills.

Ship’s masters (skippers) with Skipper Restricted Limits for 500GT endorsement, or higher qualification, appears on Immigration New Zealand's  transport sector agreement. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled ship's masters from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Demand for ship's masters qualified to work on smaller boats is lower. People in roles such as launchmaster and inshore launch operator may find it more difficult to find a job.

Types of employers varied

Ship's masters can work for:

• international shipping companies
• New Zealand based shipping companies
• authorities (as tug masters or harbour pilots, though some are employed by New Zealand shipping companies)
• ferry and charter companies.

Some ship's masters are self-employed.

Maritime New Zealand

(04) 473 0111 - enquiries@maritimenz.govt.nz - www.maritimenz.govt.nz

Ship's masters can progress to more land-based roles such as maritime tutor or lecturer.

They may also move into administrative or management roles in the maritime industry such as:

• ship cargo surveyor
• harbour master
• marine manager
• chief executive of a port company.

• Tertiary lecturer job information
• Chief executive job information

Ship's masters may specialise in operating a particular size or type of vessel such as:

• tug boat
• petrol tanker
• container ship
• fishing boat
• cruise ship
• superyacht
• water taxi
• passenger ferry
• tourism vessel. 

Ship's masters need to be:

• mature and responsible
• organised and disciplined
• adaptable
• able to make good judgements
• able to work well in a team.