3512 Ship and hovercraft officers

In short

• ONS unit group 3512, in minor group 351 (Transport associate professionals) and major group 3 (Associate professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Transitional tables only: Table 1a, Table 2aa.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1a, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £58,300 (£29.90 per hour)
  • Table 2aa, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £39,100 (£20.05 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Ship and hovercraft officers command and navigate ships and other craft, co-ordinate the activities of officers and deck and engine room ratings, operate and maintain communications equipment on board ship and undertake minor repairs to engines, boilers and other mechanical and electrical equipment.

Typical entry routes

Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades and A levels/H grades. Good colour vision without spectacles or contact lenses is required for some posts and candidates must undergo a medical examination. Training lasts three to four years and combines taught courses and assessed training at sea.

Tasks

• allocates duties to ship’s officers and co-ordinates and directs the activities of deck and engine room ratings
• directs or undertakes the operation of controls to inflate air cushions, run engines and propel and steer ships, hovercraft and other vessels
• locates the position of vessel using electronic and other navigational aids such as charts and compasses and advises on navigation where appropriate
• monitors the operation of engines, generators and other mechanical and electrical equipment and undertakes any necessary minor repairs
• maintains radio contact with other vessels and coast stations
• prepares watch keeping rota and maintains a look-out for other vessels or obstacles
• maintains log of vessel’s progress, weather conditions, conduct of crew, etc

Related job titles

• Chief engineer (shipping)
• Marine engineer (shipping)
• Merchant navy officer
• Petty officer
• Tug master
• Yacht skipper

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

3512 Ship and hovercraft officers

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Ship and hovercraft captains and deck officers (excludes armed forces and fishing)
• Marine engineers
• Ship and hovercraft officers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£58,300 (£29.90 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£40,800 (£20.92 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2aa: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

3512 Ship and hovercraft officers

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

3513

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Ship and hovercraft captains and deck officers (excludes armed forces and fishing)
• Marine engineers
• Ship and hovercraft officers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£39,100 (£20.05 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£27,300 (£14.00 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 351

• 3511 Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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