Port Jobs

Nigeria is blessed with one of the busiest ports in Africa. These are the Apapa ports and the Tincan Island port. Also, the Lagos State government in a bid to decongest the already very busy ports embarked on the construction of the Lekki Deep port. No doubt there are lots of job opportunities available at a seaport. In this article, we will be taking a look at port jobs. 

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What is a seaport?

According to Wikipedia, A sea port is a maritime facility with one or more wharves or loading docks where ships can load and unload passengers and cargo. Ports are extremely important to the Nigerian and global economies at large. About 70% of global merchandise trade in Nigeria by value passes through the Lagos ports. Hence, they are often densely populated settlements that provide the labor for processing and handling goods and related services for the ports. The greatest port development in Nigeria today is in Lagos - Apapa port, Tincan Island port, and recently the Lekki deep sea port even though the country also boasts of other ports in Calabar, port Harcourt, and Warri, Also, a dry seaport is currently in the works in Kaduna. 

Port Jobs

As we stated earlier, countless job opportunities abound in seaports. We will be taking a look at some of them as we proceed in this article. Some seaport job opportunities are:

Marine/port operatives: They carry out different tasks at the seaport or harbour points, such as repositioning gangways, escorting marine pilots to ships, and perhaps operating lock gates.

Passenger operatives: They handle cruise ships and/or ferries. They regulate how people and cars move around the port and board and disembark boats and ships. They may also check tickets and answer questions from customers.

Stevedores: They load and unload freight; they may choose the best way to stack cargo or how to rapidly and effectively discharge items. They could be required to operate cranes, suction pipes, and conveyer belts in addition to driving various kinds of vehicles.

Vessel traffic services operatives: They control the safe movement of ships and boats around the port/harbour region while working in the port control center. They interact with ships via radio telephone, VHF radio, and marine radar.

Marine pilots: These professionals board ships coming into or going out of the port or harbor, and securely steer them in and out while avoiding underwater rocks and other hazards.

Harbour masters: They are responsible for ensuring the safety of the port for any vessels using it. They keep an eye on environmental regulations and control recreational boating in the harbor.

Engineers: They maintain and repair machinery and equipment within the port. Engineer jobs in the seaport vary from marine engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, and many more.

Port managers: They are responsible for managing all facets of the port's operations, such as health and safety regulations and port development, while coordinating with the businesses that utilize the port, such as freight firms.

Please note that these are just very few port jobs. Others include crane operators, custom licensed agents, truck drivers, manual laborers, security officers, accountants, tally clerks, terminal operatives, dock workers, and many more

Potential employers for port jobs

• Nigeria Ports Authority
• Ferry, cruise-line/ Shipping line operators
• Transport and logistics companies
• Stevedoring companies
• Freight forwarders
• Warehouse operators
• Ship repair and maintenance companies

Skills And Requirements For Port Jobs

•  safety-consciousness
• Great team working and communication skills
• You must be physically fit and healthy as some port jobs require heavy lifting
• Ability to work irregular hours