Design and oversee testing installation and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.
Marine engineers at this level learn to design, install, test, and repair the mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems found on vessels and marine structures. Training covers fault diagnosis, planned maintenance, engineering drawings, and safe working practices in marine environments. Apprentices develop skills in working with propulsion systems, pumps, pipework, and deck machinery, alongside an understanding of relevant maritime regulations and quality standards. The programme blends off-the-job technical training with hands-on workplace experience.
Typical work involves carrying out scheduled maintenance and breakdown repairs on vessel systems, reading technical drawings, and using hand and power tools alongside diagnostic equipment. Apprentices assist with the installation of new equipment, complete job sheets and maintenance logs, and follow safety procedures including permit-to-work systems. They work closely with senior engineers, vessel operators, and sometimes classification surveyors, depending on the employer's area of operation.
Completing this apprenticeship opens roles such as marine engineer, maintenance engineer, or marine technician across a range of employers, including shipyards, vessel operators, port authorities, offshore energy companies, and the Royal Navy or other defence organisations. With experience, engineers can progress to supervisory or project engineer positions, or specialise in areas such as offshore systems, naval architecture support, or marine electrical engineering. Chartered engineer status through bodies such as the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology is a longer-term goal for those who continue their development.
Sorted by achievement rate.
No training providers currently listed for this standard.
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads into roles such as Marine Engineer Technician, Junior Marine Engineer, or Vessel Systems Engineer. Depending on the employer's specialisation, completers may step into shipboard engineering positions, shore-based maintenance roles, or dockyard service technician posts. Some move directly into technical support functions, working on propulsion systems, electrical installations, or hull and deck machinery within a vessel operator or marine engineering contractor.
Within three to five years, many engineers advance to Marine Engineer (fully qualified), Lead Technician, or Systems Engineer roles with broader responsibility for a vessel or fleet. From there, two tracks typically open up: a leadership path towards Marine Engineering Superintendent or Chief Engineer, and a specialist track focusing on areas such as propulsion systems, marine electrical engineering, or offshore equipment. Both tracks can lead to Chartered Engineer status through the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST).
The Royal Navy and other armed services are significant employers, alongside commercial shipping companies, ferry and passenger vessel operators, and offshore energy contractors working in oil, gas, and renewables. Dockyard operators, ship repair yards, and marine equipment manufacturers also recruit at this level. Roles exist across the UK but concentrate around major ports and coastal hubs such as Portsmouth, Southampton, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. Both public sector and private sector opportunities are available.
Learning takes place in a real workplace, with the apprentice developing knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to marine engineering throughout the programme. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice and their employer confirm readiness through a gateway review, which checks that the required level of competence has been achieved. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform the role to the standard expected, covering areas such as installation, testing, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment. Assessment models across many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Building a strong body of evidence from real work throughout the programme makes final assessment considerably more straightforward. Apprentices should keep records of the tasks they carry out, the decisions they make, and how they apply their technical knowledge on the job, rather than trying to reconstruct this near the end. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider to track progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard will help identify any gaps early and give enough time to address them before the gateway review.
Look for providers with achievement rates above 65% on their FATP profile; above 75% is a strong signal for a technically demanding standard like this. Employer satisfaction scores matter here because marine engineering training depends heavily on coordinated off-the-job learning alongside real vessel or workshop time. Providers worth considering can demonstrate access to current marine equipment, relevant safety certifications (STCW awareness where applicable), and tutors with recent industry experience. Check whether the provider covers your region and has active employer partnerships with shipyards, ports, or marine service businesses.
Be cautious of providers with high apprentice volumes but declining achievement rates, which can signal overstretched delivery teams. Vague answers about where practical training takes place are a serious concern for this standard; workshop and vessel access is not optional. If a provider cannot point to alumni working in marine engineering roles or cannot describe how they coordinate with employers on practical assessment, that is a problem. Generic engineering delivery without marine-specific content, equipment, or assessor experience suggests the provider may be retrofitting a broader programme.
Most employers ask for GCSEs in maths and English, often at grade 4 or above, along with a science subject. Some look for prior practical or technical experience, though this is at the employer's discretion. Apprentices must be employed for the duration, so having a job offer in place before applying is essential. Eligibility rules can vary by employer and training provider, so check directly with them.
The typical duration is 42 months. Apprentices work for their employer throughout, gaining hands-on experience alongside structured off-the-job learning, which may include college attendance, workshops, or online study. The exact split between on-the-job and off-the-job training is subject to revision under current Skills England reforms. For the current specification, check the gov.uk page for this standard.
Apprentices must pass through a gateway before end-point assessment, which means their employer and training provider confirm they have met all required knowledge, skills, and behaviours. The end-point assessment then tests competence, typically through practical and knowledge-based elements. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under ongoing reforms, so check the current assessment plan on gov.uk to confirm the exact methods that apply.
The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which is the maximum government contribution towards training costs. Larger employers with an apprenticeship levy account use those funds directly. Smaller employers co-invest with the government, contributing a percentage of training costs. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 may pay nothing at all. Speak to a training provider to confirm current co-investment rates.
Day-to-day work typically involves maintaining, repairing, and installing marine machinery and equipment, whether on vessels, in ports, or at maintenance facilities. Apprentices might inspect propulsion systems, electrical components, or hydraulic equipment, diagnose faults, and carry out planned servicing. They work under supervision initially, gradually taking on more responsibility as their competence develops. Employer types include shipbuilders, vessel operators, naval contractors, and marine maintenance firms.
Completing this apprenticeship can open routes into senior engineering roles, team leadership, or supervisory positions within the marine sector. Some move into specialist areas such as marine electrical systems or offshore engineering. Others progress to higher-level apprenticeships or engineering qualifications at levels 4 and above. Professional registration with an engineering institution, such as the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, is also a recognised next step for those building a long-term career.
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with the right training providers.
Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 226.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.