myfuture :: Occupation Information

Shipwright
( Boatbuilder and Repairer )


	Duties and Tasks Quick Facts Work Conditions Personal Requirements Related Industries Labour Market Related Jobs Earnings Related Courses Further Information State Specific Information Occupation Video	Buffing and polishing a completed boat ready for delivery
	Shipwrights construct, fit out, commission and repair all types of vessels from small pleasure craft through to a range of competitive, commercial and naval vessels. These vessels are built from a range of materials including metal, wood, aluminium, fibreglass, plastic, composites or ferro cement (reinforced cement or concrete).

Duties and Tasks

Shipwrights may perform the following tasks:

prepare preliminary sketches of structural parts and sections of vessels
produce templates and patterns from full-size detail drawings
fit out internal and external components of vessels
position sections accurately prior to permanent fastening by boilermakers or welders
prepare slipways and construct cradles used to support ships during construction, transportation, launching and slipping
supervise launching and slipping procedures
carry out repairs.

Quick Facts

Learning Area	Industrial Arts Physics
Work Demand	Including full use of hands/fingers Including mainly outdoor work Including physical effort Including reading or writing
Work Field	Transport and Storage
Work Interest	Analytic or Scientific Practical or Mechanical
Skill Level	Professional Jobs

Work Conditions

Shipwrights work on the waterfront in shipyards, in the repair sections of ports or in small boat yards and marinas.

Personal Requirements

enjoy practical and manual work
good at technical activities
able to work at heights on scaffolding
physically fit
able to solve problems
organised, methodical approach to work.

Related Industries

Transport Equipment Manufacturing
Repair and Maintenance

Labour Market

Information

Australian JobOutlook for Boat Builders and Shipwrights

Vacancies

Australian JobSearch for Boat Builders and Shipwrights (ALL AUSTRALIA)
Work Opportunities websites

Related Jobs

Marine Engineer

Earnings

Income of persons working full-time, 2006

Marine Construction Tradespersons
Income per Week	Number	Share (%)

$1000 or more	1,056	26.0
$400 - $599	791	19.5
$600 - $799	942	23.2
$800 - $999	794	19.5
Less than $400	483	11.9

This information is based on the 2006 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Earnings of persons working full-time and part-time, 2006

Marine Construction Tradespersons
Employment Status	Weekly Income ($)

Full-time	766

This information is based on the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership survey conducting annually by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

See State Specific Information below for further education and training options.

Further Information

Australian Marine Industries Federation
Education and Training Adviser, Australian Industry Group (Head Office)
Manufacturing Skills Australia (National Office)

State Specific Information

New South Wales / ACT
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Spraying a boat to the customer's colour preference

Occupation Video - Apprentice Boat builder

Video courtesy of ABC's Ace Day Jobs series