Securing and locking containers onto the ship is essential to ensure that sea journeys are carried out safely and that no cargo is lost en route. It is the specialist docker, known as a ‘saisisseur’, who is responsible for fitting the locks – known as twist-locks – to the corners of the containers, enabling them to be secured together.

Qualities and skills

• Physical and visual abilities
• Alertness
• Concentration
• Accuracy
• Compliance with safety rules
• Availability and flexibility

Educational and training requirements

Training for dockers is generally provided by port handling training centres and lasts a few days. There are CQPs (Certificates of Professional Qualification) in port handling. The Level 1 CQP (Certificate of Professional Qualification) – Labourer is required for the role of cargo handler (and is a prerequisite for the award of other CQPs). The Certificate of Competence in the Safe Operation of Forklift Trucks (CACES) may be required.

Sectors and companies

Commercial seaport, cargo handling sector. In Le Havre, cargo handling roles account for nearly 2,800 direct jobs across a wide range of sectors: containers, bulk cargo, road freight, etc.

Source: LH PORT CENTER – Further information at www.lhportcenter.com