Marine riggers work on boats and other maritime vessels, erecting temporary structures and operating equipment and machinery such as anchors, pulley systems, and sails. A high school diploma is usually required for someone who wants to work as a Marine rigger. Riggers are typically not required to have a college diploma, though some employers do require them to have completed non-degree level vocational training courses.
Rigger jobs are typically entry-level positions. Anyone who has reached the age of legal adulthood is eligible to apply to work as a Marine Rigger. Some companies conduct criminal background checks and drug and substance abuse tests on new hires. Normally, riggers are not in charge of steering or operating watercraft, though some employers do require that job applicants have prior experience with such vessels.
Working in the rigging industry can be physically demanding because employees must be able to lift heavy equipment and climb masts and scaffolding. As a result, someone with physical limitations or certain medical conditions may not be able to work as a marine rigger. Furthermore, many employers only hire people who can swim for rigging jobs.
Because these individuals must assemble scaffolding and operate machinery such as cranes and winches, some companies prefer to hire people with prior construction experience. Furthermore, because construction workers, such as riggers, have a physically demanding job, people who have worked as builders are often able to transition to physically demanding marine-based jobs. Employers frequently prefer to hire workers with prior experience as engineers and mechanics in situations where workers must handle and maintain complex equipment.
Crane operators and others who operate similar vehicles are frequently required to obtain licenses. Maritime companies frequently provide on-the-job training for new hires. Recruits can take the regional or national licensing exams after the training period is completed. Those who pass this exam are qualified to operate machinery without the supervision of a foreman or experienced rigger. Some community colleges offer classes to help students prepare for these exams.
Workers on oil rigs and commercial boat crews frequently spend weeks or months at sea. As a result, anyone interested in becoming a marine rigger may need to complete some basic first aid training, as medical providers are frequently unable to attend to the needs of sick and injured people at sea. Riggers must interact with dockworkers, many of whom speak foreign languages, when ships arrive at port. As a result, some companies require riggers to have a basic understanding of at least one language other than their native tongue.