There are around 700 ports, harbours, jetties and piers around the UK that provide a range of facilities for commercial vessels, leisure craft and fishing boats to carry out their business of moving cargoes and people to meet the demands of world trade and sea-going leisure activities.

Seafarers and ex-seafarers will often be found working in various roles in many ports and harbours as this provides them with an ongoing link to the sea, ships and boats, but from a shore-based working perspective. There are a number of job roles within Ports and Harbours and companies may call them by different titles, but some of these can be found on the map.

Find an outline of main sectors ashore here.