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Transport & Logistics
Salary
€32,000 - €65,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Transport & Logistics
As a Ship Planner you are responsible for optimising the loading, stowage, and routing of cargo vessels operating through Irish ports such as Dublin, Cork, Rosslare, and Shannon Foynes. You calculate weight distribution, stability, and cargo capacity to ensure each vessel is loaded safely and efficiently, minimising berth time and handling costs. Your day-to-day work involves reading and producing stowage plans, coordinating with port operators, shipping line representatives, stevedores, and customs authorities, and responding to customer queries about cargo movements. You also plan crew requirements, monitor maintenance schedules, and ensure full compliance with international maritime regulations governing cargo transport.
Listen: a day as a Ship Planner
You arrive at the port operations centre in Dublin Port at 06:30, well before the first vessel is due to berth. The office is already busy. You log into the terminal operating system and pull up the stowage plan for the ro-ro ferry arriving from Cherbourg at 08:00. A stowage plan is a detailed diagram showing exactly where every unit of cargo — containers, trailers, hazardous goods — is placed on the vessel. You check that the weight distribution meets the stability calculations required under SOLAS, the international convention that governs vessel safety. By 07:15 you are on the phone with the stevedore supervisor to confirm the discharge sequence. Stevedores are the dockworkers who physically move cargo, and the order in which freight comes off the ship affects how quickly it can berth, unload, and sail again. A trailer carrying refrigerated pharmaceuticals needs to come off first because a waiting driver has a timed customs appointment at the nearby inspection bay.
A Leaving Certificate with subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, and Geography provides a useful foundation for a career in ship planning. Entry is typically achieved through a QQI Level 6 or Level 7 programme in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Port Operations, or Maritime Studies, available at institutes such as TU Dublin, ATU, or SETU. Some entrants begin via PLC courses in logistics or transport operations at a College of Further Education before progressing to a higher-level programme through the CAO. A degree in Nautical Science (NFQ Level 8), offered at institutions such as Cork College of Commerce in partnership with higher education bodies or at national maritime colleges, is an advantage for more senior planning roles. Continuing professional development through industry bodies such as the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) or the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is common. No statutory registration body applies to this occupation, but professional membership with CILT is well regarded in the Irish industry.
Most Ship Planners begin in a junior or trainee planning role within a port operator, freight forwarding company, or shipping line, often after completing a logistics or maritime qualification. With two to four years of experience, you typically progress to a fully independent Ship Planner position, handling complex vessel calls and mentoring newer colleagues. Further advancement can lead to roles such as Cargo Planning Manager, Port Operations Supervisor, or Fleet Operations Coordinator, with responsibility for a team and multiple vessel calls. Senior professionals may move into maritime operations management, consultancy, or roles with the Irish Maritime Development Office or the Department of Transport.
AI-driven cargo optimisation and automated stowage planning tools are increasingly being adopted by major shipping lines and port operators, streamlining many of the routine calculation tasks traditionally performed manually by Ship Planners. These tools can improve loading efficiency and reduce errors, but they require human oversight to validate outputs against real-world constraints, regulatory requirements, and vessel-specific conditions. Ship Planners who develop proficiency in working alongside these digital systems, and who understand their limitations, will be better placed in the evolving job market. The human judgement required for risk assessment, customer liaison, and regulatory compliance means the occupation is unlikely to be fully automated in the near term.
→ Ship Planner (Current role)
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Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Dublin Port, Dublin
Plan freight and passenger vessel stowage on Irish Sea routes.
Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort
Optimise ro-ro cargo loading across multiple Irish Sea sailings.
Dublin Port, Dublin
Coordinate vessel berthing, stowage plans and port scheduling.
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
Manage cargo planning and vessel stability at Cork's deep-water terminals.
Foynes, Co. Limerick
Plan bulk cargo stowage and vessel loading on the Shannon Estuary.
Dublin
Produce container stowage plans for Maersk vessels calling at Irish ports.
Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort
Optimise ro-ro and lo-lo cargo distribution on North Sea services.
Dublin Port, Dublin
Coordinate stevedoring and cargo stowage planning at Dublin Port.
Rosslare Europort, Co. Wexford
Plan and supervise freight unit loading for ro-ro ferry operations.
Dublin
Prepare container stowage and stability calculations for MSC vessels.
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