Onshore Marine Jobs Are Growing in the UK — Opportunities in 2026

The UK’s marine and coastal sectors are evolving rapidly. With increasing investment in ports, coastal infrastructure, onshore marine roles are becoming some of the most in-demand positions in the country. For recruiters and jobseekers alike, understanding these trends is key to navigating the market in 2026.

 

1. Coastal Investments Are Driving Job Growth

Recent announcements show over £1.1 billion in public and private funding being allocated to expand coastal towns and port communities.

Opportunities created:

• Port operations & logistics management
• Engineering & shore-based maintenance
• Facilities & infrastructure support
• Project management roles tied to coastal development

 

2. Renewable Energy Expansion Fuels Onshore Marine Roles

The UK’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan predicts significant workforce growth across renewable energy, including onshore wind, solar, hydrogen, and carbon capture projects.

Implications for recruitment:

• Ports and coastal hubs increasingly require support staff for renewable energy logistics and technical operations.
• Onshore roles often overlap with traditional marine skills, such as electrical, mechanical, and project management expertise.

 

3. Ports and Coastal Logistics Are Creating New Career Pathways

As shipping and coastal infrastructure expand, ports and marine logistics hubs are becoming major sources of onshore employment. Growth in cargo handling, port operations, and supply chain management is creating diverse shore-based roles that don’t require seafaring experience but benefit from marine knowledge.

Opportunities include:

• Port operations coordinators
• Shipping logistics planners
• Terminal managers
• Crane and equipment supervisors

 

4. Digitalisation and Technology Are Transforming Onshore Marine Jobs

The marine industry is rapidly adopting digital systems, data analytics, and automation to optimise port operations, shipping logistics, and coastal infrastructure projects. Onshore roles increasingly require tech-savvy professionals who can manage software, track shipments, and coordinate complex projects.

Key emerging roles:

• Port & shipping operations analysts
• Marine data coordinators
• Maintenance scheduling and digital workflow managers
• Health, safety & environmental compliance with digital monitoring

 

Conclusion

Onshore marine roles in the UK are growing rapidly, driven by coastal investment, renewable energy, and digital transformation. For employers, understanding emerging skills is key to hiring the right talent, while candidates have exciting opportunities to build rewarding, shore-based careers in a dynamic and expanding sector.