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Ship planner

Also called vessel planner, ship cargo planner, senior ship planner

Ship planners manage the performance of a vessel. They ensure the safety of the vessel and its cargo, its operationality and link available vessels to available cargos in order to maximise the profitability of the voyages. They ensure that each container ship is loaded to its optimal capacity, while keeping berth times and handling costs to a minimum. They also plan the maintenance and overhaul of the ship, as well as the crew needed.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects48 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Numerical and material recording clerksWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,100 (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Numerical and material recording clerksWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training.Numerical and material recording clerksWill AI change it?SignificantlyLevel 5 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Transport clerks · ILO

What you'd do

Transport clerks · ILO
  • Keeping records of operational aspects and coordinating the timing of passenger and freight transport
  • Directing train routings within a division or zone of a railway system and keeping related records
  • Directing, controlling and keeping records of freight handling at a railway yard
  • Coordinating and keeping records of operational activities concerning road transport, such as allocation and scheduling of vehicles and drivers, loading and unloading of vehicles and storage of goods in transit
  • Coordinating and keeping records of operational activities concerning air transport of passengers and freight, such as passenger lists and freight manifests
  • Preparing reports for management
Match vessels to shipping routesSupervise unloading of cargoSupervise loading of cargoManage shipment risksMeasure ship tonnage+ 37 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Transportation Planners"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as numerical and material recording clerks in the EU
6.67m6.39m7.91m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,236,000 new jobs 1,933,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Numerical and material recording clerks48
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of transport clerks, 5 a surplus.
Transport clerks · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,100 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among clerical support workers in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Clerical support workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in law is the usual route.

Highest qualification of numerical and material recording clerks (EU, 2025)
Degree 27%Vocational 47%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 13%
Fields that teach it
Law · Transport services
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Significantly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.50 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Coordinating and keeping records of operational activities concerning road transport, such as allocation and scheduling of vehicles and drivers, loading and unloading of vehicles and storage of goods in transit0.58
Preparing reports for management0.57
Coordinating and keeping records of operational activities concerning air transport of passengers and freight, such as passenger lists and freight manifests0.55
Keeping records of operational aspects and coordinating the timing of passenger and freight transport0.50
Directing train routings within a division or zone of a railway system and keeping related records0.41
Directing, controlling and keeping records of freight handling at a railway yard0.34

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for transport clerks. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).