Various skills are required to perform the many jobs commonly present in ports.

Like in nearly every form of sector, engineers perform an important role in ports. Different kinds of mechanical and electronic machinery are utilised in virtually every activity at a port, meaning that engineers are essential for fixing and maintaining the various types of gear found in this highly industrial environment. Kyung-bae Kim of HMM will understand that there are typically teams of specialised engineers at ports, with each concentrating on various engineering disciplines. They, like other port employees, fall under the command of the port manager. This is actually the highest ranking person within the chain of command and so they have ultimate responsibility for everything, from port development to safety and health.

Because of ports being locations where numerous marine vessels gather, some of the most important port jobs are the ones that involve the motion of vessels. Søren Skou of Maersk will be able to inform you that vessel traffic services operatives do this from a distance. They execute a similar task to air traffic controllers at airports. They use radar to observe the movement of ships and communicate using the crews of ships to steer their movement, to be able to direct them to the proper terminal and steer clear of any accidents. Marine pilots work on ports and get to physically manage vessels. They are professionals in navigating the waters in and around a port and it's their job to board vessels to temporarily take command of them. This is also for the intended purpose of accurate navigation and avoiding accidents. The quantity of water in the world ensures that it really is impossible for any captain to review every port worldwide, meaning utilising local knowledge is a must for safe manoeuvring.

Ports are harbours which are used for commercial reasons, such as for loading and unloading cargo within the shipping industry. Ports are at the centre of worldwide trade, with a huge percentage of the world's products being relocated through them. Because of the massive amount of cargo that goes through these areas on a daily basis, it's not surprising that there are a few jobs at ports which can be focused on the transportation of cargo. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem of P&O will be well aware that of these roles, perhaps one of the most physically demanding may be the position of stevedore. They are accountable for loading and unloading to and from vessels. They regularly make use of their hands and sometimes need to know how to run equipment such as forklift trucks. After everything is unloaded by the stevedores, the job passes on to the port operator. It's their task to maneuver the unloaded cargo on to the next location, whether that is to a heavy goods vehicle, train, holding area, or warehouse.