Shipyard welder

MEDIUM DemandMEDIUM AI RiskSTABLE in SL

Shipyard Welder is a specialised trade rooted in Sri Lanka's maritime heritage. Colombo Dockyard is one of the finest ship repair facilities in the Indian Ocean, and welders trained there are recognised internationally. If you want a skilled trade that combines the physical challenge of welding with the unique environment of the marine industry — and a pathway to Singapore and Dubai shipyard salaries — this is an outstanding career path.”

A Day in the Life

You weld hull plates, structural members, and ship fittings in a shipyard — working on new vessel construction and ship repair in one of Sri Lanka's most specialised maritime industrial environments.

Weld hull plate butt joints and fillet welds in multiple positions (flat, vertical, overhead)
Perform structural welding of frames, bulkheads, decks, and tank boundaries
Carry out weld repairs on damaged hull sections during ship repair periods
Weld pipe systems, sea chests, and valve connections in confined ship spaces
Work inside ship tanks and double bottoms in confined, poorly ventilated spaces
Follow Lloyd's Register or Bureau Veritas (classification society) welding requirements
Complete NDT co-operation for hull structural weld testing
Work with shipwright teams to align and fit structural sections before welding

Work Environment

FIELDTeam: LARGEUNIFORMRemote: NONE

Shipyard — dry dock or floating dock facility. In Sri Lanka, shipyard welders work at the Colombo Dockyard (CDC) in Bloemendhal, which is one of the largest ship repair facilities in the Indian Ocean region. Also at Sri Lanka Navy dockyard in Trincomalee. Singapore and Dubai shipyards recruit Sri Lankan welders regularly.

Typical hours: 50h/week · WLB score 5/10 · COMMON overtime

Ship repair work is driven by vessel turnaround schedules — crews are paid by the ship, meaning fast completion drives high overtime rates. Night and weekend work common during intensive repair periods.

Skills Required

Technical Skills

Hull structural welding — SMAW and FCAWVertical and overhead plate weldingPipe welding in marine systemsLloyd's/BV classification society procedure complianceWeld quality to IACS standardsConfined space weldingAlignment and fit-up before welding

Soft Skills

Physical stamina for confined space workSafety discipline in hazardous marine environmentTeam coordination with shipwrights and riggersAdaptability to working at heights, in tanks, and on floating vesselsReliability for shift-based dry dock operations

Tools & Software

SMAW (Stick) welding machineFCAW wire feeder (for high productivity hull work)Angle grinder and gouging torchGTAW (TIG) for pipe and fitting workConfined space gas detectorClassification society welding record forms

Salary in Sri Lanka (LKR / month)

Entry LevelRs.50k – Rs.85k/mo

Mid-LevelRs.90k – Rs.160k/mo

SeniorRs.160k – Rs.280k/mo

Entry: Welding Trainee / Land-based Structural WelderMid: Shipyard WelderSenior: Senior Shipyard Welder / Marine Welding Supervisor

Typical progression: 4yr to mid · 9yr to senior

Global Salary (USD / year)

Entry Level$45k – $68k/yr

Mid-Level$68k – $100k/yr

Senior$100k – $145k/yr

Top Markets

SingaporeUAE (Dubai)South KoreaQatarMalaysia

Market Outlook

STABLE

Consistent demand at Colombo Dockyard and Sri Lanka Navy. CDC processes hundreds of vessels annually and maintains a permanent skilled welding workforce. Skilled marine welders are scarce even within the dockyard, commanding better wages than general construction welders.

Hiring: MEDIUM

Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDC)Sri Lanka Navy (Trincomalee Dockyard)Lanka Marine ServicesMarine craft maintenance companiesSingapore and Dubai shipyards (overseas)

GROWING

Singapore's Sembcorp Marine and Keppel group, Dubai Drydocks World, and Korean/Chinese shipyards all recruit skilled marine welders. Sri Lankan dockyard experience is a recognised credential in this market.

Entry Requirements

Sri Lanka

Min. EducationO/L completed; NVQ Level 3 Welding; multiple position qualification; marine welder approval preferred

Experience3–5 years structural welding before joining a shipyard

Preferred

Lloyd's Register or Bureau Veritas welder approvalNVQ Level 3-4 WeldingConfined space entry certificate

Global

Min. EducationNVQ Level 3 Welding; classification society welder approval

Experience4–6 years welding experience; previous shipyard or heavy fabrication work

Preferred

Classification society welder approval (Lloyd's, BV, DNV)FCAW qualification for hull workConfined space training certificate

Helpful Certifications

Lloyd's Register or Bureau Veritas welder approvalNVQ Level 3-4 Welding (NAITA)CIDA marine fabrication certificationConfined Space Entry trainingASME IX or AWS D1.1 position qualification (supports marine approvals)

Risks & Challenges

AI / Automation Risk

MEDIUM

LONG TERM

Burnout Risk

HIGH

Job Security (SL)

HIGH

Automated panel line welding is used in new shipbuilding. However, repair work, confined tank welding, and complex curved hull geometry require human welders. Ship repair (SL's focus) is less automatable than new build.

Burnout Causes

Confined space work in tanks is physically and psychologically demandingFume concentration in ship tanks without adequate ventilationLong periods of pressure to meet vessel departure deadlinesPhysical welding demands in awkward positions

Physical Health Risks

Confined space fume inhalation — serious long-term lung risk if PPE not usedWorking at height on vessel superstructureHeat in enclosed ship spacesNoise exposure in steel ship environmentRisk of falls from staging and vessel decks

Mental Health Risks

Claustrophobia risk in double-bottom tank workProduction pressure for vessel departure deadlines

How to Mitigate

Always demand confined space entry permit and gas testing before entering ship tanks
Colombo Dockyard (CDC) experience is internationally recognised — it opens Singapore and Dubai shipyard opportunities
Singapore shipyard wages are 4–6x SL rates for experienced marine welders

Is This Career For You?

O/L graduates who are drawn to the maritime industry and want a physically demanding, specialised skilled trade. Suits those with strong physics ability who want to work near the sea and in a large industrial facility.

Personality Types

ISTPESTPISTJ

Core Motivations

Working in the maritime industryPhysically demanding elite trade workPremium wages through specialised skills

What You'll Love