ATS CV for the Maritime and Ports Sector

Many ports and navigation professionals have strong field experience, yet their CVs stumble at the tracking system for purely formatting reasons. A maritime certification may be placed inside an image or table so the system never reads it, or an operating system name may be written too generically, or productivity figures may be locked inside scattered cells. The result is that the file of a deck officer or a handling supervisor appears "empty" to the system.

The governing rule is simple: what is not read automatically here is usually not read in employers' systems either. Learn how rejection works in detail in why ATS rejects your CV, and how to avoid tables and images in tables, images and columns in an ATS CV.

There is no single list that fits everyone; the most accurate source is always the job posting itself. To use keywords intelligently without stuffing, see the CV keywords guide, and for the overlap with land transport and warehousing see the ATS CV for logistics and supply chains.

The Saudi maritime sector is regulated by specific official bodies, and naming them correctly is a strong signal of your knowledge of the field. Mention only what genuinely relates to your role, and do not attribute to yourself dealings with a body you have not worked with.

• Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani): the body that regulates the ports sector in the Kingdom and oversees its development and operation; suitable to mention for port operations and handling roles.
• Transport General Authority (TGA): the body that regulates the transport sector including sea transport and issues sea-transport operating licences; suitable for shipping and ship-agency roles.
• Terminal Operating Systems (TOS): mention the system you have mastered by its exact name and version if possible, within a simple text list rather than inside a table.
• Navigation and ship-management systems: ECDIS, GMDSS, vessel tracking systems, and onboard maintenance-management systems; write the acronym with its meaning.
• Shipping and clearance systems: maritime shipping platforms, clearance and tracking systems, and document-management tools such as the bill of lading.

Write each system in its exact form within a text list, and it is even better to repeat it within the context of a real task in the experience section, so the system reads it twice and the recruiter sees it tied to a genuine achievement rather than just a name on a list.

The most important international reference for seafarers and officers is the STCW Convention, i.e. the international Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which sets the minimum qualifications for masters, officers and watchkeeping personnel aboard vessels. Mention it by its full name and acronym in a standalone section.

• STCW: state the level and units you completed precisely (such as basic safety training courses or a rank licence) without exaggeration, because you may be asked about their content in the interview.
• Certificate of Competency (CoC): state the rank and the issuing body, as it is official proof of your eligibility to work aboard vessels.
• Maritime safety and security certificates: personal safety and social responsibilities, maritime security (ISPS), advanced firefighting, maritime first aid.
• Complementary logistics certifications: for shipping and clearance roles it helps to mention accredited supply-chain certifications if you have genuinely earned them.

Do not exaggerate and do not mention a certificate you have not earned, as any certificate in your CV may be asked for as proof. For details on presenting certifications in a clear section see certifications in the CV.

Write each achievement as a text bullet that starts with a strong verb, then the system or metric, then the real number. Avoid locking numbers inside tables, as they may be read scattered or lost. Use only your own real values, and do not add flattering percentages that never happened. The following examples illustrate the phrasing, and the letters "X" and "Y" stand for your actual numbers:

1. Productivity: "Raised the quay-crane handling rate to X moves/hour by rescheduling shifts" instead of "responsible for handling".
2. Cycle time: "Reduced truck turnaround time inside the port by X% by improving yard planning".
3. Safety: "Maintained X days with no recorded incidents in a team of Y members" — the safety metric is gold in this sector.
4. Capacity and volume: "Oversaw the handling of X containers (TEU) monthly within a terminal of capacity Y".

Give each key achievement a line or two. To turn routine tasks into measurable achievements see achievements versus duties.

1. Contact information: name, mobile, email and city as plain text at the top of the page, not inside a header or footer.
2. Professional summary: three to four lines that define your maritime role, your years of experience and your most important systems and certifications.
3. Work experience: in reverse chronological order, each role with achievement bullets that start with strong verbs, alongside the systems and real numbers.
4. Maritime certifications and licences: a clear standalone section for STCW, the Certificate of Competency and safety certificates.
5. Skills and systems: TOS, navigation and shipping systems with the acronym and the full name.
6. Education and languages: the academic and maritime qualification, and your English level, which is important in international maritime work.

For more on the optimal order see CV section order, and on the professional summary see writing the professional summary.

Start with a free, instant check via the ATS checker with no sign-up, to learn your CV's compatibility score and the most important things it lacks. And if you want a full improvement, the paid packages start from 4.99 SAR for fresh graduates, with higher packages for professionals and experts via start now and the pricing page. The paid report includes CV improvement, a tailored cover letter and expected interview questions for your maritime role.

Don't have a file ready? Build your CV from scratch for free via the CV builder, and browse the ATS-compatible templates in templates. And remember that cvmizan is an automated tool that relies on artificial intelligence and may err, and we do not guarantee that you will get a job or a particular score; our aim is to raise the quality of your CV and its machine readability, and the final decision always rests with the employer.