Nuclear port operations coordinatorSalary, qualifications, career path and hiring demand, 2026 edition
A nuclear port operations coordinator controls the port-side execution of radioactive or nuclear cargo movements. The role brings together vessel, terminal, port authority, stevedores, lifting teams, customs, security, radiation protection, transport planners and inland carriers so that a nuclear cargo can berth, transfer and depart safely. The coordinator does not design the transport package or choose the whole route; they own the marine-terminal handover, berth readiness, cargo handling sequence, port documentation, access control, weather/tide constraints and operational contingency.
TRX models established US nuclear port operations coordinators at roughly $72,000–$90,000 base, with senior specialists around $86,000–$108,000. A broader US marine operations coordinator averages about $62,585 in September 2026, while Houston project-cargo coordinators sit around $57,550–$89,719. In the UK, established nuclear port coordinators model at roughly £38,000–£48,000, above the general London port-operations average because of Class 7, security and nuclear cargo controls.
The role is operational, not professionally licensed. Employers want port-call and vessel-agency experience, dangerous-goods awareness, Class 7 cargo competence, customs/immigration and port-documentation knowledge, lifting/stevedoring interfaces, security controls and the ability to coordinate emergency arrangements. IATA is usually irrelevant unless air freight crosses the same desk; IMDG, port dangerous-goods procedures, nuclear security and radiation-protection interfaces matter more.
The role at a glance
everything an employer will ask about in the first fifteen minutes of a screening call.
- Also called
- Nuclear marine operations coordinator · port logistics coordinator · nuclear shipping coordinator · vessel operations coordinator · port agency coordinator · radioactive cargo operations coordinator
- Entry qualification
- Degree is useful but not mandatory. Strong routes include port agency, marine logistics, shipping operations, project cargo, freight forwarding, stevedoring, nuclear transport administration, and hydroelectric operations.
- Typical entry pay
- $60,000–$75,000 US TRX model · £31,000–£39,000 UK, with port or dangerous-goods experience more important than academic route alone.
- Senior pay
- $86,000–$108,000 US · £46,000–£58,000 UK; lead vessel-call, programme and operations-management roles move higher.
- Contract day rates
- £350–£475/day experienced coordinator and £475–£650/day senior nuclear port/campaign support; US approximately $45–$85/hr depending on vessel, cargo and security responsibility.
- Professional gate
- No engineering licence. IMDG dangerous-goods competence, port-agency training, maritime operations credentials, DGSA knowledge or project-cargo experience can be strong differentiators.
- Security
- Nuclear maritime transport can involve restricted berth access, protected cargo information, controlled port zones and high-security vessel calls. Vetting requirements depend on material category, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, and programme.
- Where the work sits
- PNTL/NTS, ports and terminals, nuclear transport companies, shipping agents, port agencies, fuel-cycle organisations, waste programmes, major new-build projects, hydroelectric operations, and specialist project-cargo firms.
- Travel
- High. Coordinators work at ports, berths, vessel interfaces, laydown areas, customs points and inland transfer sites, often in different countries.
- Shift pattern
- Vessel-led rather than office-led. Berthing, tides, pilotage, cargo windows and weather routinely create nights, weekends and 24-hour coverage, often on day shift.
- TRX segments
- Nuclear transport · Fuel cycle · Radioactive waste management · Decommissioning & dismantling · Large new build · Nuclear logistics · field operations
six versions of the same job title
nuclear port operations changes with cargo and marine interface. Some coordinators support specialist INF vessels carrying spent fuel or waste; others manage construction modules, casks or radioactive project cargo through conventional ports.
High-security nuclear vessel call
Coordinates port entry, berth, security zone, regulatory interface, pilotage, cargo transfer, documentation and departure for a dedicated nuclear transport vessel. The role controls many agencies without circulating sensitive movement information beyond need-to-know boundaries.
Spent-fuel / HLW flask transfer
Manages the port-side handover of heavy spent-fuel or high-level-waste flasks between vessel and road/rail system. Crane capability, lifting gear, radiation monitoring, laydown, secure staging and inland carrier readiness all have to line up.
Project cargo for nuclear new build
Supports abnormal modules, transformers, pressure-vessel components and heavy plant arriving by vessel or barge for new nuclear construction. The coordinator bridges berth, crane, heavy haulage, customs, temporary storage and site-delivery windows.
International port agency / customs interface
Coordinates vessel formalities, immigration/crew matters, local authorities, customs, dangerous-goods notifications, port services, sub-agents and local regulatory requirements for nuclear transports across multiple jurisdictions.
Decommissioning and radioactive waste export/import
Supports movement of waste residues, contaminated equipment or packaged radioactive material through port facilities. Cargo readiness, consignment controls, transfer equipment, secure storage and handoff to onward transport dominate.
Marine construction / beach-landing operations
Supports nuclear projects using temporary jetties, beach landing facilities or marine bulk import facilities. Tide, dredging, barge access, laydown, heavy transport and site interface become as important as ordinary port operations.
What the week actually looks like
a composite day for a nuclear port operations coordinator preparing a specialist vessel call and a heavy cask transfer from berth to inland transport.
What nuclear port operations coordinators are paid in 2026
There is no official wage series for “nuclear port operations coordinator.” The ladders are TRX market models anchored to marine-operations, project-cargo and port-coordination pay. Nuclear work attracts a premium where the role carries Class 7 cargo, high-security vessel calls, heavy flask handling and international regulatory coordination.
How nuclear port operations compares to adjacent roles
Nuclear port operations is not separately salary-coded. General marine and project-cargo benchmarks anchor the market; nuclear cargo, high-security vessel operations and technical transfer interfaces move experienced specialists above ordinary terminal coordination.
| Occupation | Median | P10 | P90 | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear port operations coordinator | $86,000 | $60,000 | $128,000 | Nuclear cargo, INF vessel calls, heavy casks, security, international port agency and lead responsibility |
| Marine operations coordinator — US | $62,585 | $40,752 | $90,930 | September 2026 general marine-operations market |
| Project cargo coordinator — Houston | $71,396 | — | $109,521 | Heavy/project cargo and multimodal logistics market |
| Port operations coordinator — London | £33,000 base average | £26,000 | £42,000 | General port-operations market before nuclear specialist premium |
Nuclear port operations is not separately salary-coded. General marine and project-cargo benchmarks anchor the market; nuclear cargo, high-security vessel operations and technical transfer interfaces move experienced specialists above ordinary terminal coordination.
INF / nuclear vessel-call experience
Direct work with dedicated nuclear ships and high-classification cargo is rare and internationally portable.
Heavy cask / flask transfer ownership
Coordinators who understand cranes, lifting equipment, laydown, radiation monitoring and road/rail handoff command more than general port agents.
International regulatory / port-agency depth
Nuclear calls across Japan, Europe and other jurisdictions require local authority, customs, sub-agent and nuclear-regulatory coordination.
Three ways in
The role is usually built through ports, shipping agencies, marine logistics or project cargo. Nuclear-specific credibility comes from controlled radioactive-cargo operations rather than from an engineering degree.
Port agency / marine operations route
Project cargo / heavy logistics route
Nuclear transport / shipping route
Are you actually ready to compete for a nuclear port operations coordinator role?
A strong CV names the vessel calls, ports, cargo, crane or lifting interface, customs/regulatory work, inland transport handover and disruption you controlled. “Coordinated port operations” is generic. “Led berth-to-road transfer of Type B casks using controlled lifting, radiation monitoring, customs release and secure inland handover” tells an employer what you can actually own.
Free resume scoring on avua. Your score is yours; it is not shared with employers.The biggest uplift comes from proving vessel-call ownership and controlled nuclear cargo transfer, not simply freight-forwarding exposure.
Illustrative TRX shortlisting pattern only.
The credentials that actually gate the work
Nuclear port operations is gated by marine, dangerous-goods, security and cargo-handling competence rather than professional engineering registration.
| Credential | Jurisdiction | Required for | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMDG Code dangerous-goods competence | International / sea | Dangerous-goods cargo operations | Function-specific | Central for maritime Class 7 work and port/ship interfaces. |
| Port agency / vessel operations competence | All | Routine vessel-call control | Employer-specific | Covers port formalities, services, authorities and operational coordination. |
| Class 7 / radioactive-material training | Nuclear shipping | Nuclear cargo handling and documentation | Role-specific | Coordinator must understand radioactive-cargo controls without taking over RP or package-engineering authority. |
| Port security / ISPS awareness | International ports | Restricted-port and vessel access | Role-specific | High-security nuclear calls can require additional local security controls. |
| Lifting / heavy-cargo awareness | Project / flask operations | Crane and cargo-transfer interface | Role-specific | Coordinator understands lift-plan boundaries; appointed lifting personnel retain technical authority. |
| Customs / import-export competence | International | Cross-border vessel and cargo release | Role-specific | Includes local agency, customs broker and regulatory documentation interfaces. |
| Radiation-worker / site access training | Nuclear facilities | Controlled-area cargo interfaces | Days–weeks | Required where port or terminal operations enter radiological areas. |
| Security vetting / need-to-know handling | Programme-specific | High-consequence nuclear material | Weeks–months | Requirements depend on cargo category and jurisdiction. |
Nuclear port operations combines ordinary port law and dangerous-goods duties with cargo-specific nuclear controls. The coordinator is an integrator: vessel master, port authority, security, radiation protection, lifting and inland transport each retain their own defined authority.
What appears on a 2026 nuclear port operations coordinator shortlist
Employers are looking for someone who can make a complex vessel call work safely when marine, cargo, security and inland-transport constraints all collide.
Named on the specification
- Vessel-call and berth coordination — ETA/ETD, pilotage, berth, tugs, port services, terminal readiness, tide/weather and ship/shore communications.
- Class 7 / IMDG cargo operations — dangerous-goods information, cargo segregation, port notifications, controlled documentation and handling interfaces.
- Cargo transfer and stevedoring interface — cranes, lifting sequence, stevedores, laydown, exclusion zones, cargo identification and handover controls.
- Customs / agency / authority coordination — port authority, customs, immigration/crew, sub-agents, local regulators and required clearances.
- Security and access control — restricted berth zones, protected information, escort/access arrangements and nuclear security interfaces.
- Multimodal handover — vessel-to-road/rail transfer, heavy haulage readiness, transport package identity, chain of custody and terminal sequencing.
What decides between two shortlisted candidates
- INF vessel operations — direct experience with dedicated ships carrying irradiated fuel, plutonium or high-level waste.
- Heavy flask/cask port transfer — engineered lifting and onward transport of high-mass nuclear packages.
- Japanese / international nuclear port agency experience — local-regulator, sub-agent and jurisdictional depth for specialist nuclear calls.
- 24/7 emergency-response interface — operating confidently with contingency teams during marine or cargo abnormal events.
- Project-cargo / new-build marine logistics — beach landing, barges, heavy modules and construction-site interfaces.
- Port operations leadership — ownership of agents, terminals, readiness reviews, standards and post-call lessons across repeated campaigns.
The 2026 demand map
Demand follows three markets: specialist nuclear shipping, decommissioning/waste export programmes and large nuclear construction projects using marine logistics.
| Programme | Location | Phase in 2026 | Engineering demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTS / PNTL nuclear shipping | UK / Europe / Japan / global | Active specialist nuclear maritime operations | Very high specialist relevance — three INF3 vessels and long-term global nuclear cargo capability |
| Japanese port agency services — NTS | Japan | 2026 pre-market engagement for future operations | High / explicit — ship agency, regulator liaison, port/sub-agency management and marine consultancy |
| UK high-level waste returns | UK → Europe | Final German HLW return completed June 2026 | Programme close-out / transferable capability — demonstrates continuing need for port and nuclear cargo operations expertise |
| Sellafield / NDA international material movements | UK / overseas | Long-term nuclear transport mission | High — waste, fuel-cycle and international return obligations sustain shipping capability |
| Sizewell C marine works | Suffolk, UK | Extensive harbour activity through 2026–27 | Very high / growing — permanent Beach Landing Facility and marine bulk import operations |
| Hinkley Point C construction logistics | Somerset, UK | Major component and module construction | High — marine/project cargo and heavy component interfaces remain active |
| Nuclear new-build project cargo | Canada / US / international | Construction and supply-chain mobilisation | Growing — modularisation increases heavy marine and port logistics demand |
| Decommissioning / large radioactive equipment movements | UK / Europe | Long-term programmes | Steady — ports remain relevant where large or international radioactive cargos move by sea |
Demand follows three markets: specialist nuclear shipping, decommissioning/waste export programmes and large nuclear construction projects using marine logistics.
dedicated nuclear shipping and nuclear construction are two different port careers.
PNTL/NTS needs people who understand secure radioactive cargo, specialist ships and regulated international port calls. Sizewell C and other new builds need project-cargo coordinators who can manage barges, abnormal loads, berth infrastructure and construction logistics. The underlying port skills transfer, but the nuclear controls and cargo hazards are different enough that recruiters will want precise evidence.
nuclear cargo experience plus ordinary port competence.
A nuclear specialist who has never run a real vessel call can struggle with berth, customs, pilotage and terminal realities; a strong commercial port operator may not understand Class 7, protected movement information or radiation-control interfaces. The premium profile combines both and stays calm when tide, weather, customs, crane readiness and security all become critical at once.
Adjacent and onward roles
Port operations can deepen into nuclear shipping leadership or broaden into project logistics, freight and marine transport management.
Questions nuclear port-operations candidates genuinely ask recruiters
How much does a nuclear port operations coordinator earn in 2026?
TRX models established US nuclear port operations coordinators at roughly $72,000–$90,000 base salary range, with senior specialists earning $86,000–$108,000. The broader US marine operations personnel average is about $62,585 in September 2026. In the UK, established nuclear port specialists model at £38,000–£48,000 against a London port operations coordinator base average near £33,000, with lead roles reaching roughly £56,000–£70,000. Benefits often include dental and vision insurance, sick time, and other employee benefits.
Do you need a maritime degree or high school diploma to work in nuclear port operations?
No. Employers often recruit from operations personnel backgrounds such as port agency, shipping operations, freight forwarding, project cargo, stevedoring, and marine logistics. A maritime or logistics degree helps, but live vessel-call experience and shift operations knowledge are usually more valuable. Nuclear entry becomes credible when that port background is combined with Class 7 cargo, dangerous-goods, security clearance, and radioactive-cargo handling knowledge.
What is the difference between a nuclear port operations coordinator and a nuclear freight coordinator?
The port coordinator owns the marine-terminal interface: vessel arrival, berth, port services, stevedores, cargo transfer, customs/agency work, security, and handoff to road or rail. The freight coordinator owns the wider journey: carrier bookings, movement schedules, customs across the route, tracking, and disruption management. One controls the port call and daily operations; the other controls the broader freight movement.
What makes nuclear cargo different from ordinary project cargo at a port?
The physical handling may look similar—cranes, trailers, laydown, and heavy packages—but nuclear cargo adds Class 7 dangerous-goods requirements, radiation-protection checks, package approvals, tighter security, controlled movement information, and emergency arrangements. Higher-category material can also use dedicated nuclear vessels and specialist infrastructure such as the defense waste processing facility. Commercial schedule pressure never overrides those safety controls.
Where is demand strongest in 2026?
The UK is a major centre because the Savannah River Site and NTS/PNTL operate dedicated nuclear shipping capability, the NDA estate still requires international nuclear transport, and Sizewell C has extensive marine works under way. NTS’s 2026 procurement activity for Japanese port-agency services also signals continued international demand for local port coordination supporting nuclear vessels. Large new-build programmes create a separate project-cargo market.
What is the most valuable skill for a senior nuclear port operations coordinator?
Owning a complex vessel call from arrival through cargo handover and departure. The successful candidate can explain how they coordinated personnel across port authority, vessel, stevedores, crane/lifting, customs, security, radiation protection, and inland transport; what went wrong; and how they recovered the call without breaching a hold point. That execution evidence matters more than generic “marine logistics” wording.
We only recruit in nuclear. That is the whole point.
TRX can assess whether your background fits nuclear port operations, nuclear freight, heavy haulage, project cargo or maritime logistics. If you come from offshore energy, breakbulk, shipping agency, defence or conventional project cargo, we can identify which port skills transfer directly and where Class 7 or nuclear-security depth is still missing.