Delicate? Lazy? Enjoy your bed? Don't apply here!

MOST job adverts are straightforward '“ they say what you'll be doing and how much you'll earn.
Harbour Spirit, one of the Gosport ferries Picture: Tony WeaverHarbour Spirit, one of the Gosport ferries Picture: Tony Weaver
Harbour Spirit, one of the Gosport ferries Picture: Tony Weaver

But one for a ‘yard mate or pontoon boy’ on the Gosport Ferry goes a little further than that.

It explains the applicant should be happy to ‘remove rubbish and vomit and be ready to be roundly criticised by most members of the crew until they get it right’.

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The poster with the humorous job description has been put up onboard one of the ferries.

The controversial job advertisment, pictured onboard the Gosport Ferrry in September, 2016The controversial job advertisment, pictured onboard the Gosport Ferrry in September, 2016
The controversial job advertisment, pictured onboard the Gosport Ferrry in September, 2016

But some passengers have spotted it and taken offence, especially as the vacancy is only open to those aged 16 to 22.

One passenger, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘My husband and I can’t believe it.

‘There are a lot of things on there that probably shouldn’t be. We’ve never seen an advertisement like it.’

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As well as a job description, which includes ‘clipping tickets’ and ‘sweating’, it stipulates that the role would not be suited to: ‘Those of a delicate disposition.

The controversial job advertisment, pictured onboard the Gosport Ferrry in September, 2016The controversial job advertisment, pictured onboard the Gosport Ferrry in September, 2016
The controversial job advertisment, pictured onboard the Gosport Ferrry in September, 2016

‘Those who enjoy idling. Those who are not willing to learn. Those who simply cannot take instruction.

‘Those who enjoy non-prescription drugs. Those who drink excessively. Those who cannot get out of bed in the morning.

‘Those who do not enjoy the idea of being a sailor. Those who are easily bored.’

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Gosport Ferry general manager Jeremy Clarke defended the advert, saying he had ‘had enough of timewasters’.

He said: ‘It is absolutely what I want. It’s just telling you who should apply.

‘I don’t want to go through another lad or lass who is not willing to work, that’s the cause for it. Doing that is simply a waste of time.’

Mr Clarke said the age bracket was not definitive, but it would be taken into account as it takes 10 years or longer to train to become a captain.

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He said: ‘I have a rough age bracket for my captains, they are all in their 40s, 50s and 60s. All the skippers are in their 30s.

‘If I get the right boy or girl then they too can develop and eventually captain the ship.

‘That is if they are right for the job, show willing and get on with the rest of the team.’

But Leone Hill, business development manager at JobCentre Plus in Portsmouth, said the advert could breach the Equality Act 2010.

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She said: ‘There are only certain circumstances when you can put an 
age description on a vacancy, or use words that imply age, such as boy or junior.

‘We would not have taken the advert in that format, and we would be asking for further clarifications.

‘It seems they have a sense of humour but it may be stepping over the line.’

She added: ‘At Gosport Jobcentre Plus we do have an employer adviser who would be happy to discuss the vacancy with the company to see if we can help suitable candidates who could fulfil the job description.’

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