Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

What the job really is

Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-5021
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
• Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
• Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
• Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
• Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
• Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
• Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
• Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
• Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
• Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
• Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
• Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.

Tools and technology

Apple macOS, Autodesk Revit, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Accommodation ladder, Anchors, Automatic radar plotting aids ARPA, Bolt cutters, Bridge to bridge radiotelephones

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Sailors and Marine Oilers
• Motorboat Operators
• Ship Engineers
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
• Commercial Pilots
• Transportation Inspectors
• Bridge and Lock Tenders
• Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.