About This Career

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

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics cluster Transportation Operations pathway.

A person in this career:

• Directs courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
• Prevents ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
• Serves as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
• Consults maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
• Steers and operates vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
• Operates ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
• Docks or undocks vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
• Stands watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
• Inspects vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
• Reads gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Lighting is either extremely bright or inadequate
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
• Maintaining a body position that prevents falling when in an unstable position
• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing objects clearly in glaring conditions or bright lighting
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Overnight travel
• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work