Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. They are required to hold licenses issued by the Coast Guard.
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses, direct courses and speeds of ships, prevent ships from engaging in unsafe operations, serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port, and consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
Crew ship jobs inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations, stand watch on vessels during specified periods while vessels are underway, operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations, report violations to appropriate authorities, and assist in maritime rescue operations. They maintain records of daily activities and conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.
An associate’s degree or training in a vocational school is required to work on water vessels. Previous work-related skills and experience are required from workers. The prerequisite skills include critical thinking, judgement, decision making, communication, management of personnel resources, time management, social perceptiveness and operations control.
In ship mate jobs need knowledge of transportation, public safety and security, mechanical, geography, administration and management, and law and government.
Jobs are found in government and private shipping companies on water vessels, and the ship captain's salary is commensurate to the nature of the job.
Successful captains and first mates have leadership qualities, think analytically and have concern for others.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- Training Course Marine Engineering
- B.Tech Marine Engineering
- B.Sc. Marine Engineering
- B.E. Marine Engineering
Tasks
- 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.
Progression Routes
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