Ship and Boat Captains :: Job Description

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Ship and Boat Captains

Careers / Ship and Boat Captains

Summary Description


	Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Barge Captain

2.	Barge Master

3.	Boat Captain

4.	Boat Master

5.	Boat Operator

6.	Boatswain

7.	Canal Boat Captain

8.	Canal Boat Operator

9.	Captain

10.	Charter Boat Captain

11.	Deck Officer

12.	Deep Submergence Vehicle Operator

13.	Derrick Boat Captain

14.	Dock Master

15.	Dredge Captain

16.	Ferry Boat Captain

17.	Ferry Captain

18.	Ferry Terminal Supervisor

19.	Ferryboat Captain

20.	Ferryboat Operator

21.	Fishing Vessel Captain

22.	Harbor Tug Captain

23.	Lighter Captain

24.	Marine Superintendent

25.	Master

26.	Master Mariner

27.	Navigation Officer

28.	Navigator

29.	Oil Tanker Captain

30.	Passenger Barge Master

31.	Relief Captain

32.	River Captain

33.	Riverboat Master

34.	Sailing Master

35.	Scow Captain

36.	Sea Captain

37.	Ship Captain

38.	Ship Master

39.	Shipmaster

40.	Shrimp Boat Captain

41.	Sling Operator

42.	Sloop Captain

43.	Steamboat Captain

44.	Tow Boat Captain

45.	Towboat Captain

46.	Tug Boat Captain

47.	Tug Captain

48.	Tugboat Captain

49.	Tugboat Operator

50.	Vessel Captain

51.	Vessel Master

52.	Water Vessel Captain

53.	Yacht Captain

54.	Yacht Master

Job Tasks

	Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses. Operate ships or other watercraft.

	Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks. Operate ships or other watercraft.

	Adjust navigation according to weather conditions. Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.

	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. Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.

	Conduct safety drills with crew. Direct emergency management activities.

	Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations. Operate ships or other watercraft. Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.

	Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions. Determine geographic coordinates. Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.

	Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios. Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.

	Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment. Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.

	Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries. Communicate with others to coordinate material handling or movement.

	Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers. Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.

	Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches. Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.

	Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status. Record operational details of travel.

	Monitor the loading or discharging of cargo or passengers. Monitor loading processes to ensure they are performed properly.

	Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts. Determine geographic coordinates.

	Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment. Direct maintenance or repair activities. Direct passenger or freight transport activities. Direct material handling or moving activities.

	Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired. Arrange maintenance activities.

	Collect fares from customers or signal ferryboat helpers to collect fares. Direct passenger or freight transport activities. Collect fares or payment from customers.

	Resolve questions or problems with customs officials. Resolve issues affecting transportation operations.

	Sort logs, form log booms, or salvage lost logs. Sort materials or objects for processing or transport.

	Assign watches or living quarters to crew members. Direct passenger or freight transport activities.

	Purchase supplies or equipment. Acquire supplies or equipment.

	Interview and hire crew members. Recommend personnel decisions or human resources activities.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Water Transportation Workers
	Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coasts, across the Great Lakes, and along the country's many inland waterways.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Water Transportation Workers
	Water transportation workers usually work for long periods and can be exposed to all kinds of weather.

	Read More >>

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