Water Transportation Worker Career Description

Summary

Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water.

What they do

Water transportation workers typically do the following:

Operate and maintain nonmilitary vessels
Follow their vessel’s strict chain of command
Ensure the safety of all people and cargo on board

These workers, sometimes called merchant mariners, work on a variety of ships.

Some operate large deep-sea container ships to transport manufactured goods and refrigerated cargos around the world.

Others work on bulk carriers that move heavy commodities, such as coal or iron ore, across the oceans and over the Great Lakes.

Still others work on both large and small tankers that carry oil and other liquid products around the country and the world. Others work on supply ships that transport equipment and supplies to offshore oil and gas platforms.

Workers on tugboats help barges and other boats maneuver in small harbors and at sea.

Salvage vessels that offer emergency services also employ merchant mariners.

Cruise ships also employ water transportation workers, and some merchant mariners work on ferries to transport passengers along shorter distances.

A typical deep-sea merchant ship, large coastal ship, or Great Lakes merchant ship employs a captain and a chief engineer, along with three mates, three assistant engineers, and a number of sailors and marine oilers. Smaller vessels that operate in harbors or rivers may have a smaller crew. The specific complement of mariners is dependent on U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

Also, there are other workers on ships, such as cooks, electricians, and general maintenance and repair workers.

The following are examples of types of water transportation workers:

Captains, sometimes called masters, have overall command of a vessel. They have the final responsibility for the safety of the crew, cargo, and passengers. Captains typically do the following:

Steer and operate vessels
Direct crew members
Ensure that proper safety procedures are followed
Purchase equipment and supplies and arrange for any necessary maintenance and repair Oversee the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers
Keep logs and other records that track the ship’s movements and activities
Interact with passengers on cruise ships

Mates, or deck officers, direct the operation of a vessel while the captain is off duty. Large ships have three officers, called first, second, and third mates. The first mate has the highest authority and takes command of the ship if the captain is incapacitated. Usually, the first mate is in charge of the cargo and/or passengers, the second mate is in charge of navigation, and the third mate is in charge of safety. On smaller vessels, there may be only one mate who handles all of the responsibilities. Deck officers typically do the following:

Alternate watches with the captain and other officers
Supervise and coordinate the activities of the deck crew
Assist with docking the ship
Monitor the ship’s position, using charts and other navigational aides
Determine the speed and direction of the vessel
Inspect the cargo hold during loading, to ensure that the cargo is stowed according to specifications
Make announcements to passengers when needed

Pilots guide ships in harbors, on rivers, and on other confined waterways. They are not part of a ship’s crew but go aboard a ship to guide it through a particular waterway that they are familiar with. They work in places where a high degree of familiarity with local tides, currents, and hazards is needed. Some, called harbor pilots, work for ports and help many ships that come into the harbor during the day. When coming into a commercial port, a captain will often have to turn control of the vessel over to a pilot, who can safely guide it into the harbor. Pilots typically do the following:

Board an unfamiliar ship from a small boat in the open water, often using a ladder
Confer with a ship’s captain about the vessel’s destination and any special requirements it has
Establish a positive working relationship with a vessel’s captain and deck officers
Receive mooring instructions from shore dispatchers

Sailors, or deckhands, operate and maintain the vessel and deck equipment. They make up the deck crew and keep all parts of a ship, other than areas related to the engine and motor, in good working order. New deckhands are called ordinary seamen and do the least complicated tasks. Experienced deckhands are called able seamen and usually make up most of a crew. Some large ships have a boatswain, who is the chief of the deck crew. Sailors typically do the following:

Stand watch, looking for other vessels or obstructions in their ship’s path and for navigational aids, such as buoys and lighthouses
Steer the ship under the guidance of an officer and measure water depth in shallow water
Do routine maintenance, such as painting the deck and chipping away rust
Keep the inside of the ship clean
Handle mooring lines when docking or departing
Tie barges together when they are being towed
Load and unload cargo
Help passengers when needed

Ship engineers operate and maintain a vessel’s propulsion system, which includes the engine, boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery. Large vessels usually carry a chief engineer, who has command of the engine room and its crew, and a first, second, and third assistant engineer. The assistant engineer oversees the engine and related machinery when the chief engineer is off duty. Small ships might have only one engineer. Engineers typically do the following:

Maintain a ships’ mechanical and electrical equipment and systems
Start the engine and regulate the vessel’s speed, following the captain’s orders
Record information in an engineering log
Keep an inventory of mechanical parts and supplies
Do routine maintenance checks throughout the day
Calculate refueling requirements

Marine oilers work in the engine room, helping the engineers keep the propulsion system in working order. They are the engine room equivalent of sailors. New oilers usually are called wipers, or pumpmen, on vessels handling liquid cargo. With experience, a wiper can become a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED). Marine oilers typically do the following:

Lubricate gears, shafts, bearings, and other parts of the engine or motor
Read pressure and temperature gauges and record data
Perform daily and periodic maintenance on engine room machinery
Help engineers with repairs to machinery
Connect hoses, operate pumps, and clean tanks
Assist the deck crew with loading or unloading of cargo, if necessary

Motorboat operators run small, motor-driven boats that carry only a few passengers. They provide a variety of services, such as fishing charters, tours, and harbor patrols. Motorboat operators typically do the following:

Check and change the oil and other fluids on their boat
Pick up passengers and help them board the boat
Act as a tour guide, if necessary

Work Environment

Water transportation workers usually work for long periods and can be exposed to all kinds of weather. Many people decide that life at sea is not for them because of difficult conditions onboard ships and long periods away from home.

However, companies try to provide pleasant living conditions aboard their vessels. Most vessels are air-conditioned and include comfortable living quarters. Many also include entertainment systems with satellite TV and Internet connections, and meals may be provided.

How to become a Water Transportation Worker

Education and training requirements vary by the type of job. There are no educational requirements for entry-level sailors and marine oilers, but other types of water transportation workers typically complete U.S. Coast Guard-approved training programs. Most water transportation jobs require the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) from the Transportation Security Administration and a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), plus any related endorsements, from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Sailors and marine oilers usually do not need formal education. Other types of water transportation workers often complete U.S. Coast Guard-approved training programs to help them obtain their required credentials.

Employers may prefer to hire workers who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a merchant marine academy. The academy programs offer a bachelor’s degree and a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with an endorsement as a third mate or third assistant engineer. Graduates of these programs also can choose to receive a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Merchant Marine Reserve, or U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

Ordinary seamen, wipers, and other entry-level mariners get on-the-job training for 6 months to a year. The length of training depends on the size and type of ship and waterway they work on. For example, workers on deep-sea vessels need more complex training than those whose ships travel on a river.

All mariners working on ships with U.S. flags must have a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) from the Transportation Security Administration. This credential states that a person is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and has passed a security screening. The TWIC must be renewed every 5 years.

Mariners who work on ships traveling on the open ocean require the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STWC) endorsement. Regional U.S. Coast Guard offices provide this training, and it includes topics such as first aid and lifeboat safety. The STWC training must be completed every 5 years. Mariners who work on inland waterways and the Great Lakes are excluded from the STWC endorsement.

Most mariners also must have a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), which they can apply for at a U.S. Coast Guard regional examination center. Entry-level employees, such as ordinary seamen or wipers, do not have to pass a written exam. However, some have to pass physical, hearing, and vision tests, and all must undergo a drug screening, in order to get their MMC. They also have to take a class on shipboard safety. The MMC must also be renewed every 5 years. More information on MMCs and related endorsements is available from the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center.

Pilots are licensed by the state in which they work. The U.S. Coast Guard licenses pilots on the Great Lakes. The requirements for these licenses vary, depending on where a pilot works.

Pay

The median annual wage for water transportation workers was $57,330 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $125,940.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of water transportation workers is projected to show little or no change from 2019 to 2029.

Fluctuations in the demand for bulk commodities, such as petroleum products, iron ore, and grains, is a key factor influencing employment in these occupations. When demand for these commodities is high, the need for water transportation workers goes up; when demand slows, so does the need for workers. In addition, larger vessels that can carry more cargo require fewer water transportation workers.

Nevertheless, these workers will continue to be needed as federal laws and subsidies ensure that there always will be a fleet of merchant ships with U.S. flags. Keeping a fleet of merchant ships is considered important for the nation’s defense.

Similar Job Titles

Captain, Mate and Pilot of Water Vessels:

Boat Captain, Boat Operator, Captain, Ferry Boat Captain, First Mate, Ship Captain, Ship Pilot, Tugboat Captain, Tugboat Mate, Vessel Master

Ship Engineer:

Assistant Engineer, Barge Engineer, Chief Engineer, Engineer, Ferry Engineer, Harbor Engineer, Port Engineer, Towboat Engineer, Tug Boat Engineer, Tugboat Engineer

Sailor and Marine Oiler:

Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman), Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman), Able Seaman, Boat Crew Deck Hand, Bosun, Deck Hand, Deckhand, Deckhand Engineer, Oiler, Tankerman

Motorboat Operator:

Boat Operator, Charter Boat Operator, Crew Boat Operator, Launch Operator, Launchman, Pilot Boat Operator, Water Taxi Operator

Related Occupations

Captain, Mate and Pilot of Water Vessels:

First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Worker, Firefighter, Control and Valve Installer and Repairer (except Mechanical Door), Commercial Pilot, Transportation Vehicle/Equipment and Systems Inspectors (except Aviation)

Ship Engineer:

Electrical and Electronics Repairers-Powerhouse/Substation/Relay, Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician, Commercial Diver, Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plan and System Operator

Sailor and Marine Oiler:

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operator, Service Unit Operator-Oil and Gas, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator-Surface Mining, Helper-Extraction Worker, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operator

Motorboat Operator:

Highway Maintenance Worker, Segmental Paver, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver, Rail Yard Engineer/Dinkey Operator/Hostler, Sailor and Marine Oiler

More Information

The trade associations listed below represent organizations made up of people (members) who work and promote advancement in the field. Members are very interested in telling others about their work and about careers in those areas. As well, trade associations provide opportunities for organizational networking and learning more about the field’s trends and directions.

Magazines and Publications

Captain, Mate and Pilot of Water Vessels:

Ship Engineer, Sailor and Marine Oiler:

Motorboat Operator:

Video Transcript

Captain, Mate and Pilot of Water Vessels:

Seafaring is not just a career…it’s a lifestyle. Captains, mates and ship pilots spend their days on the water on vessels of all sizes…on inland lakes and rivers, as well as the open sea. The captain is responsible for every aspect of the voyage and vessel. They set course and speed, direct crew members, and ensure that proper procedures are followed, keeping logs and records of the ship's movements and cargo, and supervising the loading and unloading of cargo and passengers. Mates are the captain's "right hand." They manage and train the deck crew, inspect and maintain inventory of equipment and order needed repairs. They stand watch, oversee ship operations and navigation when the captain is not on duty. Pilots are responsible for steering ships in and out of berths, through hazardous conditions and boat traffic. They motor out from harbor as a ship approaches, then climb aboard to take charge and safely berth the ship. Life aboard ship requires that one must be in good physical condition to tolerate the extremes of weather and irregular hours, and to be ready to respond to unexpected danger. Captains and ship pilots are expected to have vocational training or an associate degree, while mates often have a high school diploma. All require experience onboard ships. Licensing by the Coast Guard is required for work on ships registered in the U.S. If you can't resist the call of the sea, you might set sail for a nautical career.

Ship Engineer, Sailor and Marine Oiler:

Outdoors every day in sun, wind, and rain, with steady legs on a shifting deck, at times with no land in sight… the lifestyle of sailors and marine oilers isn’t for everyone, but for those who love life on the water, there’s nothing like it. Sailors—also called deckhands— operate and maintain vessels and deck equipment, and keep their ship in good working order. Sailors stand watch for hazards or other vessels in the ship’s path, and keep track of navigational buoys to stay on course. They clean decks, maintain lifeboats, and paint and patch the ship’s surface. At port, sailors load and unload cargo. They also steer the ship under the direction of commanders, and handle lines to secure the ship when docking, leaving port, or to connect barges when towed by tugboats. Sailors communicate with other ships using the international signal language of lights and semaphores. Marine oilers are the engine room equivalent of sailors. They help engineers with maintenance and repairs to keep the propulsion system in working order. To load fuel supplies, they ensure hoses are secured and pumps operate correctly. Marine oilers monitor gauges and record data to document changes and that procedures have been followed. Although formal education usually is not required, these workers often need credentials issued by the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center.

Motorboat Operator:

Motorboat operators run small, motor-driven boats that carry only a few passengers. They operate fishing charters, tours, and harbor patrols. Their technical tasks include refueling, checking and changing the oil and other fluids, navigation, and ensuring any cargo or materials are secure. For passenger boats, motorboat operators pick up passengers and help them board and instruct them in emergency procedures… some also act as tour guides or fishing guides in their work. Motorboat operators are exposed to all kinds of weather, and must follow safety procedures to keep themselves and passengers safe. Motorboat operators typically go out for a few hours at a time and return home each night. Many work in locations that are vacation destinations, and have seasonal schedules. While there are no standard educational requirements for motorboat operators, many employers prefer candidates who have a motorboat operator certificate.

Content retrieved from: US Bureau of Labor Statistics-OOH www.bls.gov/ooh,
CareerOneStop www.careeronestop.org, O*Net Online www.onetonline.org