Ship & Boat Captain

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A ship and boat captain could...

Overview Listen to this section

Ship and boat captains have the important job of commanding ships and boats through domestic and deep-sea waterways, so that passengers and cargo arrive safely. To do this, they need knowledge of the mechanical and electrical workings of ships, navigation, signaling, national and international legal rules in waterways, as well as strong leadership skills, since they supervise the work of all other crew members.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Ship & Boat Captain?

1. Operation and Control: ? Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
2. Operation Monitoring: ? Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
3. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
4. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
5. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.

6. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
7. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
8. Coordination: ? Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
9. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
10. Time Management: ? Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Ship & Boat Captain might do:

• 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.
• Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
• Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
• Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.
• Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
• Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
• 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.
• Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
• Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
• Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models.
• 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.
• Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
• Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
• Purchase supplies or equipment.
• Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.