Description:
Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
Tasks
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, and lighthouses.
- Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, by using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions.
- Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment, and conformance to regulations.
- Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
- Direct and coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading and unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, and operating, maintaining, and repairing ship equipment.
- Monitor the loading and discharging of cargo or passengers.
- Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices, and following contour lines on charts.
- Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, and radios.
- Maintain boats and equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, and life preservers.
- Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates and ramps, and pull guard chains across entries.
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Transportation
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Telecommunications
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
- Geography
- Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
- Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Mechanical
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- 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.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operation Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities
- Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Far Vision
- The ability to see details at a distance.
- Problem Sensitivity
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity
- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Depth Perception
- The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
- Selective Attention
- The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Spatial Orientation
- The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
- Control Precision
- The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Written Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Work Activities
- 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.
- Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- 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.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
- Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Work Context
- Face-to-Face Discussions
- How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
- How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?
- Frequency of Decision Making
- How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
- Telephone
- How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
- Work With Work Group or Team
- How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Structured versus Unstructured Work
- To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
- Contact With Others
- How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
- How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Interests
- Enterprising
- Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Realistic
- Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional
- Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Investigative
- Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Social
- Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Artistic
- Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Work Style
- Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Leadership
- Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Stress Tolerance
- Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Self Control
- Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Initiative
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Independence
- Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Persistence
- Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Cooperation
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Work Value
- Independence
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Achievement
- Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Working Conditions
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
- Relationships
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Support
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Recognition
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Related Occupations
Common Lay Titles
- Barge Captain
- Barge Master
- Boat Captain
- Boat Master
- Boat Operator
- Boatswain
- Canal Boat Captain
- Canal Boat Operator
- Captain
- Car Ferry Captain
- Car Ferry Master
- Charter Boat Captain
- Commercial Boat Captain
- Container Vessel Master
- Cruise Boat Captain
- Deck Officer
- Deep Submergence Vehicle Operator
- Derrick Boat Captain
- Dredge Captain
- Ferry Boat Captain
- Ferry Boat Pilot
- Ferry Captain
- Ferry Terminal Supervisor
- Ferryboat Captain
- Ferryboat Operator
- Fishing Vessel Captain
- Harbor Tug Captain
- Inland Captain
- Lighter Captain
- Marine Captain
- Marine Superintendent
- Mariner
- Master
- Master Mariner
- Mate
- Merchant Mariner Captain
- Navigation Officer
- Navigator
- Ocean Going Tug Captain
- Officer
- Oil Crew Boat Captain
- Oil Tanker Captain
- Operations Manager
- Passenger Barge Master
- Passenger Vessels Captain
- Pilot
- Port Captain
- Relief Captain
- River Boat Captain
- River Captain
- Riverboat Master
- Sailboat Captain
- Sailing Master
- Scow Captain
- Sea Captain
- Ship Captain
- Ship Master
- Ship's Captain
- Shipmaster
- Shrimp Boat Captain
- Sling Operator
- Sloop Captain
- Sport Fishing Vessel Captain
- Steamboat Captain
- Supply Boat Captain
- Tanker Captain
- Tour Boat Captain
- Tow Boat Captain
- Towboat Captain
- Towing Vessel Captain
- Tug Boat Captain
- Tug Captain
- Tugboat Captain
- Tugboat Operator
- Vessel Captain
- Vessel Master
- Water Vessel Captain
- Yacht Master