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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Also called Boat Captain, Captain, First Mate, or Mate

What Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels do

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.

Who tends to enjoy it

Hands-on

People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.

Organizing

People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.

Leading

People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.

What you'd actually 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.

A typical day involves

Face-to-face with people Part of a team Outdoors in all weather Using your hands Wearing safety gear In a vehicle or enclosed equipment

Skills that matter most

  • Operation and Control
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Operations Monitoring

What you'll need to know

  • Transportation
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Mechanical
  • Law and Government
  • English Language

Where to study for this

College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.

  • Marine Science / Merchant Marine Officer 11 colleges

Related careers

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Fishing and Hunting Workers

Hunt, trap, catch, or gather wild animals or aquatic animals and plants. May use nets, traps, or other equipment. May haul catch onto ship or other vessel.

Little to some preparation

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 53-5021.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.