Occupation Details
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.
Quick Navigation
Interests
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.
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.
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.
Work Values
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.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$61,500.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$103,520.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$121,490.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
1,580
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
2,000
+42 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
219
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.3%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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.
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.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Accommodation ladder
- Anchors
- Automatic radar plotting aids ARPA
- Bolt cutters
- Bridge to bridge radiotelephones
- Bulk carriers
- Carbon dioxide CO2 flooding systems
- Cargo derricks
- Centrifugal cargo pumps
- Chain cargo falls
- Chemical tankers
- Claw hammers
- Container lift trucks
- Container ships
- Crescent wrenches
- Cruise ships
- Desktop computers
- Differential global positioning systems DGPS
- Dividers
- Drafting triangles
- Dry chemical fire extinguishers
- Dynamic positioning DP systems
- Echo sounders
- Electric deck cranes
- Electric mooring winches
- Electric telegraphs
- Electric windlasses
- Electronic chart display and information systems ECDIS
- Emergency fire pumps
- Emergency generators
Technology
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk Revit
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- FURUNO navigational chart software
- Groundwater modeling system GMS
- Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral
- Log book software
- Maptech The CAPN
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Office Outlook
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Navigational chart software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- interview job applicants
- hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- collect payment
- maintain records, reports, or files
- prepare reports
- prepare safety reports
- explain traffic or transportation situations concisely
- identify positions of celestial bodies for navigational purposes
- identify positions of celestial bodies for navigational purposes
- identify positions of celestial bodies for navigational purposes
- schedule employee work hours
- oversee execution of organizational or program policies
- captain water vessels
- captain water vessels
- captain water vessels
- oversee marine cargo handling
- oversee marine cargo handling
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- supervise crew aboard ship
- supervise crew aboard ship
- supervise crew aboard ship
- order helmsperson to steer vessel
- order helmsperson to steer vessel
- order helmsperson to steer vessel
- monitor worker performance
- maintain repair records
- measure water depth
- measure water depth
- measure water depth
- calculate sighting of land using chart or sounding devices
- calculate sighting of land using chart or sounding devices
- calculate sighting of land using chart or sounding devices
- compute position, set course, or determine speed of vessel
- compute position, set course, or determine speed of vessel
- compute position, set course, or determine speed of vessel
- inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
- conduct training for personnel
- adhere to safety procedures
- perform safety inspections in transportation setting
- perform safety inspections in transportation setting
- perform safety inspections in transportation setting
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
- signal directions or warnings to coworkers
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
- use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
- use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
- use knowledge of seamanship or boat handling
- use knowledge of seamanship or boat handling
- use knowledge of seamanship or boat handling
- use knowledge of tides and currents
- use knowledge of tides and currents
- use knowledge of tides and currents
- use established traffic or transportation procedures
- use established traffic or transportation procedures
- use established traffic or transportation procedures
- monitor equipment or machine operation to detect problems
- monitor sonar or navigational aids
- monitor sonar or navigational aids
- monitor sonar or navigational aids
- stand watch on vessel
- stand watch on vessel
- read maps
- read maps
- read maps
- read navigation charts
- read navigation charts
- read navigation charts
- operate emergency fire or rescue equipment
- operate emergency fire or rescue equipment
- operate emergency fire or rescue equipment
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- operate navigation technology or equipment
- operate navigation technology or equipment
- operate navigation technology or equipment
- use geographic positioning system (GPS)
- use geographic positioning system (GPS)
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- understand admiralty law
- understand admiralty law
- understand admiralty law
- recognize reefs, shoals, or other hazards by navigation aids
- recognize reefs, shoals, or other hazards by navigation aids
- recognize reefs, shoals, or other hazards by navigation aids
- inspect transportation equipment for damage or defects
- steer boat or ship
- steer boat or ship
- steer boat or ship
- operate boat or towing equipment
- transport passengers or cargo
- transport passengers or cargo
- direct course or speed of ship
- direct course or speed of ship
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.
- 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.
- Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.
- 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.
- Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches.
- 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.
- Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.
- Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
- Purchase supplies or equipment.
- Interview and hire crew members.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center provides you with information on educational and professional development opportunities including technology-rich curriculum materials that includes a listing of materials and summer institutes have you working with employers and working technicians to give you a better understanding of the type of work.
Learn MoreShip and Submarine Officers
Visit this link for information on this career in the military.
Learn MoreWater transportation occupations
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More