Summary for:

Ship and Boat Captains

Description:

Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.

Sample of reported job titles:

Sample of reported job titles: Captain, Boat Operator, Charter Boat Captain, Ferry Boat Captain, Harbor Tug Captain, Tow Boat Captain, Tug Captain, Relief Captain, Ship Captain, Tugboat Captain

Tasks | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Activites | Experience | Example | Education | Work Style | Work Values | Related Jobs | Wage | Employment | Expected Growth | Expected Need

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 ó 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 ó 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 ó 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 ó 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 ó Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Telecommunications ó Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Geography ó 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 ó Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mechanical ó Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Psychology ó 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.

Skills:

Judgment and Decision Making ó Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Listening ó 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 ó Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring ó Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination ó Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing ó Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking ó Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness ó Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking ó Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management ó Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities:

Oral Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension ó The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Far Vision ó The ability to see details at a distance.
Problem Sensitivity ó 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.
Depth Perception ó 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.
Speech Clarity ó The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Control Precision ó The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Selective Attention ó The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Spatial Orientation ó The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Deductive Reasoning ó The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Work Activities:

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment ó Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material ó Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting Information ó Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems ó Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
identifying Objects, Actions, and Events ó identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Controlling Machines and Processes ó Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings ó Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates ó 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 ó Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates ó Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Work Experience:

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.

Work Examples:

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

Education Requirements:

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Work Style:

Dependability ó Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity ó Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership ó Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Stress Tolerance ó Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attention to Detail ó Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control ó Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Initiative ó Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Independence ó 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 ó Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Adaptability/Flexibility ó Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Work Values:

Independence ó Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement ó 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 ó Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Related Jobs:

53-3032.00 Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer In-Demand
53-4011.00 Locomotive Engineers
53-4031.00 Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters In-Demand
53-5011.00 Sailors and Marine Oilers In-Demand
53-5021.02 Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge In-Demand
53-5021.03 Pilots, Ship In-Demand
53-6051.07 Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation In-Demand

Median Wage 2008:

$29.79 hourly, $61,960 annual

Estimated Employment Total 2008:

34,000 employees

Projected Growth 2008:

Faster than average (14% to 20%)

Projected Need 2008:

15,000 additional employees