Deckhands

Career summary

#check 3/18/19 lh

Deckhands work under the supervision of the ship's officers. They handle the lines that connect the ship to the dock when docking or departing. They stand watch to look out for other ships or objects in the ship's path.

Deckhands steer the ship. When the ship is traveling through shallow water, they measure the water depth to make sure the ship does not run aground. They maintain the ship's logs, which are records of information such as weather conditions and the distance traveled.

Deckhands maintain and operate deck equipment such as:

• Lifeboats
• Anchors
• Cargo-handling machinery

Deckhands clean the ship. They:

• Repair lines
• Chip away rust
• Paint and clean decks

Deckhands may load and unload cargo. With liquid cargo, they hook up hoses, operate pumps, and clean tanks.

Deckhands are called seamen on oceangoing ships. Beginning deckhands are called ordinary seamen. Those with more sea experience are called able seamen. Able seamen may direct other staff in cleaning or repairing the vessel.

Some deckhands work in the steward's department, where they are responsible for food service or laundry. They are called chief cook, stewards, or steward utilities.

The size of the crew varies by the type of ship and the type of work they do. A typical deep-sea merchant ship has six or more deckhands. Ships that operate in rivers or harbors may have only one deckhand, or they may have up to ten people on the crew.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Commercial Fishers
• Gas and Oil Drillers
• Highway Maintenance Workers
• Locomotive Engineers
• Pump Operators
• Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
• Ship Captains and Mates
• Ship Pilots

Military careers

• Seamen

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to deckhands.

• Operate ship and deck equipment.
• Keep non-engine areas in good condition.
• Stand watch to look for ships or other objects in their path.
• Steer the ship.
• Measure water depth.
• Maintain and operate deck equipment, such as gauges or lifeboats.
• Handle lines when docking or departing.
• Clean and do general repair of boat, such as paint walls or polish trim.
• Load and unload cargo.
• Record information, such as weather conditions and distance traveled, in the ship's log.
• Supervise other deckhands.
• Participate in shore patrols.
• Tie vessels to other vessels.
• Maintain government certifications.
• Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.

Common work activities

Deckhands perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Get information needed to do the job
• Control machines and processes
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Handle and move objects
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Process information
• Teach others
• Analyze data or information
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Think creatively
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Assist and care for others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Document and record information
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Coach others
• Schedule work and activities
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, deckhands:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are substantially responsible for the health and safety of passengers or other crew members.
• Have a high level of contact with others if they are able seaman. Ordinary seamen have less contact with others.
• Communicate with others primarily via face-to-face discussions. They may also communicate via e-mail and phone.
• Nearly always work as part of a team.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other deckhands.
• On occasion are placed in conflict situations in which others may be unpleasant or angry.

Physical work conditions

• Often work outdoors on the deck, but may also work indoors in the engine room or below deck.
• Often wear a special uniform.
• Wear protective or safety attire on a daily basis.
• Are often exposed to contaminants.
• Are regularly exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• Are occasionally exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures. This depends on the area of the country they work in and whether they work year round.
• Are occasionally exposed to hazardous equipment.
• May sometimes have to reach or stand in high places.
• Sometimes have to get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.
• Sometimes encounter whole body vibration.
• May work in very bright or dim lighting, depending on the weather.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous situations, such as when moving heavy loads or dangerous cargo.
• May work physically near others.

Work performance

• Must be exact and complete in finishing all details of the job. Incomplete maintenance may cause equipment to fail and could seriously endanger the crew.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must sometimes match the pace of work to the speed of equipment.
• Must meet weekly deadlines.
• Regularly make decisions that affect their coworkers and the organization they work for.
• Can make some decisions about daily work independently, but often receive initial orders from a leader or supervisor.

Hours/travel

• Stand watch for four hours and are off for eight hours while at sea.
• Work seven days a week while at sea.
• Work 60 days and have 30 days off, when working the Great Lakes area.
• May not work during the winter when the Great Lakes are frozen.
• May work year round on rivers and canals and in harbors.
• May work eight- or 12-hour shifts and go home every day, especially if they work on rivers.
• May work steadily for a week or month and then have an extended time off.
• Are on duty for six or 12 hours and then off for six or 12 hours, when working on rivers.

Physical demands

Deckhands frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Keep or regain their balance.

It is important for deckhands to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for deckhands to be able to:

• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• See objects in very low light.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Move arms and legs quickly.

Skills and abilities

Deckhands need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand written information.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Repair machines or systems.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Maritime Sciences

Other programs of study to consider

• Fisheries Sciences and Management

Training

To work as a deckhand, you typically need to:

• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent. It is also a good idea to get training through industry or labor union schools. This is because there is a lot of competition for deckhand jobs. Some unions guarantee jobs to students who successfully finish their training programs.

Union training programs usually involve a 12-week training session in the classroom. Then you spend 90 days of practical training on a vessel. During this time, your trainers assess your ability to do the job. Finally, you receive more classroom training in one of three departments - deck, engine, or steward.

On-the-job training

The length of training depends on the size and type of ship and waterway you work on. For example, little training is needed for jobs on rivers or harbors. Employers may give you a short introductory course before you begin working on the ship. Training may last up to a month. Deckhands that work on deep-sea vessels need more complex training. Training may last up to a year.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be seamen. Classroom training lasts from six to 12 weeks. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Physical Education
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers require deck hands who operate vessels on oceans to have or be eligible for a merchant mariner document (MMD). This certificate is available through the US Coast Guard.

Employers who operate vessels on rivers or harbors do not require deckhands to have any special training or experience. However, since competition for jobs is strong, deckhands with more training or sea experience may have an edge over other candidates.

Drug and alcohol testing is required for deckhands who work on Washington State ferries. These workers must also take a 13-day orientation and training class. Tugboats require the same training of able seaman who work on inspected vessels. Employers of ferry and tugboat deckhands look for applicants with good people skills and the physical ability to climb ladders and fight on-board fires if necessary. Being well groomed and outgoing is helpful. For cruise ship crew members, employers often look for customer service experience.

#mariner 1 position (deckhands) abolished by DOP in May 2009 and not sure yet what, if anything, is replacing this job class. Left requirements in here for now as doubt would require any less than this for the job. 3/17/10, cj.

Tips

Sea time in the Navy or Coast Guard is helpful. Experience, on fishing boats or excursion boats, also counts. Coast Guard licensing, along with experience, allows workers to advance to mate and master's positions. Leadership ability skills can lead to promotions within organizations.

#Employment page on state ferries' web site says due to contractual obligations with the union, they cannot accept applications or resumes. Applicants must go through the union. 4/8/04 CJ.

Costs to workers

New employees are usually required to join a union and pay an initiation fee and quarterly dues. Workers must also pay a fee to the US Coast Guard for a merchant mariner's license and documentation. This credential must be renewed every five years.

#Renewal period still 5 years, 3/3/14, 4/4/16, 3/7/18 cj.

Licensing/certification

Deckhands who work on ships over 100 tons must hold a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD), which is available at US Coast Guard regional offices. This certificate allows someone to work in the industry. There are two levels of this certificate, qualified or unqualified. Unqualified is an entry-level rating. This rating is for ordinary seamen with no prior experience or sea experience. Qualified is the rating for able seamen with some sea service experience. All applicants must meet the following requirements:

• be at least 16 years of age;
• have parental approval if less than 18 years old;
• be a citizen of the United States;
• pass a drug screening test; and
• complete a criminal background check.

Ordinary seamen who want to work on boats over 200 tons must also complete a physical exam.

Able seamen must also meet the following requirements:

• pass a physical and vision exam;
• complete a written exam; and
• spend a certain number of hours working on water craft.

The written exam may be difficult to pass without completing a training program or independent study. In addition, because deckhands often work only six months out of a year, it may take them five to eight years to accumulate enough experience to advance to the higher level of able seaman.

For more information about licensing, contact:

United States Coast Guard
National Maritime Center
Merchant Mariner Licensing & Documentation 
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
888.427.5662

#no changes 3/17 lh. CG contact info still ok 3/7/18 cj. 3/18/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Sailors and Marine Oilers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages on ocean going vessels are higher than those in other waters. However, deckhands may wait months in between jobs, which lowers their yearly wages.

Many deckhands who work full time on American ships receive benefits. These benefits may include health insurance and a retirement plan. They may also receive paid vacations.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Deckhands who work for transportation companies may work on deep-sea merchant ships, towboats, ferries, or dredges. They may work on rivers, canals, and other waterways. Other deckhands may work in marine construction. For example, they may survey or dredge a canal. Some deckhands work on passenger boats. They may work on cruise ships, floating casinos, or sightseeing boats.

Major employers:

• Cargo transportation companies
• Passenger transportation companies
• Federal and state government agencies

National outlook

The demand for waterway freight shipping is expected decline over the next few years. An increased number of larger vessels that can carry more cargo require fewer deckhands. Waterway freight shipping is also dependent on the demand for bulk products such as petroleum, iron ore, and grains.

Job openings will occur as people leave the occupation because they do not like spending a lot of time away at sea. Other openings will occur as people leave to retire.

Other resources

Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific 
1711 West Nickerson Street, Suite D
Seattle, WA 98119
206.284.6001

Military SeaLift Command 
CIVMAR Support Center
6353 Center Drive, Building 8, Suite 202
Norfolk, VA 23502
866.562.7672

Profiles in Ocean Careers 

Sailors' Union of the Pacific 
4005 20th Ave. West, Ste 115
Seattle, WA 98199
206.467.7944

Seafarers International Union 

Transportation Institute 
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746
301.423.3335

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Sailors and Marine Oilers (53-5011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Able Seaman (911.364-010) 
• Deckhand (911.687-022) 
• Marine Oiler (911.584-010) 
• Ordinary Seaman (911.687-030) 
• Quartermaster (911.363-014) 
• Sailor, Pleasure Craft (911.664-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Conventional/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Outdoor
• Technology Skilled