Ship Captains and Mates

Career summary

#No alternate titles

Captains or masters are in command of ships. They oversee the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers. They often collect fares from passengers, or direct others to do so.

They set the course and speed of the vessel and steer it to avoid hazards and other ships. They use equipment such as depth finders and radar to watch for hazards. They gather information from lighthouses, buoys, and lights. Captains determine the ship's position using:

• Navigational aids
• Charts
• Observations

Ship captains direct the crew who steer the ship, operate the engines, and signal to other vessels. They direct those who perform maintenance or operate towing or dredging gear.

Captains check that proper procedures and safety practices are followed. They make sure that machinery and equipment are in working order. They often run safety drills with the crew.

Captains on larger ships have deck officers or mates as assistants. Merchant marine ships have multiple mates. Captains interview, hire, and instruct mates. They assign mates to watches and living quarters.

Mates oversee operation of the vessel for part of the day when the captain is off duty.

Captains keep logs and records of the ship's movements and cargo. They may purchase supplies while ships are docked. If they operate fishing vessels, captains find buyers for the fish they caught. They may talk to agents about how to meet customs regulations.

Related careers

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

Related careers include:

• Airplane Pilots
• Blue-Collar Worker Supervisors
• Commercial Fishers
• Deckhands
• Locomotive Engineers
• Ship Engineers
• Ship Pilots
• Train Conductors and Yardmasters
• Transportation Inspectors

Military careers

• Quartermasters and Boat Operators
• Ship and Submarine Officers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to ship captains and mates.

• Command water vessels.
• Steer vessels. Use navigation aids such as radar, buoys, depth finders, and lighthouses.
• Direct and coordinate activities of crew.
• Compute position, set course, and determine speed. Use charts, compass, sexton, and knowledge of area.
• Inspect vessels to ensure equipment is in working order.
• Monitor vessels' progress.
• Maneuver ships around hazards.
• Oversee loading and discharge of passengers and goods.
• Maintain logs about weather conditions and navigational decisions. Keep records about loads transported, repairs made, fuel consumed, and other relevant information.
• Stand watch when vessel is underway.
• Interview, hire, and instruct crew. Assign watches and living quarters.
• Purchase supplies, contact buyers to sell fish, and resolve issues with customs agents.
• Tow and maneuver barges, or signal tugboats to tow barges.
• Conduct safety drills.

Common work activities

Ship captains and mates perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

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

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, ship captains and mates:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are very responsible for the work done by their crew.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of their crew and passengers.
• Have a high level of social contact as a captain. Mates have lower levels of social contact.
• Sometimes are placed in conflict situations in which others may be rude or angry.
• Communicate with others primarily by face-to-face discussions and over the telephone. They also use e-mail but less frequently.
• Nearly always work as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Often work outdoors. May work indoors below deck when doing administrative or mechanical repair.
• Are exposed to loud and distracting sounds and noise levels on a daily basis.
• Are regularly exposed to contaminants.
• Wear protective and safety attire on a daily basis.
• Are regularly exposed to extremely bright or low light.
• Are often exposed to hazardous equipment, conditions, and situations that may result in cuts, burns, and scrapes.
• Are sometimes exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outdoors.
• Sometimes experience whole body vibration when on the job.
• Occasionally must get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.
• Occasionally are exposed to high places.
• Sometimes wear a special uniform.
• Often work physically near others while performing tasks.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Errors could seriously endanger the crew.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must set their pace based on the speed of the equipment they operate.
• Regularly make decisions that strongly affect others, including coworkers and the outcome of their tasks.
• Captains set their daily tasks and goals without seeking input first. Mates usually take some direction before beginning their daily work.
• Work in a moderately stressful atmosphere in which daily and weekly deadlines must be met.

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.
• May not work in winter when the Great Lakes are frozen.
• May work year round on rivers, canals, and in harbors.
• May work eight- or twelve-hour shifts and go home every day, especially if working on rivers.
• May work every day for a week or month and then have an extended period of time off.

Physical demands

Ship captains and mates frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for ship captains and mates to be able to:

• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for ship captains and mates to be able to:

• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See objects in very low light.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• 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.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.

Skills and abilities

Ship captains and mates need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

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

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.

Work with things

• Operate and control equipment.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

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

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

• Organizational Leadership

Training

To work as a ship captain or mate, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete a formal training program;
• have one to five years of related work experience; and
• have a merchant marine license.

Education after high school

Training programs for ship captains and mates are approved and monitored by the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security. You must be licensed by this agency to operate watercraft.

You can prepare for this occupation by attending the US Merchant Marine Academy or one of six state academies. Three academies are located on the East Coast, in Maine, Massachusetts, and New York. The other three are located in Michigan, Texas, and California.

These academies offer a four-year training program that leads to a bachelor's degree. The training at the academies prepares you for the licensing exam. Courses cover topics such as navigation, rules of the road, and meteorology. They may also cover marine rules and pollution, cargo, and standing watch. After graduating, you may pursue a license as a third mate (deck officer).

Work experience

Ship captains and mates typically have several years of work experience. You can prepare by gaining experience as a deckhand. Local unions provide experience and training. As you gain experience and pass rating exams, you move up the ranks.

On-the-job training

Because of the fast changing demands of technology, you may receive additional training on the job. Employers may provide training or pay for college course work so you can update your technical skills or expand your administrative skills.

Many ship captains and mates take training courses or seminars on their own to qualify for special endorsements to their licenses.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be quartermasters and boat operators. Training lasts six to 22 weeks, depending on your specialty. Another option is training as a ship and submarine officer. The length of training varies by specialty. For both occupations additional training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

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:

• Diesel Mechanics and Repair
• Geography
• Physical Education

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 ship captains and mates to be licensed. They hire applicants who are licensed for the position as well as the type of craft they operate. Employers do not require formal training. However, since competition is stiff, ship captains and mates with experience and training may have an edge over other applicants.

Drug and alcohol testing is required of new employees of the Washington State Ferry System. Some ferry system employees may work on-call.

Tips

Before starting a training program, check to be sure you can pass the physical exam required of new employees.

Costs to workers

Costs include all-weather clothing and license fees. Many workers join a union and pay an initiation fee and quarterly dues.

Licensing/certification

Licensing for merchant mariners is different from that for other water transportation workers. Deck officers in the merchant marines must be licensed. Applicants must meet the following general requirements:

• be a graduate from the US Merchant Marine Academy or state academy;
• pass a written exam;
• pass a physical, hearing, and vision exam, and drug-screening test;
• take oath before authorized official to perform all duties as required;
• be a US citizen or hold a green card;
• hold or have applied for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC);
• submit fingerprints and two forms of identification;
• hold certificates in first aid and Certified Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); and
• spend a certain number of hours working on watercraft.

The required number of hours on watercraft depends on the type of license for which one applies. Ship captains must spend more hours than mates. Those who want to work on ocean vessels must put in more hours than those for lake or river vessels. In addition, more hours are required for work on large boats than on small boats. Mariners who work on ships over 200 tons must also take fire fighting courses, and radar courses if on radar-equipped vessels of 300 tons or more.

Those who have at least three years of sea experience can be licensed if they pass the written exam. It is difficult to pass the exam without training or independent study. In addition, because mates often work only six months a year, it may take them five to eight years to accumulate enough experience to advance.

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

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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.

• Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge 
• Ship and Boat Captains 

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

Wages

Ship mates have less responsibility than captains, so their wages are usually lower than those of captains.

Wages vary by destination. Wages are higher for trips across the ocean than for other waters. However, workers may wait months between jobs, which reduces their yearly income.

Many mariners who work full time on American ships receive benefits. These benefits may include health insurance and sick leave. Some employers also offer retirement plans. 

National wage information is not available specifically for ship captains and mates. However, they are part of the larger group of "captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels."

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

Ship captains and mates who work for transportation companies may work on deep-sea merchant ships, tugs, ferries, or dredges. They may work on rivers, canals, and other waterways. Some captains work in marine construction. For example, they may direct the survey or dredging of a canal. Captains work on a variety of passenger boats. They may work on cruise ships, casinos, or sightseeing boats.

Major employers:

• Cargo and passenger transportation companies
• Towing companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is expected to show little to no change. Changes in the demand for bulk commodities, such as petroleum products, iron ore, and grains, influences the demand for water transportation workers. When demand slows, so does the need for workers.

Job openings occur as people retire or leave the occupation for other reasons.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for ship captains and mates. However, they are part of the larger group of "captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels."

Other resources

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

International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots 
700 Maritime Boulevard, Suite B
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
877.667.5522
410.850.8500

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

Profiles in Ocean Careers 

Seafarers International Union 

Shipbuilders Council of America 
20 F Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20001
202.737.3234

Transportation Institute 
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746
301.423.3335

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupations

• Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge (53-5021.02) 
• Ship and Boat Captains (53-5021.01) 

O*Net job zones 

• 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.

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Barge Captain (911.137-010) 
• Cadet, Deck (911.133-010) 
• Captain, Fishing Vessel (197.133-010) 
• Deep Submergence Vehicle Operator (911.263-010) 
• Derrick-boat Captain (911.137-014) 
• Dredge Captain (197.161-010) 
• Dredge Mate (197.137-010) 
• Ferryboat Captain (197.163-010) 
• Ferryboat Operator (911.363-010) 
• Master, Passenger Barge (197.163-014) 
• Master, Riverboat (197.163-018) 
• Master, Ship (197.167-010) 
• Master, Yacht (197.133-014) 
• Mate, Fishing Vessel (197.133-018) 
• Mate, Ship (197.133-022) 
• Tugboat Captain (197.133-030) 
• Tugboat Mate (197.133-034) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Realistic/Conventional

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled