Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (2024)

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (1)

Also called:Boat Captain, Captain, First Mate, Mate

What they do:

Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.

On the job, you would:

  • 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.

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (3)

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security
  • law and government

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (4)

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • teaching people how to do something

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (5)

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Spatial

  • know where things are around you
  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (6)

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Leadership
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (7)

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (8)

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (9)

Route navigation software

  • FURUNO navigational chart software
  • Navigational chart software

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (10)

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (11)

high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (12) Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (13) Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (14) Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (15)

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (16)

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (17)

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (18)

$81,640

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (19)

$37,240

$159,690

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (20)Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (21)Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (22)

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (23)

See more details at O*NET OnLine about captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels.

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels at My Next Move (2024)

FAQs

What do you call an area from which a ship is steered the captains work area? ›

November 2020) The bridge, also known as the pilothouse or wheelhouse, is a room or platform of a ship from which the ship can be commanded. When a ship is under way, the bridge is manned by an officer of the watch aided usually by an able seaman acting as a lookout.

Who is the captain of a ship? ›

The Ship Captain/Chief Mate is a licensed mariner who has overall command and control of the navigation, manoeuvring, cargo handling, stowage, communications and safe handling of the ship. He/She ensures that the ship complies with the local and international laws, as well as the port state and flag state policies.

Who picks up the pilot who is on his way to the ship? ›

Every ship that enters and leaves a port must have a harbor pilot aboard. Once the ship reaches open water, a small boat picks up the harbor pilot and returns the pilot to port. The captain then resumes full command of the ship.

What is the lady on the front of a ship called? ›

Figureheads were often female but not exclusively so. A female may have been popular because the ship itself is always referred to as a 'she'. As women were often not allowed on board, the figurehead itself might also represent the sole female on the ship.

What is the captain's room called on a ship? ›

The captain or commanding officer would occupy the "great cabin" that normally spanned the width of the stern and had large windows. On a warship, it was a privileged area, separate from the rest of the ship, for the exclusive use of the captain.

Why do captains call ships she? ›

Old English texts also had more evidence of grammatical gender, like referring to a shield as “she.” In Latin, “ship” means “navis,” which is a feminine word. So, making boats female and calling them “she” is an ancient custom of giving genders to inanimate objects.

How do you address a ship captain? ›

Any naval officer who commands a ship is addressed by naval custom as "captain" while aboard in command, regardless of their actual rank, even though technically an officer of below the rank of captain is more correctly titled the commanding officer, or C.O.

Does every ship have a captain? ›

Captain, in commercial non-military shipping, is a courtesy title usually employed colloquially, and never a rank, as it is in naval usage. Every vessel has a captain, from the smallest yacht to the largest containership.

Who is responsible on a ship pilot or captain? ›

Contrary to common belief, the pilot does not take over command of the ship from the captain. The captain stays in command and is ultimately responsible for the ship. A pilot may assume the conduct of the ship, but only with permission of the master.

Who sits next to the captain on a plane? ›

The first officer, the second in command, sits on the right side of the co*ckpit. He or she has all of the same controls as the captain, and has had the same level of training. The primary reason for having two pilots on every flight is safety.

Can a ship captain be called a pilot? ›

Pilots are trained mariners and sometimes former ship captains. A maritime pilot is licensed by different ports. Their role is to advise a ship's officers on weather conditions at that port, including the tides, locations of any sand bars, differences in a channel, etc.

What are the 4 sides of a boat called? ›

Now let's learn the words for the front, rear, left and right sides of the boat.
  • The front of a boat is called the bow, while the rear of a boat is called the stern.
  • When looking towards the bow, the left-hand side of the boat is the port side.
  • And starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.

What are the two sides of a ship called? ›

When looking forward, toward the bow of a ship, port and starboard refer to the left and right sides, respectively. In the early days of boating, before ships had rudders on their centerlines, boats were controlled using a steering oar.

What is a door called on a ship? ›

Openings in the outside of the ship are ports, not windows. Entrances from one compartment to another are called doors. Openings from one deck to another are called hatches. The handles on the watertight hatch or door are called dogs.

What do they call bathrooms on ships? ›

The Navy Department Library

The use of the term "head" to refer to a ship's toilet dates to at least as early as 1708, when Woodes Rogers (English privateer and Governor of the Bahamas) used the word in his book, A Cruising Voyage Around the World.

How do you eat at the captain's table? ›

The most common way to get to dine at the captain's table is to talk to the cruise's social host or hostess. You usually meet them during boarding and it is they who decide, in most cases, who gets the honour of an invite.

How long does it take to become a cruise ship captain? ›

"There is no rush in this career, you need to be third officer, second officer, first officer, staff captain and then captain, so it may take 15 years to get there starting from cadet. "There is no written book on how to be a captain, it's mainly based on experience."

Why do ships have a woman on the front? ›

Such figures, baring one or both breasts, had been popular in both merchant and naval ships. Sailors' superstitions viewed women on board ship as unlucky, but a semi-naked sculpted female form was believed to calm storms at sea.

Why do ships have girl names? ›

Significance of Naming a Boat

The majority of vessels are named after important female figures, either historical or personal, with the names often including important women in the captain's life. There is an extensive, precise ceremony that most captains follow to ward off any bad luck.

What is a female sailor called? ›

1 Answer. If you are talking about females on yachts or small craft, then sailor. He is a sailor, she is a sailor. In merchant ships the generic term Seafarer is used in a general sense.

How do you say hello on a ship? ›

Ahoy is a signal word used to call to a ship or boat. The word stems from the Middle English cry “Hoy!”, a greeting derived from the Dutch “Hoi”.

Do you call a captain by their last name? ›

He's always Captain (name) except when you are addressing him on a first-name basis.

What is a Marine captain called? ›

Capt. Title. Captain (last name) While on a sea-going vessel: Major (last name) Paygrade.

What is the average age of a ship captain? ›

Interestingly enough, the average age of boat captains is 40+ years old, which represents 55% of the population.

Can a captain marry on a ship? ›

Who performs the ceremony? A ship's captain often doesn't have the legal right to perform weddings at sea unless he is also a judge, minister, justice of the peace or a Notary Public.

Can a captain leave a ship? ›

In the United States, abandoning the ship is not explicitly illegal, but the captain could be charged with other crimes, such as manslaughter, which encompass common law precedent passed down through centuries. It is not illegal under international maritime law.

What is a captain pilot called? ›

Pilots, also called captains, and co-pilots are essential for safe and timely air travel. Both pilots and co-pilots can help fly an airplane, and they typically have very similar responsibilities.

Who is above a ship captain? ›

Captain is the 21st rank in the United States Navy , ranking above Commander and directly below Rear Admiral Lower Half. A captain is a Senior Officer at DoD paygrade O-6, with a starting monthly pay of $7,332.

Do pilots call themselves captain? ›

Commercially-chartered private jet flights in Europe and the US are operated by two pilots. One will take full responsibility for the flight and be referred to as the Captain. If both pilots are Command Course qualified, one pilot will take responsibility for the flight and will be referred to as 'Commander'.

Where do captains sleep on a plane? ›

The pilot crew rest is located at the front near the flight deck, and inside that one are two bunk beds and a recliner chair. There are several mirrors in the rest compartments so employees can make sure they look sharp for passengers after a few hours of sleep.

What does 2 stripes on a pilot mean? ›

Two Stripes are worn by flight engineers or second officers. Aside from being the third line of command, they are also qualified to fly planes. Three Stripes indicate that the person is the co-pilot or second in command.

How do you tell if a pilot is a captain? ›

A second officer or a flight engineer wears two stripes, a first officer (co-pilot/second-in-command) wears three stripes, and a captain, also known as a pilot-in-command, is awarded four stripes.

Do you need a degree to be a captain pilot? ›

The answer is no. Getting an aviation degree or going to an aviation college is not a requirement to become an airline pilot. In fact, major airlines accept any and all bachelor fields and aren't the least bit concerned with what you studied in college.

How much do ship pilots make a year? ›

How much does a Harbor Pilot make in the United States? The average Harbor Pilot salary in the United States is $107,884 as of November 23, 2022, but the salary range typically falls between $79,428 and $130,312.

How much does a marine pilot get paid? ›

Marine Pilot Salary in the United States. How much does a Marine Pilot make in the United States? The salary range for a Marine Pilot job is from $75,210 to $107,385 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Marine Pilot job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

What is the part of the ship where the captain is? ›

The ship's bridge is usually located near the bow. This is where the captain and the officers navigate and manage the vessel. However, some cargo ships put the bridge near the aft.

Where is a ship steered from? ›

rudder, part of the steering apparatus of a boat or ship that is fastened outside the hull, usually at the stern. The most common form consists of a nearly flat, smooth surface of wood or metal hinged at its forward edge to the sternpost.

Where does the captain control the ship? ›

The bridge is the main control centre of a vessel, from where the captain and officers are able to man the entire operations of the vessel. It is generally located in a position with an unrestricted view and immediate access to the essential areas of a ship.

What is the control part of a ship called? ›

Bridge: The ship's bridge is the commanding station of a ship. It controls the ship movement through its navigational equipment. It controls important deck machinery, main engine and ship's navigation system.

Who is below a captain on a ship? ›

Mates, or deck officers, direct the operation of a vessel while the captain is off duty. Large ships have three officers, called first, second, and third mates. The first mate has the highest authority and takes command of the ship if the captain is incapacitated.

What is the name of a person who drives a ship? ›

A helmsman or helm (sometimes driver) is a person who steers a ship, sailboat, submarine, other type of maritime vessel, or spacecraft.

What is the person at the front of a ship called? ›

A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the bow of ships, generally of a design related to the name or role of a ship. They were predominant between the 16th and 20th centuries, and modern ships' badges fulfill a similar role.

What is the captain's deck called? ›

The quarterdeck is a raised deck behind the main mast of a sailing ship. Traditionally it was where the captain commanded his vessel and where the ship's colours were kept.

What is the captain's wheel called? ›

Helm – A tiller or wheel and any associated equipment for steering a ship or boat.

What is it called when a ship turns on its side? ›

Capsizing or keeling over occurs when a boat or ship is rolled on its side or further by wave action, instability or wind force beyond the angle of positive static stability or it is upside down in the water.

Who drives cruise ship at night? ›

Around the clock job

As commander of the cruise ship, the captain has a 24/7 job to do.

Do captains go down with their ship? ›

"The captain goes down with the ship" is a maritime tradition that a sea captain holds ultimate responsibility for both their ship and everyone embarked on it, and in an emergency will either save those on board or die trying.

What is the lowest position on a ship? ›

Ordinary seaman

The lowest ranking personnel in the deck department. An ordinary seaman (OS) generally helps out with work that able seamen do.

What is the kitchen called on a ship? ›

The galley is the compartment of a ship, train, or aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It can also refer to a land-based kitchen on a naval base, or, from a kitchen design point of view, to a straight design of the kitchen layout.

What are the four positions of a ship? ›

Forward: Forward on a ship means toward the direction of the bow. Aft: Aft on a ship means toward the direction of the stern. Port: Port refers to the left side of the ship, when facing forward. Starboard: Starboard refers to the right side of the ship, when facing forward.

What are the 4 sides of a ship called? ›

The front of a boat is called the bow, while the rear of a boat is called the stern. When looking towards the bow, the left-hand side of the boat is the port side. And starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.

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