What Do Ship, Boat and Barge Mates Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Ship, Boat and Barge Mates supervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges. They also stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.

Other tasks include:

• Assume command of vessels in the event that ships’ masters become incapacitated.
• Steer vessels, using navigational devices, such as compasses or sextants, or navigational aids, such as lighthouses or buoys.
• Determine geographical positions of ships, using lorans, azimuths of celestial bodies, or computers, and use this information to determine the course and speed of a ship.
• Inspect equipment, such as cargo-handling gear, lifesaving equipment, visual-signaling equipment, or fishing, towing, or dredging gear, to detect problems.
• Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
• Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.

We asked Ship, Boat and Barge Mates how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Ship, Boat and Barge Mates supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges. They observe water from ships’ mastheads to advise on navigational direction.

A typical day for a Ship, Boat and Barge Mate will also include:

• Inspect equipment, such as cargo-handling gear, lifesaving equipment, visual-signaling equipment, or fishing, towing, or dredging gear, to detect problems.
• Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.
• Determine geographical positions of ships, using lorans, azimuths of celestial bodies, or computers, and use this information to determine the course and speed of a ship.
• Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
• Steer vessels, using navigational devices, such as compasses or sextants, or navigational aids, such as lighthouses or buoys.

We asked some Ship, Boat and Barge Mates a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	64% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	65% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	76% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	22% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	67% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Ship, Boat and Barge Mates also arrange for ships to be stocked, fueled, or repaired. They may also supervise crew members in the repair or replacement of defective gear or equipment.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Ship, Boat and Barge Mates Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications. They might also Inspect equipment, such as cargo-handling gear, lifesaving equipment, visual-signaling equipment, or fishing, towing, or dredging gear, to detect problems.

In addition, they Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Observe water from ships’ mastheads to advise on navigational direction.

To some Ship, Boat and Barge Mates, it is also their responsibility to Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Ship, Boat and Barge Mate, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm

http://www.marad.dot.gov/

http://www.uscg.mil/

http://www.americanwaterways.com/