Will “Boat Person” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

83% Chance of Automation

“Boat Person” will probably be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #461 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Stand watch to look for obstructions in path of vessel, measure water depth, turn wheel on bridge, or use emergency equipment as directed by captain, mate, or pilot. Break out, rig, overhaul, and store cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear. Perform a variety of maintenance tasks to preserve the painted surface of the ship and to maintain line and ship equipment. Must hold government-issued certification and tankerman certification when working aboard liquid-carrying vessels. Includes able seamen and ordinary seamen.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 53-5011.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 46,170.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 22.00
Currently, there are 32,530 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Sailors and Marine Oilers”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Boat Person”

Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.
Provide engineers with assistance in repairing or adjusting machinery.
Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores.
Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.
Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
Stand gangway watches to prevent unauthorized persons from boarding ships while in port.
Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.
Overhaul lifeboats or lifeboat gear and lower or raise lifeboats with winches or falls.
Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.
Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.
Record data in ships' logs, such as weather conditions or distances traveled.
Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels.
Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.
Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
Stand by wheels when ships are on automatic pilot and verify accuracy of courses, using magnetic compasses.
Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.
Steer ships under the direction of commanders or navigating officers or direct helmsmen to steer, following designated courses.
Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
Participate in shore patrols.
Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.
Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts such as gears, shafts, or bearings.
Measure depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadlines, and telephone or shout depth information to vessel bridges.
Give directions to crew members engaged in cleaning wheelhouses or quarterdecks.
Clean and polish wood trim, brass, or other metal parts.

Related Technology & Tools

Safety lanyards
Crescent wrenches
Emergency position-indicating radio beacons
Sounding tapes
Hydraulic mooring winches
Voice pipes
Safety helmets
Chipping hammers
Ship anchor chocks
Gyrocompasses
Sheave blocks
Gear pumps
Natural fiber mooring ropes
Mooring chains
Welders
Carbon dioxide CO2 firefighting systems
Mooring cables
Explosimeters
Mechanical telegraphs
Emergency generators
Semaphores
Pyrotechnic distress signals
Life jackets
Bilge pumping systems
Lifeboats
Centrifugal ventilators
Centrifugal cargo pumps
Claw hammers
Life buoys
Desktop computers
Sharpening steels
Ship alarm systems
Forklifts
Hydraulic capstans
Sounding rods
Thermal protective aids TPA
Hydraulic deck cranes
Container lift trucks
Engine room alarm systems
Two way radios
Ratchet sets
Bolt cutters
Reciprocating pumps
Portable fire extinguishers
Lifting spreaders
Life rings
Electric windlasses
Hand capstans
Lifting slings
Air chippers
Anti-exposure coveralls
Oil dispensing cans
Cargo booms
Riding pawls
Chain cargo falls
Filter masks
Cargo derricks
Lifeboat davits
Safety belts
Hand punches
Magnetic compasses
Hand windlasses
Fids
Respirators
Portable gas detectors
Steam winches
Sewing needles
Metal chisels
Radar navigation systems
Wire splicers
Electric mooring winches
Radio direction finders RDF
Pilot ladders
Personal computers
Safety glasses
Grease dispensing guns
Synthetic mooring ropes
Foam firefighting systems
Liquid cargo transfer hoses
Pipe wrenches
Locking jaw pliers
Bridge telephones
Electric telegraphs
Fire hoses
Blinker lights
Wire cutters
Spanner wrenches
Tank level gauges
Manual winches
Cargo hooks
Grabbing cranes
Magnet hoists
Galvanized thimbles
Signal flags
Hydraulic windlasses
Workshop vises
Electric deck cranes

Log book software
Microsoft Windows
KNMI TurboWin
Microsoft Word
Kongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck Logbook
Computerized maintenance management system CMMS