Will “Lighterman” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

83% Chance of Automation

“Lighterman” 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 “Lighterman”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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