Will “Merchant Seaman” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

83% Chance of Automation

“Merchant Seaman” 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 “Merchant Seaman”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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