Ships’ deck officers and pilots

Ships’ deck officers and pilots command and navigate ships and similar vessels, and perform related functions on shore.

Job Responsibilities

• Commanding and navigating ship or similar vessel at sea or on inland waterways
• Controlling and participating in deck and bridge-watch activities
• Navigating vessels into and out of ports and through channels, straits and other waters where special knowledge is required
• Ensuring safe loading and unloading of cargo and observance of safety regulations and procedures by crew and passengers
• Performing technical supervision of maintenance and repair of ships to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations
• Applying knowledge of principles and practices relating to ships’ operation and navigation in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work
• Ordering ships’ stores, recruiting crew as required and maintaining records of operations
• Transmitting and receiving routine and emergency information with shore stations and other ships