Water Transportation Workers

Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coasts, across the Great Lakes, and along the country’s many inland waterways.

Duties

Water transportation workers typically do the following:

• Operate and maintain nonmilitary vessels at sea
• Issue or follow orders based on their vessel’s chain of command
• Follow procedures to ensure the safety of all people and cargo on board

These workers are employed on a variety of watercraft that facilitate commerce. For example, some work on bulk carriers or large deep-sea container ships that transport goods or heavy commodities domestically and internationally. Others work on tankers that carry oil or on supply ships that transport supplies to offshore wind farms or oil and gas platforms. Still others work on tugboats that help other boats maneuver into and out of ports or on salvage vessels that offer emergency services.

Water transportation workers also are employed on a range of passenger-carrying vessels, including cruise ships, tour boats, and ferries.

The following are examples of types of water transportation workers: 

Captains have overall command of a vessel and are responsible for its crew, cargo, and passengers. Their responsibilities may include purchasing equipment and supplies, coordinating maintenance or repairs, overseeing the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers at port, and interacting with passengers. Captains also must keep detailed logs and records of their ship’s movements and other activities.

Mates, or deck officers, monitor the ship’s position, speed, and direction. They also alternate watches with the captain and other officers, supervise and coordinate activities of the deck crew, and direct the vessel’s operation while the captain is off duty. Deck officers may inspect the cargo hold during loading to ensure that it is stowed according to specifications.

Large ships have three deck officers, called first, second, and third mates. Usually, the first mate is in charge of the cargo or passengers, the second mate is in charge of navigation, and the third mate is in charge of safety. On small vessels, there may be only one mate who handles all of these responsibilities.

Pilots guide ships on confined waterways that require familiarity with local tides, currents, or hazards. Some, called harbor pilots, work for ports and help ships that come into the harbor during the day. Pilots are not part of a ship’s crew but go on board to safely steer it into harbor. Once aboard, the pilot assumes control of the vessel from the captain and receives mooring instructions from shore dispatchers.

Sailors, or deckhands, make up the deck crew that operates and maintains the vessel and deck equipment. They stand watch, looking out for other vessels or obstructions in their ship’s path and for navigational aids, such as buoys and lighthouses. They may be required to load and unload supplies or equipment and may interact with or assist passengers. They also complete routine upkeep of the vessel, such as painting the deck, chipping away rust, and cleaning its interior and exterior.

Some large ships have a boatswain, who is the chief of the deck crew. Experienced deckhands are called able seamen and usually make up most of the crew. New deckhands are called ordinary seamen and do the least complicated tasks.

Ship engineers operate and maintain a vessel’s propulsion system, which includes the engine, boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery. They regulate the ship’s speed, following the captain’s orders; keep a detailed engineering log; and maintain an inventory of mechanical supplies and parts.

Large vessels usually have a chief engineer and first, second, and third assistant engineers. The chief engineer directs the engine room and its crew, and assistant engineers oversee the engine and related machinery when the chief engineer is off duty. Small ships might have only one engineer.

Marine oilers work in the engine room, helping engineers with the propulsion system. They maintain and repair engine room machinery, operate pumps, and clean tanks. They also lubricate gears, shafts, and other parts of the engine or motor. New oilers are called wipers and typically do tasks such as cleaning engine spaces, equipment, and machinery.

Motorboat operators run small, motor-driven boats that carry only a few passengers. They provide a variety of services, such as fishing charters, tours, and harbor patrols. Their tasks may include picking up passengers and helping them board the boat, acting as a tour guide, and performing general boat maintenance.

Water transportation workers held about 84,300 jobs in 2024. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up water transportation workers was distributed as follows:

The largest employers of water transportation workers were as follows:

Water transportation workers usually work for long periods, often aboard ships and away from home. They may be exposed to all kinds of weather.

Most vessels include comfortable living quarters, and meals may be provided.

Work Schedules

Most water transportation workers are full time, and many work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules vary, depending on the job. Some crews, such as those on barges or deep-sea ships, may spend weeks or months away from home and work on board for long periods 7 days a week. Other workers, such as motorboat operators, may have day shifts from which they return home each night.

Some water transportation work is seasonal. For example, crews who work on the Great Lakes often do not work in the winter, when the lakes freeze. Ferry and motorboat operators who service ships for vacation destinations may work only in the summer.

Education and training requirements for water transportation workers vary by occupation. There are no educational requirements for entry-level sailors and marine oilers, but other water transportation workers typically complete U.S. Coast Guard-approved training programs.

The median annual wage for water transportation workers was $66,490 in May 2024.

Overall employment of water transportation workers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.

Despite limited employment growth, about 9,500 openings for water transportation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.