Ship and Boat Captains

Tasks and Duties

• Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices, and following contour lines on charts.
• Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, by using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions.
• Direct and coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading and unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, and operating, maintaining, and repairing ship equipment.
• Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment, and conformance to regulations.
• Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, and/or cargo and passenger status.
• Monitor the loading and discharging of cargo or passengers.
• Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates and ramps, and pull guard chains across entries.
• Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, and lighthouses.
• Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, and/or repaired.
• Assign watches and living quarters to crew members.
• Collect fares from customers, or signal ferryboat helpers to collect fares.
• Interview and hire crew members.
• Maintain boats and equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, and life preservers.
• Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
• Purchase supplies and equipment.
• Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, and oxygen.
• Resolve questions or problems with customs officials.
• Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, and radios.
• Tow and maneuver barges, or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.
• Contact buyers to sell cargo such as fish.
• Perform various marine duties such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports and harbors, and patrolling beaches.
• Sort logs, form log booms, and salvage lost logs.

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