# Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels > Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard. - Code: 53-5021.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 53-5021) - Family: [Transportation & Material Moving](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-53), one of its 57 occupations - Tasks: 30 tasks (25 core, 4 supplemental and 1 not rated) - Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-5021.00 - JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/53-5021.00.json ## What the work is made of 1. Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards. Core task · Task 23802 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, August 2022 2. Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations. Core task · Task 23803 · Rated by 61 people who do the job, August 2022 3. Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth. Core task · Task 23804 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, August 2022 4. Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements. Core task · Task 23805 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, August 2022 5. Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses. Core task · Task 23806 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 6. Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations. Core task · Task 23807 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, August 2022 7. Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks. Core task · Task 23808 · Rated by 110 people who do the job, August 2022 8. Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way. Core task · Task 23809 · Rated by 77 people who do the job, August 2022 9. Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations. Core task · Task 23810 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 10. Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen. Core task · Task 23811 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 11. Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws. Core task · Task 23812 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, August 2022 12. Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations. Core task · Task 23813 · Rated by 60 people who do the job, August 2022 13. Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios. Core task · Task 23814 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 14. Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment. Core task · Task 23815 · Rated by 110 people who do the job, August 2022 15. Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries. Core task · Task 23817 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, August 2022 16. Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers. Core task · Task 23816 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 17. Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status. Core task · Task 23819 · Rated by 111 people who do the job, August 2022 18. Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures. Core task · Task 23818 · Rated by 61 people who do the job, August 2022 19. Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications. Core task · Task 23820 · Rated by 78 people who do the job, August 2022 20. Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts. Core task · Task 23821 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, August 2022 21. Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models. Core task · Task 23822 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, August 2022 22. Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment. Core task · Task 23823 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 23. Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired. Core task · Task 23824 · Rated by 111 people who do the job, August 2022 24. Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges. Core task · Task 23825 · Rated by 77 people who do the job, August 2022 25. Purchase supplies or equipment. Core task · Task 23826 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, August 2022 26. Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations. Supplemental task · Task 23827 · Rated by 111 people who do the job, August 2022 27. Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches. Supplemental task · Task 23828 · Rated by 111 people who do the job, August 2022 28. Assign watches or living quarters to crew members. Supplemental task · Task 23829 · Rated by 108 people who do the job, August 2022 29. Interview and hire crew members. Supplemental task · Task 23830 · Rated by 107 people who do the job, August 2022 30. Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills. Not rated · Task 23831 · Listed by O*NET analysts, November 2020 ## More in Transportation & Material Moving - [Air Traffic Controllers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2021.00): 23 tasks - [Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-1041.00): 6 tasks - [Aircraft Service Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6032.00): 18 tasks - [Airfield Operations Specialists](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2022.00): 27 tasks - [Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2011.00): 24 tasks - [Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3011.00): 11 tasks - [Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6031.00): 14 tasks - [Aviation Inspectors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6051.01): 13 tasks - [Bridge and Lock Tenders](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6011.00): 18 tasks - 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[First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-1049.00): no tasks listed - [Flight Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2031.00): 25 tasks - [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7071.00): 13 tasks - [Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3032.00): 29 tasks - [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7041.00): 13 tasks - [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7051.00): 9 tasks - [Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7062.00): 13 tasks - [Light Truck Drivers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3033.00): 13 tasks - [Locomotive Engineers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4011.00): 14 tasks - [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7063.00): 13 tasks - [Material Moving Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7199.00): no tasks listed - [Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3099.00): no tasks listed - [Motorboat Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-5022.00): 16 tasks - [Packers and Packagers, Hand](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7064.00): 12 tasks - [Parking Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6021.00): 15 tasks - [Passenger Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6061.00): 12 tasks - [Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7072.00): 14 tasks - [Rail Transportation Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4099.00): no tasks listed - [Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4013.00): 23 tasks - [Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4022.00): 26 tasks - 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