Careers > Sailors and Marine Oilers

Sailors and Marine Oilers

$47.49K Median Salary 3.5K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 10.6% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman), Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman), Able Seaman, Boat Crew Deck Hand, Bosun, Deck Hand, Deckhand, Deckhand Engineer, Oiler, Tankerman

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Far Vision

Control Precision

Depth Perception

Oral Comprehension

Perceptual Speed

Problem Sensitivity

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Auditory Attention

Multilimb Coordination

Manual Dexterity

Visual Color Discrimination

Flexibility of Closure

Hearing Sensitivity

Near Vision

Selective Attention

Deductive Reasoning

Extent Flexibility

Gross Body Equilibrium

Inductive Reasoning

Information Ordering

Oral Expression

Reaction Time

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Static Strength

Visualization

Category Flexibility

Finger Dexterity

Glare Sensitivity

Rate Control

Sound Localization

Spatial Orientation

Stamina

Time Sharing

Trunk Strength

Written Comprehension

Knowledge

Public Safety and Security

Transportation

Mechanical

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Operation and Control

Monitoring

Active Listening

Critical Thinking

Repairing

Troubleshooting

Complex Problem Solving

Coordination

Judgment and Decision Making

Quality Control Analysis

Speaking

Time Management

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Presentation software

Data base user interface and query software

Electronic mail software

Facilities management software

Office suite software

Operating system software

Word processing software

Tools

Anchor rollers

Anchor lines

Winches

Depth gauges

Hoists

Marine signaling systems

Bridge cranes

Marine craft communications systems

Radio navigation instruments

Telegraph sounders

Alarm systems

Loading equipment

Fire suppression system

Eye bolts

Masks or accessories

Radarbased surveillance systems

Ladders

Lifeboats or liferafts

Fire extinguishers

Cold chisels

Direction finding compasses

Grease guns

Slings

Ratchets

Dewatering pumps

Bench vises

Fall protection lanyard

Life rings

Centrifugal pumps

Fire hoses or nozzles

Blocks or pulleys

Gas detectors

Fans

Lifts

Gas generators

Flares

Life vests or preservers

Material handling hoses

Punches or nail sets or drifts

Lifting hooks

Demolition hammers

Oil can

Locking pliers

Pawls

Power chippers

Safety harnesses or belts

Spot welding machine

Open end wrenches

Anchor chocks

Insulated or flotation suits

Sharpening stones or tools or kits

Claw hammer

Cable splicing kits

Gyroscopic instruments

Insulated clothing for cold environments

Forklift or elevator accessories or supplies

Two way radios

Wire cutters

Gear pumps

Respirators

Safety glasses

Bolt cutters

Fids

Forklifts

Explosimeters

Safety helmets

Sewing needles

Spanner wrenches

Desktop computers

Personal computers

Pipe wrenches

Reciprocating pumps

Abilities

Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Facilities management software: Maintenance management software
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word

Tools

Anchor rollers: Electric windlasses; Hand capstans; Hydraulic capstans; Hydraulic windlasses
Anchor lines: Mooring cables; Mooring chains; Natural fiber mooring ropes; Synthetic mooring ropes
Winches: Hand winches
Depth gauges: Underwater depth gauges
Hoists: Hoisting equipment
Marine signaling systems: Blinker lights; Semaphores; Signal flags
Bridge cranes: Gantry cranes
Marine craft communications systems: Bridge telephones; Voice pipes
Radio navigation instruments: Emergency position-indicating radio beacons; Radio direction finders RDF
Telegraph sounders: Electric telegraphs; Mechanical telegraphs
Alarm systems: Engine room alarm systems; Ship alarm systems
Loading equipment: Haul off machines
Fire suppression system: Carbon dioxide CO2 firefighting systems; Foam firefighting systems
Eye bolts: Galvanized thimbles
Masks or accessories: Dust masks
Radarbased surveillance systems: Radar navigation systems
Ladders: Extension ladders
Lifeboats or liferafts: Lifeboats
Fire extinguishers:
Cold chisels: Flat cold chisels
Direction finding compasses: Magnetic compasses
Grease guns:
Slings: Rigging equipment
Ratchets: Ratchet sets
Dewatering pumps:
Bench vises: Vises
Fall protection lanyard: Safety lanyards
Life rings: Life buoys
Centrifugal pumps: Centrifugal cargo pumps
Fire hoses or nozzles: Fire hoses
Blocks or pulleys: Sheave blocks
Gas detectors: Combustible gas detectors
Fans: Centrifugal ventilators
Lifts: Power lifts
Gas generators: Power generators
Flares: Pyrotechnic distress signals
Life vests or preservers: Life jackets
Material handling hoses: Liquid cargo transfer hoses
Punches or nail sets or drifts: Mini punch sets
Lifting hooks: Cargo hooks
Demolition hammers: Hydraulic breakers
Oil can: Oil dispensing cans
Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers
Pawls: Riding pawls
Power chippers: Wood chippers
Safety harnesses or belts: Climbing belts
Spot welding machine: Portable welding equipment
Open end wrenches: Adjustable open end wrenches
Anchor chocks: Ship anchor chocks
Insulated or flotation suits: Anti-exposure coveralls
Sharpening stones or tools or kits: File sharpeners
Claw hammer: Claw hammers
Cable splicing kits: Wire splicers
Gyroscopic instruments: Gyrocompasses
Insulated clothing for cold environments: Thermal protective aids TPA
Forklift or elevator accessories or supplies: Crane attachments
Two way radios:
Wire cutters:
Gear pumps:
Respirators: Half-face respirators; Respirator hose masks
Safety glasses: Protective safety glasses
Bolt cutters:
Fids:
Forklifts:
Explosimeters:
Safety helmets:
Sewing needles:
Spanner wrenches:
Desktop computers:
Personal computers:
Pipe wrenches:
Reciprocating pumps:

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