Supervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges.
U.S. Workers
35,390
Median Salary
$85,540
10-Year Growth
+0.5%
Annual Openings
4,300
Typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
11 of 11 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Steer vessels, using navigational devices, such as compasses or sextants, or navigational aids, such as lighthouses or buoys.
AI: Fully automatable - Fully automatable: modern autopilot and autonomous navigation systems can steer vessels using sensors and navigational aids without continuous human steering.
Determine geographical positions of ships, using lorans, azimuths of celestial bodies, or computers, and use this information to determine the course and speed of a ship.
AI: Fully automatable - Fully automatable: electronic navigation systems routinely compute geographic position and derive course and speed, and celestial/loran fixes can be automated with appropriate sensors and computation.
Arrange for ships to be stocked, fueled, or repaired.
AI: Fully automatable - Logistics, scheduling, procurement and coordination for stocking, fueling, and repairs are readily automatable with AI-powered planning and integration tools available by 2025.
Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
AI: Partial - Partially automatable: automated monitoring and remote watch systems can cover many duties while underway, but regulatory requirements and emergency response often necessitate human presence.
Assume command of vessels in the event that ships' masters become incapacitated.
AI: Partial - Partially automatable: emergency autopilots and remote-control systems can assume control temporarily, but full command, legal responsibility, and complex crisis decisions are still human-centric.
Inspect equipment, such as cargo-handling gear, lifesaving equipment, visual-signaling equipment, or fishing, towing, or dredging gear, to detect problems.
AI: Partial - AI and computer-vision/sensor systems can detect many equipment faults and flag anomalies, but cannot fully replace hands-on, safety-critical human inspection and judgment in all cases.
Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
AI: Partial - AI can monitor loading/unloading with cameras, weight sensors, and rule-based checks to identify deviations from specs, but complex on-the-spot decisions and responsibility for cargo operations still require humans.
Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.
AI: Partial - AI can support vessel security through surveillance, anomaly detection, and cyber monitoring, but cannot fully perform the range of physical security duties and context-sensitive judgments involved.
Supervise crew members in the repair or replacement of defective gear or equipment.
AI: Partial - AI can assist supervision via remote monitoring, diagnostics, and step-by-step guidance, but cannot fully assume human supervisory responsibilities for repairs and safety-critical work.
Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
AI: Partial - AI can schedule, monitor, and provide checklists for cleaning/maintenance, yet human supervisors are still needed for oversight, quality judgments, and crew management.
Observe water from ships' mastheads to advise on navigational direction.
AI: Partial - Automated sensors and vision systems can serve as lookouts and detect hazards, but regulatory, situational and ethical considerations mean humans remain required for final navigational advice in many contexts.