Ship and Boat Captains

• Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
• Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
• Adjust navigation according to weather conditions.
• Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
• Conduct safety drills with crew.
• Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
• Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
• Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
• Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions.
• Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.
• Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
• Monitor the loading or discharging of cargo or passengers.
• 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.
• Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
• 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.
• Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
• Purchase supplies or equipment.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Ship and Boat Captains.

• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• 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.
• Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Ship and Boat Captains.