Deckhands
Work activities Operate ship and deck equipment.
Keep non-engine areas in good condition.
Stand watch to look for ships or other objects in their path.
Steer the ship.
Measure water depth.
Maintain and operate deck equipment, such as gauges or lifeboats.
Handle lines when docking or departing.
Clean and do general repair of boat, such as paint walls or polish trim.
Load and unload cargo.
Record information, such as weather conditions and distance traveled, in the ship's log.
Supervise other deckhands.
Participate in shore patrols.
Tie vessels to other vessels.
Maintain government certifications.
Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Identify objects, actions, and events
Get information needed to do the job
Control machines and processes
Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
Make decisions and solve problems
Handle and move objects
Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
Perform activities that use the whole body
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
Process information
Teach others
Analyze data or information
Guide, direct, and motivate others
Evaluate information against standards
Think creatively
Update and use job-related knowledge
Assist and care for others
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Document and record information
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Coach others
Schedule work and activities
Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
Working Conditions
Interpersonal Relationships
Are substantially responsible for the health and safety of passengers or other crew members.
Have a high level of contact with others if they are able seaman. Ordinary seamen have less contact with others.
Communicate with others primarily via face-to-face discussions. They may also communicate via e-mail and phone.
Nearly always work as part of a team.
Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other deckhands.
On occasion are placed in conflict situations in which others may be unpleasant or angry.
Physical Work Conditions
Often work outdoors on the deck, but may also work indoors in the engine room or below deck.
Often wear a special uniform.
Wear protective or safety attire on a daily basis.
Are often exposed to contaminants.
Are regularly exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
Are occasionally exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures. This depends on the area of the country they work in and whether they work year round.
Are occasionally exposed to hazardous equipment.
May sometimes have to reach or stand in high places.
Sometimes have to get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.
Sometimes encounter whole body vibration.
May work in very bright or dim lighting, depending on the weather.
Are sometimes exposed to hazardous situations, such as when moving heavy loads or dangerous cargo.
May work physically near others.
Work Performance
Must be exact and complete in finishing all details of the job. Incomplete maintenance may cause equipment to fail and could seriously endanger the crew.
Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
Must sometimes match the pace of work to the speed of equipment.
Must meet weekly deadlines.
Regularly make decisions that affect their coworkers and the organization they work for.
Can make some decisions about daily work independently, but often receive initial orders from a leader or supervisor.
Hours/Travel
Stand watch for four hours and are off for eight hours while at sea.
Work seven days a week while at sea.
Work 60 days and have 30 days off, when working the Great Lakes area.
May not work during the winter when the Great Lakes are frozen.
May work year round on rivers and canals and in harbors.
May work eight- or 12-hour shifts and go home every day, especially if they work on rivers.
May work steadily for a week or month and then have an extended time off.
Are on duty for six or 12 hours and then off for six or 12 hours, when working on rivers.
Physical Demands
Deckhands frequently:
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
Stand for long periods of time.
Bend or twist their body.
Walk or run for long periods of time.
Repeat the same movements.
Keep or regain their balance.
It is important for deckhands to be able to:
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Determine the distance between objects.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Understand the speech of another person.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
See objects in very bright or glaring light.
Determine from which direction a sound came.
It is not as important, but still necessary, for deckhands to be able to:
Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
See objects in very low light.
Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
Move arms and legs quickly.
Skills and Abilities
Communicate
Understand spoken information.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand written information.
Reason and Problem Solve
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Recognize the nature of a problem.
Manage Oneself, People, Time, and Things
Check how well one is learning or doing something.
Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
Manage the time of self and others.
Work with People
Change behavior in relation to others’ actions.
Work with Things
Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operate and control equipment.
Repair machines or systems.
Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
Perceive and Visualize
Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.
Knowledge
Deckhands need knowledge in the following areas:
Public Safety and Security: How to protect people and property.
Transportation: The methods and costs for moving people, goods, and materials.
Mechanical: The design, use, and repair of machines and tools.
Interests and Values
Deckhands typically have the following interests:
Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.
Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Values
Deckhands typically have the following work values:
Consider support from their employer important. They like to be treated fairly and have supervisors who will back them up. They prefer jobs where they are trained well.