BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasSailors and Marine Oilers

O*NET · 53-5011.00

Sailors and Marine Oilers

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.

Also called AB Seaman · AB Seaman (Able Bodied Seaman) · AB Watchman · AB Watchman (Able Bodied Watchman) · Able Seaman · Barge Hand · Bargeman · Boat Deckhand
34 more

Boat Hand · Boatman · Buoy Tender · Deck Hand · Deckhand · Deckhand Engineer · Ferry Hand · Ferryman · Float Tender · Floatman · Marine Oiler · Marine Tech · Marine Technician (Marine Tech) · Marine Water Tender · Mariner · Merchant Marine · Merchant Mariner · Merchant Seaman · Oiler · Ordinary Seaman · Pilot Boat Deckhand · Refrigerating Oiler · Relief Deckhand · Roustabout · Sailor · Scow Hand · Scowman · Seaman · Steerer · Steersman · Tankerman · Vessel Ordinary Seaman · Yacht Hand · Yachtsman

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Logging Equipment Operators

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.97
  • C Conventional3.96
  • I Investigative2.62
  • E Enterprising2.41
  • S Social1.24
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma25%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent37%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate13%
  • Some College Courses11%
  • Bachelor's Degree14%
Related work experience
None (34%)
On-site or in-plant training
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (45%)
On-the-job training
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (31%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Operations Monitoring3.83.9Level 4 looks like: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line
  • Operation and Control3.63.8Level 4 looks like: Adjust the speed of assembly line equipment based on the product being assembled
  • Monitoringbasic3.53.3Level 4 looks like: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
  • Equipment Maintenance3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Clean moving parts in production machinery
  • Troubleshooting3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Identify the circuit causing an electrical system to fail
  • Repairing3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Replace a faulty hydraulic valve
  • Coordination3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Work with others to put a new roof on a house
  • Active Learningbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Active Listeningbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Quality Control Analysis3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
Show the other 23
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Speakingbasic3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Time Management3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Complex Problem Solving2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Equipment Selection2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Social Perceptiveness2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Instructing2.52.8Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Writingbasic2.52.6Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.42.5Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Service Orientation2.42.5Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Persuasion2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Mathematicsbasic2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Negotiation2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Systems Analysis2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Sciencebasic1.60.6
  • Management of Material Resources1.50.8
  • Operations Analysis1.50.5
  • Technology Design1.50.5
  • Management of Financial Resources1.40.4
  • Installation1.0—
  • Programming1.0—

Tasks

10 core · 14 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.4.5
  2. Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.4.4
  3. Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.4.3
  4. Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.3.9
  5. Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.3.5
  6. Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.3.5
  7. Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings.3.4
  8. Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.3.2
  9. Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.3.1
  10. Provide engineers with assistance in repairing or adjusting machinery.3.0
Show the other 14
  1. Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.4.3
  2. Steer ships under the direction of commanders or navigating officers or direct helmsmen to steer, following designated courses.4.2
  3. Overhaul lifeboats or lifeboat gear and lower or raise lifeboats with winches or falls.4.1
  4. Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.4.1
  5. Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.4.0
  6. Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.3.9
  7. Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.3.9
  8. Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.3.7
  9. Record data in ships' logs, such as weather conditions or distances traveled.3.7
  10. Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.3.6
  11. Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels.3.6
  12. Measure depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadlines, and telephone or shout depth information to vessel bridges.3.4
  13. Give directions to crew members engaged in cleaning wheelhouses or quarterdecks.3.0
  14. Clean and polish wood trim, brass, or other metal parts.2.7

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Transportation3.94.2Level 4 looks like: Drive a semi-truck through a busy city
  • English Language3.22.4Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Public Safety and Security3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Inspect a building site for safety violations
  • Geography3.03.6Level 4 looks like: Find a specific country on a world map
  • Mechanical3.03.8Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Education and Training2.93.2Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Administration and Management2.72.4Level 1 looks like: Approve a reimbursement request
  • Computers and Electronics2.42.6
Show all 33
  • Mathematics2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Add two numbers
  • Engineering and Technology2.22.5Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
  • Telecommunications2.21.8Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Administrative2.12.2Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Physics2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Law and Government2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Building and Construction1.82.1Level 1 looks like: Choose the proper type of wood for adding a deck onto a house
  • Food Production1.81.3Level 1 looks like: Grow herbs in the kitchen
  • Customer and Personal Service1.71.8Level 1 looks like: Process a customer's dry-cleaning drop off
  • Communications and Media1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.51.3Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
  • Psychology1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Therapy and Counseling1.50.9Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Chemistry1.41.2Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Design1.3—
  • Economics and Accounting1.3—
  • Production and Processing1.2—
  • History and Archeology1.1—
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.1—
  • Biology1.0—
  • Fine Arts1.0—
  • Foreign Language1.0—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.0—
  • Sales and Marketing1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Far Vision4.14.8Level 4 looks like: Read the slides on a presentation from across a room
  • Problem Sensitivity4.03.5Level 4 looks like: Notice from a subtle difference in a client's mood that something is bothering them
  • Control Precision3.93.9Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Oral Comprehension3.94.0Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Depth Perception3.83.9Level 4 looks like: Operate a crane to move materials from a truck bed to the ground
  • Manual Dexterity3.83.3Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Multilimb Coordination3.83.9Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
  • Perceptual Speed3.83.6Level 4 looks like: Read five pressure indicators in 10 seconds to make sure each is within safe limits
Show all 52
  • Auditory Attention3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Listen for your flight announcement at a busy airport
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.43.1Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Flexibility of Closure3.43.8Level 4 looks like: Look for a golf ball in tall grass
  • Glare Sensitivity3.34.3Level 5 looks like: See boats on the horizon when sailing
  • Near Vision3.33.8
  • Reaction Time3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Press a button to stop operation when a warning light goes off
  • Selective Attention3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Watch security monitors for intruders throughout the night shift
  • Static Strength3.33.9Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Visual Color Discrimination3.33.5Level 4 looks like: Trace electrical circuits marked by various colored wires
  • Finger Dexterity3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Attach small dials to audio equipment on an assembly line
  • Gross Body Equilibrium3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Hearing Sensitivity3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Diagnose what's wrong with a car engine from its sound
  • Information Ordering3.13.1Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Oral Expression3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Give instructions to a lost motorist
  • Response Orientation3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Use either the brake or gas pedal when your vehicle is skidding
  • Spatial Orientation3.13.0Level 3 looks like: Find your way through a dark room without hitting anything
  • Speech Clarity3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Make stadium-wide announcements during a sporting event
  • Stamina3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Climb 6 flights of stairs
  • Trunk Strength3.13.8Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Deductive Reasoning3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Dynamic Strength3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Extent Flexibility3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Inductive Reasoning3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Night Vision3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Read a book in a dimly lit setting
  • Peripheral Vision3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Sound Localization3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Speech Recognition3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Time Sharing3.03.0Level 3 looks like: Watch street signs while driving at 30 miles an hour
  • Visualization3.03.5Level 4 looks like: Follow a diagram to assemble a metal storage cabinet
  • Written Comprehension3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Category Flexibility2.93.0Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Gross Body Coordination2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Rate Control2.93.0Level 4 looks like: Keep up with a car that changes speed
  • Speed of Closure2.82.6Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Written Expression2.62.8
  • Speed of Limb Movement2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.52.8Level 3 looks like: Carve roast beef in a cafeteria
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Memorization2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Number Facility2.12.1Level 3 looks like: Calculate a discounted price
  • Explosive Strength2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
  • Fluency of Ideas2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Originality2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.50.6

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.33.8Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Handling and Moving Objects4.25.7
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.24.6Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.24.9Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.03.8Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.94.4Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Performing General Physical Activities3.95.3Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Controlling Machines and Processes3.84.6Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
Show all 41
  • Getting Information3.84.1Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.84.3Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.74.1Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.74.1Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.63.6Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.64.1Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.53.7Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Processing Information3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment3.53.8Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others3.33.8Level 4 looks like: Get two subordinates to agree about vacation schedules
  • Training and Teaching Others3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.22.9
  • Documenting/Recording Information3.23.1Level 4 looks like: Document the results of a crime scene investigation
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.24.0Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Developing and Building Teams3.12.6
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates3.13.5Level 4 looks like: Manage a small team of employees in a dynamic workplace
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment3.13.2Level 4 looks like: Make repairs by removing and replacing circuit boards
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Analyzing Data or Information3.03.5Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
  • Coaching and Developing Others3.03.2Level 4 looks like: Provide on-the-job training for administrative workers
  • Thinking Creatively3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.93.1Level 4 looks like: Help a medical patient find in-home assistance or healthcare
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.82.7
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.82.7
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.83.4Level 4 looks like: Recommend a new software package to increase operational efficiency
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Work as a server responsible for keeping track of utensils
  • Working with Computers2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.32.5Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.31.5Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.01.5Level 1 looks like: Have little contact with people outside the organization
  • Selling or Influencing Others1.60.8Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public1.41.1Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Staffing Organizational Units1.3—

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.9
  • Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.8
  • Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.8
  • Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled4.6
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.5
  • Telephone Conversations4.4
  • Contact With Others4.2
  • E-Mail4.1
  • Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.1
  • Health and Safety of Other Workers4.1

Technology

10 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (6)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
Other tools (4)
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • KNMI TurboWin
  • Kongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck Logbook
  • Log book software

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
  2. Ship Engineers
  3. Riggers
  4. Motorboat Operators
  5. Dredge Operators
  6. Hoist and Winch Operators
  7. Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
  8. Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
  9. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
  10. Crane and Tower Operators

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.