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Transport & StorageISCO 8350

Ordinary seaman

An ordinary seaman is a person who holds the lowest rating in the deck crew of a seagoing ship and does the work the running of the vessel requires.

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Rate 5 of the 25 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

sort waste

maintain ship brightwork

maintain ropes

moor vessels

assist water-based navigation

About ordinary seaman

The ordinary seaman is the main labour on deck. The seaman supports marine navigation: standing lookout, reporting what is sighted, steering on order and keeping the bridge and the decks in order. The seaman knows the physical structure of the ship: where the passageways run and where the hatches and tanks are.

The seaman also loads goods onto the ship and secures the cargo so that nothing shifts when the vessel rolls, and on arrival and departure works the lines, passing them, heaving them in and casting the ship off.

An ordinary seaman also knows the ship's safety equipment, operates life-saving appliances and uses the different types of fire extinguisher. The work is supervised by the master, the officers and the engineer, and instructions come from anyone higher in the hierarchy. To become an ordinary seaman, a person needs a seafarer's record book, a seafarer medical certificate and basic safety training completed at a recognised centre.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a ordinary seaman.

1

Cargo Operations and Handling

  • Load and unload cargo onto and from ships using appropriate techniques and equipment
  • Secure cargo on ships using ropes and securing devices according to safety standards
  • Apply principles of cargo stowage to ensure proper distribution and ship stability
  • Handle various types of cargo safely and maintain proper documentation
2

Vessel Maintenance and Operation

  • Maintain ropes, rigging, and deck equipment through regular inspection and repair
  • Clean ships and maintain vessel cleanliness, brightwork, and overall appearance
  • Perform routine maintenance tasks on physical parts of the vessel
  • Report maintenance issues and equipment malfunctions to supervisors
3

Safety and Emergency Procedures

  • Operate life-saving appliances and participate in safety drills and training
  • Use different types of fire extinguishers and fire prevention equipment correctly
  • Follow vessel safety equipment protocols and emergency response procedures
  • Handle stressful situations in the workplace with composure and professionalism
4

Navigation Support and Communication

  • Assist with water-based navigation and chart monitoring under supervision
  • Use maritime English for communication with diverse international crew members
  • Operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipment when required
  • Moor vessels using ropes and follow mooring procedures at ports
5

Hygiene, Health and Waste Management

  • Follow hygienic procedures during food processing and galley operations
  • Sort and manage waste according to maritime environmental regulations
  • Maintain personal hygiene standards and contribute to healthy onboard conditions

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (25)

physical parts of the vesselphysical parts of the vesselThe different physical components of the vessel and their maintenance and care effort.types of maritime vesselstypes of maritime vesselsVarious types of maritime vessels such as container ships, passenger ships and fishing vessels, and their characteristics and specifications, security, technical, and maintenance requirements.vessel safety equipmentvessel safety equipmentSafety equipment used in vessels, including devices such as lifeboats, life rings, splash doors and fire doors, sprinkler systems, etc, and how these must be operated during emergency situations.principles of cargo stowageprinciples of cargo stowageThe principles of cargo stowage. The procedures by which containers should be efficiently loaded and unloaded, taking into account gravitational forces that are exerted during transportation.Global Maritime Distress and Safety SystemGlobal Maritime Distress and Safety SystemThe internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.sort wastesort wasteManually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.maintain ship brightworkmaintain ship brightworkMaintain the brightwork of ships and boats by cleaning, polishing and painting; remove garbage and repair damaged equipment.maintain ropesmaintain ropesMaintain splices and knots in ropes.moor vesselsmoor vesselsFollow standard procedures to moor vessels. Manage communication between the ship and the shore.assist water-based navigationassist water-based navigationEnsure that up-to-date charts and nautical publications are on board of the ship. Prepare information sheets, voyage reports, passage plans, and position reports.clean shipsclean shipsRemove dirt from the ship by sweeping, scrubbing and washing the deck and other areas. Remove superfluous salt and water to avoid oxidation.load cargo onto shipsload cargo onto shipsLoad and unload cargo onto ships. Oversee cargo loading and discharging operations.follow hygienic procedures during food processingfollow hygienic procedures during food processingEnsure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.secure ships using ropesecure ships using ropeUse rope to secure and untie the ship before departure or upon arrival.handle stressful situations in the work placehandle stressful situations in the work placeDeal with and manage highly stressful situations in the workplace by following adequate procedures, communicating in a quiet and effective manner, and remaining level-headed when taking decisions.use different types of fire extinguishersuse different types of fire extinguishersUnderstand and apply various methods of firefighting and various types and classes of fire extinguishing equipment.use maritime Englishuse maritime EnglishCommunicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.secure cargo on shipssecure cargo on shipsSecure or tie cargo to ship using ropes or other pieces of equipment.handle cargohandle cargoManage safely the mechanical elements in the loading and unloading of cargo and stores. Stowing and unstowing of products following instructions.operate life-saving appliancesoperate life-saving appliancesOperate survival craft and their launching appliances and arrangements. Operate life-saving instruments like radio life-saving appliances, satellite EPIRBs, SARTs, immersion suits and thermal protecti...unmoor vesselsunmoor vesselsFollow standard procedures to unmoor vessels. Manage communication between the ship and the shore.perform lookout duties during maritime operationsperform lookout duties during maritime operationsMaintain a watch during maritime operations, in order to anticipate events and potential hazards.maintain vessel engine roommaintain vessel engine roomMaintain the engines and engine room equipment of a vessel. Conduct pre-checks prior to departure and ongoing examinations during the voyage.swimswimMove through water by means of the limbs.maintain vessel safety and emergency equipmentmaintain vessel safety and emergency equipmentMaintain and inspect all safety and emergency equipment such as life jackets, inflatable life rafts, flares, EPIRB, first-aid kits, AED, skiff emergency packs, emergency flashlights, and hand-held rad...
Optional (8) — show
act reliablyact reliablyProceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.manipulate sails on vesselsmanipulate sails on vesselsManipulate sails using ropes or other tools in order to control vessel direction and speed.use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.follow written instructionsfollow written instructionsFollow written directions in order to perform a task or carry out a step-by-step procedure.inspect construction of shipsinspect construction of shipsInspect ship surfaces, windows, and ventilation systems, heating systems, toilets, and drainage systems; maintain and store equipment required for trip.work in a water transport teamwork in a water transport teamWork confidently in a group in water transport services, in which each individual operates in their own area of responsibility to reach a common goal, such as a good customer interaction, maritime saf...perform manual work autonomouslyperform manual work autonomouslyShow the ability to pursue basic manual tasks without the help or assistance of others, not needing supervision or guidance, and taking responsibility for one's actions.follow verbal instructionsfollow verbal instructionsHave the ability to follow spoken instructions received from colleagues. Strive to understand and clarify what is being requested.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does an ordinary seaman do?

Ordinary seamen occupy the lowest rank of a maritime ship’s deck crew. They comprise the main labour force on board a boat where they help to operate the ship. They are supervised by the ship captain and the engineer, and can be given instructions by any individuals ranked above them.

What skills does an ordinary seaman need?

An ordinary seaman needs 25 essential skills, including physical parts of the vessel, types of maritime vessels, vessel safety equipment, principles of cargo stowage, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

Will AI replace ordinary seaman jobs?

The AI disruption score for ordinary seaman is 25/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: follow written instructions, types of maritime vessels, use maritime English. Most resilient: swim, maintain ropes, operate life-saving appliances.

AI Replacement Risk

25/ 100
Low Risk
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Quick Facts

SectorTransport & Storage
ISCO GroupDrivers and mobile plant operators
Essential Skills25

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