Ferry Boat Job Descriptions
These are job descriptions for job opportunities that arise aboard ferries and water
taxis.
Captain, or “master”. A captain holds ultimate responsibility for a vessel, its crew,
and passengers. He or she has authority over the officers, crew and passengers. A
ferry is a major asset that can operate day and night, around the clock, 24/7. This
means hostile sea conditions, weather conditions and other adverse elements in
seaways that would not necessarily be considered sheltered waters. The
qualifications sought by a ferry or water taxi company may depend on the size of a
vessel, or vessels in the case of a fleet. A captain is expected to possess
managerial and leadership skills in addition to competence in navigation,
seamanship, docking and passenger embarking and debarking procedures. There’
s no point in listing every possible combination of tonnage, horsepower, and
endorsement that appears out there.
However, these are USCG licenses that companies seek:
▪ 100 Ton Master
▪ 200 Ton Master
▪ 500 Ton Master
▪ 1600 Ton Master
Other requirements may include GMDSS and STCW 95.
Mate The mate directly reports to the captain. Some ferry operators have another
position called assistant captain, where the roles may look like those of a mate.
Depending on the vessel, the mate handles or oversees vessel navigation, vessel
docking operations, and assumes command of the vessel where directed by the
master. These are the USCG qualifications generally sought for mate positions:
▪ 100 Ton Mate
▪ 200 Ton Mate
▪ 500 Ton Mate
▪ 1600 Ton Mate
Other requirements may include and STCW 95.
Able Bodied Seaman, or Able Seaman The able seaman, or AB, carries out job
assignments given out by the captain or mate. This includes docking operations and
other shipboard duties. May require STCW 95.
Deckhand The deckhand carries out job assignments given out by the captain or
mate. This includes docking operations and other shipboard duties. May require
STCW 95.
Chief Engineer The chief engineer, or chief, is in charge of the operation and
maintenance of a ferry boat’s main engines, loading of fuel, auxiliary machinery and
engineering crew. In addition to the main engines, the chief engineer is responsible
for diesel polishing systems, fuel service and transfer systems, generator sets,
electrical distribution system, hydraulic systems, compressed air systems,
sanitation systems, service water, heating and air conditioning plant, watermaking
unit and other auxiliaries. However, these are the USCG license qualifications
generally sought:
▪ Chief Engineer Limited
▪ Chief Engineer Unlimited
Designated Duty Engineer The designated duty engineer reports to the chief and
assists in the operation of engines, auxiliaries and other ship systems. However,
these are the USCG license qualifications generally sought:
▪ Designated Duty Engineer
QMED QMED, or qualified member of the engine department, carries out tasks
assigned by the chief or DDE in the engine department.
Other requirements may include STCW 95.
Trainee Entry level position for working one’s way up towards qualified deckhand or
other position
Food Sales - Concession for the larger ferries that sell coffee, soda, food and
snacks, these personnel work as cooks and cashiers. Experience in fast food
industry, short order cook or other restaurant experience is helpful.
Some of the shoreside positions that arise include:
Bookkeepers and Accountants Keep track of company revenues and expenses.
Maintain records for ticket sales, payroll. Proficiency in current software is helpful.
Ticket Agents - Customer Service sell tickets to passengers and help in other facets
of customer service, whether seeing to the safe boarding of a handicapped
passenger or diffusing a complaint of a disgruntled ticket holder. These are
intensive “people skills” positions. Ideal candidates are people oriented, energetic,
outgoing and have the ability to “get things done” and keep passengers happy,
within reasonable limits, naturally. Depending on the companies, they may also use
the title reservation agent, reservationist
Traffic Control Personnel direct car traffic while embarking and debarking ferry
Parking Lot Personnel direct parking lot operations
Security Personnel provide security for ferry facilities and vessels
Copyright 2006 - Copyright Warning
Rights reserved - U.S. Copyright Law Carries Criminal & Civil Penalties for
Infringement - 17 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 2319
These are job descriptions for job opportunities that arise aboard ferries and water
taxis.
Captain, or “master”. A captain holds ultimate responsibility for a vessel, its crew,
and passengers. He or she has authority over the officers, crew and passengers. A
ferry is a major asset that can operate day and night, around the clock, 24/7. This
means hostile sea conditions, weather conditions and other adverse elements in
seaways that would not necessarily be considered sheltered waters. The
qualifications sought by a ferry or water taxi company may depend on the size of a
vessel, or vessels in the case of a fleet. A captain is expected to possess
managerial and leadership skills in addition to competence in navigation,
seamanship, docking and passenger embarking and debarking procedures. There’
s no point in listing every possible combination of tonnage, horsepower, and
endorsement that appears out there.
However, these are USCG licenses that companies seek:
▪ 100 Ton Master
▪ 200 Ton Master
▪ 500 Ton Master
▪ 1600 Ton Master
Other requirements may include GMDSS and STCW 95.
Mate The mate directly reports to the captain. Some ferry operators have another
position called assistant captain, where the roles may look like those of a mate.
Depending on the vessel, the mate handles or oversees vessel navigation, vessel
docking operations, and assumes command of the vessel where directed by the
master. These are the USCG qualifications generally sought for mate positions:
▪ 100 Ton Mate
▪ 200 Ton Mate
▪ 500 Ton Mate
▪ 1600 Ton Mate
Other requirements may include and STCW 95.
Able Bodied Seaman, or Able Seaman The able seaman, or AB, carries out job
assignments given out by the captain or mate. This includes docking operations and
other shipboard duties. May require STCW 95.
Deckhand The deckhand carries out job assignments given out by the captain or
mate. This includes docking operations and other shipboard duties. May require
STCW 95.
Chief Engineer The chief engineer, or chief, is in charge of the operation and
maintenance of a ferry boat’s main engines, loading of fuel, auxiliary machinery and
engineering crew. In addition to the main engines, the chief engineer is responsible
for diesel polishing systems, fuel service and transfer systems, generator sets,
electrical distribution system, hydraulic systems, compressed air systems,
sanitation systems, service water, heating and air conditioning plant, watermaking
unit and other auxiliaries. However, these are the USCG license qualifications
generally sought:
▪ Chief Engineer Limited
▪ Chief Engineer Unlimited
Designated Duty Engineer The designated duty engineer reports to the chief and
assists in the operation of engines, auxiliaries and other ship systems. However,
these are the USCG license qualifications generally sought:
▪ Designated Duty Engineer
QMED QMED, or qualified member of the engine department, carries out tasks
assigned by the chief or DDE in the engine department.
Other requirements may include STCW 95.
Trainee Entry level position for working one’s way up towards qualified deckhand or
other position
Food Sales - Concession for the larger ferries that sell coffee, soda, food and
snacks, these personnel work as cooks and cashiers. Experience in fast food
industry, short order cook or other restaurant experience is helpful.
Some of the shoreside positions that arise include:
Bookkeepers and Accountants Keep track of company revenues and expenses.
Maintain records for ticket sales, payroll. Proficiency in current software is helpful.
Ticket Agents - Customer Service sell tickets to passengers and help in other facets
of customer service, whether seeing to the safe boarding of a handicapped
passenger or diffusing a complaint of a disgruntled ticket holder. These are
intensive “people skills” positions. Ideal candidates are people oriented, energetic,
outgoing and have the ability to “get things done” and keep passengers happy,
within reasonable limits, naturally. Depending on the companies, they may also use
the title reservation agent, reservationist
Traffic Control Personnel direct car traffic while embarking and debarking ferry
Parking Lot Personnel direct parking lot operations
Security Personnel provide security for ferry facilities and vessels
Copyright 2006 - Copyright Warning
Rights reserved - U.S. Copyright Law Carries Criminal & Civil Penalties for
Infringement - 17 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 2319
| U.S. Department of Labor - These are contact numbers for Dept of Labor Offices that maintain regional employment, unemployment, wage information. ALASKA - Juneau, AK - (907) 465-4518 ARIZONA - Phoenix, AZ - (602) 542-3871 ARKANSAS - Little Rock, AR - (501) 682-4500 CALIFORNIA - Sacramento, CA - (916) 262-2160 COLORADO - Denver, CO - (303) 318-8898 CONNECTICUT - Wethersfield, CT - (860) 263-6255 DELAWARE - Wilmington, DE - (302) 761-8052 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - (202) 671-1633 FLORIDA - Tallahassee, FL - (850) 488-1048 GEORGIA - Atlanta, GA - (404) 232-3875 GUAM - Tamuning, GU - (671) 475-7062 HAWAII - Honolulu, HI - (808) 586-8996 IDAHO - Boise, ID - (800) 772-2553 ILLINOIS - Chicago, IL - (312) 793-2316 INDIANA - Indianapolis, IN - (317) 232-7460 IOWA - Des Moines, IA - (515) 281-0255 KANSAS - Topeka, KS - (785) 296-5058 KENTUCKY - Frankfort, KY - (502) 564-7976 LOUISIANA - Baton Rouge, LA - (225) 342-3141 MAINE - Augusta, ME - (207) 287-2271 MARYLAND - Baltimore, MD - (410) 767-2250 MASSACHUSETTS - Boston, MA - (617) 626-6556 MICHIGAN - Detroit, MI - (313) 456-3090 MINNESOTA - St. Paul, MN - (651) 282-2714 MISSISSIPPI - Jackson, MS - (601) 321-6261 MISSOURI - Jefferson City, MO - (573) 751-3609 |
| U.S. Department of Labor - These are contact numbers for Dept of Labor Offices that maintain regional employment, unemployment, wage information. NEVADA - Carson City, NV - (775) 684-0387 NEW HAMPSHIRE - Concord, NH - (603) 228-4123 NEW JERSEY - Trenton, NJ 08625 - 609 292-0099 NEW MEXICO - Albuquerque, NM - (505) 222-4683 NEW YORK - Albany, NY - (518) 457-6369 NORTH CAROLINA - Raleigh, NC - (919) 733-2936 NORTH DAKOTA - Bismarck, ND - (701) 328-2868 OHIO - Columbus, OH - (614) 752-9494 OKLAHOMA - Oklahoma City, OK - (405) 557-7265 OREGON - Salem, OR - (503) 947-1212 PENNSYLVANIA - Harrisburg, PA - (717) 787-3266 PUERTO RICO Hato Rey, PR - (787) 754-5340 RHODE ISLAND - Cranston, RI - (401) 462-8767 SOUTH CAROLINA - Columbia, SC (803) 737-2660SOUTH DAKOTA - Aberdeen, SD - (605) 626-2314 TENNESSEE - Nashville, TN - (615) 741-2284 TEXAS - Austin, TX - UTAH - Salt Lake City, UT - (801) 526-9401 VERMONT - Montpelier, VT - (802) 828-4153 VIRGIN ISLANDS-Charlotte Aml, VI -340 776-3700 VIRGINIA - Richmond, VA - (804) 786-7496 WASHINGTON - Lacey, WA - (360) 438-4804 WEST VIRGINIA - Charleston, WV - (304) 558-2660 WISCONSIN - Madison, WI - (608) 267-2393 WYOMING - Casper, WY - (307) 473-3807 |
| Ferry Boat Job Descriptions |
| Maritime Jobs - Marine Jobs - Deckhands - Tankermen - Able Seaman - Maritime Jobs - Deck Engine - Employment in the Maritime Industry - Work on Ships - Yachts - Tugboats - Cruise Ships |
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Jobs on Ferry Boats
Ferry Boat Operators
Jobs on Ferry Boats
Ferry Boat Operators
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