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How exposed to AI is a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessel?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 20 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Boat CaptainCaptainFerry Boat CaptainFirst MateHarbor PilotMateRiver PilotShip PilotTugboat CaptainVessel Master
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
9%
hold a degree, from a survey of 83
33k
people do this job in the US
19 of 52
least protected in transport

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations
  • Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures

Only with software built on top

8
  • Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards
  • Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations
  • Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth
  • Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements
  • Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws
  • Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries
  • 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
  • Assign watches or living quarters to crew members

Cannot be sped up

20
  • 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
  • Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way
  • Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations
  • Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen
  • Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations
  • Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios
  • Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment
  • Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers
  • Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications
  • Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts
  • Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models
  • 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
  • Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges
  • Purchase supplies or equipment
  • Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations
  • Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches
  • Interview and hire crew members
  • Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET 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. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.