TransportationO*NET: 53-5021.00
Will AI Replace Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
67out of 100
High Risk
AI Risk Score
67/100
Risk Level
High
Job Zone
3/5
Medium
Total Tasks Analyzed
25
🤖 What AI Can Do
- â–¸Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- â–¸Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
- â–¸Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
- â–¸Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
- â–¸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.
- â–¸Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
👤 What Requires Humans
- â–¸Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.
- â–¸Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
- â–¸Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
- â–¸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.
- â–¸Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
- â–¸Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (7)
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
- Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
- Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
- 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.
- 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.
👤Requires Humans (6)
- Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.
- Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
- Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
- 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.
âš¡AI-Assisted (12)
- 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.
- 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.
- Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
Key Skills Analysis
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Management of Personnel ResourcesAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels have a high risk of AI replacement with a score of 67/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research