Decksman to matrose
A decksman already meets 77% of what the matrose role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.
42.5/ 100
1 How much of what a matrose is expected to do is already part of a decksman’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the matrose role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A matrose role treats 47 of its required skills as things a decksman already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways
- apply regulations on cargo transport operations
- assist anchoring operations
- clean parts of vessels
- communicate reports provided by passengers
- comply with checklists
What stands in the way is 12 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 56 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A matrose role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a decksman background worth leading with.
- already held launch lifeboats working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held perform daily maintenance on ship machinery working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held use ballasts working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held maintain service record book information skills
- already held maintain vessel technical equipment according to instructions constructing
- already held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning working with machinery and specialised equipment
All 56 carried skills, including the 47 the matrose role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 21 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn steer ship in compliance with helm orders required
- still to learn assess trim of vessels required
- still to learn navigate European inland waterways required
- still to learn steer vessels required
- still to learn use modern electronic navigational aids required
- still to learn operate marine communication systems required
- optional, not held operate vessel engine room optional
- still to learn anchors used in inland water transport required
- still to learn influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships required
- optional, not held physical parts of the vessel optional
- optional, not held vessel points of sail optional
- still to learn adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles required
- still to learn secure cargo in stowage required
- still to learn use riverspeak to communicate required
- still to learn assess stability of vessels required
- optional, not held inland waterway ship building optional
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a matrose role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 steer ship in compliance with helm orders practise this
- 02 adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles practise this
- 03 anchors used in inland water transport study this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 56 skills that carry over
- already held adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways skill
- already held apply regulations on cargo transport operations skill
- already held assist anchoring operations skill
- already held clean parts of vessels skill
- already held communicate reports provided by passengers skill
- already held comply with checklists skill
- already held ensure integrity of hull skill
- already held european classification of inland waterways knowledge
- already held execute safety assurance exercises skill
- already held facilitate safe disembarkation of passengers skill
- already held follow procedures in the event of an alarm skill
- already held follow verbal instructions skill
- already held follow written instructions skill
- already held help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations skill
- already held inland waterway police regulations knowledge
- already held international regulations for cargo handling knowledge
- already held launch lifeboats skill
- already held load cargo onto ships skill
- already held maintain ropes skill
- already held maintain service record book skill
- already held maintain vessel engine room skill
- already held maintain vessel technical equipment according to instructions skill
- already held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation skill
- already held manage on board hazards skill
- already held manipulate sails on vessels skill
- already held moor vessels skill
- already held national regulations on handling cargo knowledge
- already held operate life-saving appliances skill
- already held paint ship decks skill
- already held passenger transport regulations knowledge
- already held perform daily maintenance on ship machinery skill
- already held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning skill
- already held prepare engine room for operation skill
- already held principles of combustion engines knowledge
- already held provide first aid skill
- already held read stowage plans skill
- already held secure ships using rope skill
- already held swim skill
- already held types of cargo knowledge
- already held understand different types of locks and their operation skill
- already held undertake navigation safety actions skill
- already held unmoor vessels skill
- already held use ballasts skill
- already held use different types of fire extinguishers skill
- already held use equipment for safe stowage skill
- already held use waterway traffic control systems skill
- already held vessel safety equipment knowledge
- already held act reliably skill
- already held distinguish various types of ships skill
- already held implement environmental protection measures skill
- already held perform manual work autonomously skill
- already held perform services in a flexible manner skill
- already held prepare simple meals on board skill
- already held show intercultural awareness skill
- already held use different communication channels skill
- already held vessel stability principles knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held ensure vessel compliance with regulations optional
- optional, not held prevent damage to electrical devices on board optional
- optional, not held vessel fuels optional
9 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held ensure vessel compliance with regulations optional
- optional, not held inland waterway ship building optional
- optional, not held operate vessel engine room optional
- optional, not held physical parts of the vessel optional
- optional, not held prevent damage to electrical devices on board optional
- optional, not held vessel fuels optional
- optional, not held vessel points of sail optional
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
2 held skills the matrose role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role clean ships skill
- not needed by the target role work in a water transport team skill
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn anchors used in inland water transport required
- still to learn influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships required
- optional, not held inland waterway ship building optional
- optional, not held physical parts of the vessel optional
- optional, not held vessel fuels optional
- optional, not held vessel points of sail optional
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
Common questions about this move
Can a decksman become a matrose?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A decksman already covers 77% of what a matrose is expected to do: 56 skills carry over, 47 of which the matrose role treats as required.
What skills does a decksman need to become a matrose?
12 required skills are missing, plus 9 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is steer ship in compliance with helm orders.
How hard is the move from decksman to matrose?
Its learning distance is 42.5 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.