Helmsman to matrose
A helmsman already meets 53% of what the matrose role asks for. The move turns on 28 required skills not yet in the profile.
64.8/ 100
1 How much of what a matrose is expected to do is already part of a helmsman’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 31 of its required skills as things a helmsman already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways
- adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles
- anchors used in inland water transport
- apply regulations on cargo transport operations
- assess stability of vessels
- assess trim of vessels
What stands in the way is 28 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 41 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 helmsman background worth leading with.
- already held anchors used in inland water transport services
- already held navigate European inland waterways working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held understand different types of locks and their operation working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles handling and moving
- already held execute safety assurance exercises assisting and caring
All 41 carried skills, including the 31 the matrose role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 36 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 launch lifeboats required
- still to learn perform daily maintenance on ship machinery required
- still to learn prepare engine room for operation required
- still to learn secure ships using rope required
- still to learn steer vessels required
- still to learn use ballasts required
- still to learn use waterway traffic control systems required
- still to learn operate marine communication systems required
- optional, not held operate vessel engine room optional
- still to learn maintain ropes required
- still to learn maintain service record book required
- still to learn manage on board hazards required
- still to learn read stowage plans required
- still to learn use riverspeak to communicate required
- still to learn follow verbal instructions required
- still to learn follow written instructions required
- optional, not held perform services in a flexible manner optional
- still to learn maintain vessel engine room required
- still to learn paint ship decks required
- still to learn maintain vessel technical equipment according to instructions required
- optional, not held prevent damage to electrical devices on board optional
- still to learn influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships required
- still to learn types of cargo required
- still to learn vessel safety equipment required
- still to learn undertake navigation safety actions required
- still to learn use different types of fire extinguishers required
- optional, not held ensure vessel compliance with regulations optional
- optional, not held prepare simple meals on board 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 influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships study this
- 03 inland waterway police regulations 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 41 skills that carry over
- already held adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways skill
- already held adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles skill
- already held anchors used in inland water transport knowledge
- already held apply regulations on cargo transport operations skill
- already held assess stability of vessels skill
- already held assess trim of vessels 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 help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations skill
- already held international regulations for cargo handling knowledge
- already held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation skill
- already held manipulate sails on vessels skill
- already held moor vessels skill
- already held national regulations on handling cargo knowledge
- already held navigate European inland waterways skill
- already held operate life-saving appliances skill
- already held passenger transport regulations knowledge
- already held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning skill
- already held provide first aid skill
- already held swim skill
- already held understand different types of locks and their operation skill
- already held unmoor vessels skill
- already held use equipment for safe stowage skill
- already held use modern electronic navigational aids skill
- already held act reliably skill
- already held distinguish various types of ships skill
- already held implement environmental protection measures skill
- already held inland waterway ship building knowledge
- already held physical parts of the vessel knowledge
- already held show intercultural awareness skill
- already held use different communication channels skill
- already held vessel fuels knowledge
- already held vessel points of sail knowledge
- already held vessel stability principles knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn load cargo onto ships required
- still to learn secure cargo in stowage required
- optional, not held perform manual work autonomously optional
- still to learn principles of combustion engines required
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
- still to learn inland waterway police regulations required
8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held ensure vessel compliance with regulations optional
- optional, not held operate vessel engine room optional
- optional, not held perform manual work autonomously optional
- optional, not held prepare simple meals on board optional
- optional, not held prevent damage to electrical devices on board optional
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held perform services in a flexible manner optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
34 held skills the matrose role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role anchor ships to the port skill
- not needed by the target role apply conflict management skill
- not needed by the target role contribute to bilge and ballast operations skill
- not needed by the target role detect malfunctions in engines skill
- not needed by the target role distinguish ship construction methods skill
- not needed by the target role electrical systems used in transportation knowledge
- not needed by the target role encourage teambuilding skill
- not needed by the target role ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan skill
- not needed by the target role evaluate engine performance skill
- not needed by the target role functions of vessel deck equipment knowledge
- not needed by the target role have computer literacy skill
- not needed by the target role implement workplace drug policies skill
- not needed by the target role international waterways knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain ship stability in relation to weight of passengers skill
- not needed by the target role manage emergency situations on board skill
- not needed by the target role manage vessel control systems skill
- not needed by the target role multimodal transport logistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role national waterways knowledge
- not needed by the target role perform risk analysis skill
- not needed by the target role principles of cargo stowage knowledge
- not needed by the target role provide feedback on job performance skill
- not needed by the target role recognise abnormalities on board skill
- not needed by the target role restrict passenger access to specific areas on board skill
- not needed by the target role stow cargo skill
- not needed by the target role supervise loading of cargo skill
- not needed by the target role supervise movement of crew skill
- not needed by the target role supervise movement of passengers skill
- not needed by the target role supervise unloading of cargo skill
- not needed by the target role use maritime English skill
- not needed by the target role use meteorological information skill
- not needed by the target role use radar navigation skill
- not needed by the target role verify qualifications of water transport crew skill
- not needed by the target role vessel traffic services knowledge
- not needed by the target role work in a water transport team skill
7 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 influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships required
- still to learn inland waterway police regulations required
- still to learn types of cargo required
- still to learn vessel safety equipment required
- still to learn principles of combustion engines required
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
Common questions about this move
Can a helmsman become a matrose?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A helmsman already covers 53% of what a matrose is expected to do: 41 skills carry over, 31 of which the matrose role treats as required.
What skills does a helmsman need to become a matrose?
28 required skills are missing, plus 8 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 helmsman to matrose?
Its learning distance is 64.8 out of 100, which is the substantial 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.