Helmsman to skipper
A helmsman already meets 56% of what the skipper role asks for. The move turns on 23 required skills not yet in the profile.
61.4/ 100
1 How much of what a skipper 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 skipper role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A skipper role treats 30 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
- assess stability of vessels
- assess trim of vessels
- distinguish ship construction methods
- distinguish various types of ships
- ensure integrity of hull
What stands in the way is 23 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 35 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A skipper 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 distinguish ship construction methods information skills
- already held navigate European inland waterways working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan assisting and caring
- already held restrict passenger access to specific areas on board assisting and caring
- already held use radar navigation working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held verify qualifications of water transport crew assisting and caring
All 35 carried skills, including the 30 the skipper role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 28 missing skills fall into 8 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 analyse reports provided by passengers required
- still to learn calculate the amount of cargo on a vessel required
- still to learn conduct analysis of ship data required
- still to learn ensure vessel security required
- still to learn read stowage plans required
- optional, not held analyse travel alternatives optional
- optional, not held maintain updated professional knowledge optional
- still to learn assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation required
- still to learn monitor crew members operating engines required
- still to learn compose stowage plans required
- still to learn coordinate the itineraries of vessels required
- still to learn manage vessel cargo activities required
- optional, not held create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement optional
- optional, not held manage staff optional
- still to learn conduct water navigation required
- still to learn plot shipping navigation routes required
- still to learn steer vessels required
- still to learn use water navigation devices required
- optional, not held secure ships using rope optional
- still to learn ensure vessel compliance with regulations required
- still to learn undertake navigation safety actions required
- still to learn prepare safety exercises on ships required
- still to learn instruct on technical shore-based operations required
- still to learn communicate mooring plans required
- still to learn provide on-board safety training required
- still to learn inland waterway police regulations required
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a skipper role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation practise this
- 02 instruct on technical shore-based operations practise this
- 03 monitor crew members operating engines practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 35 skills that carry over
- already held adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways skill
- already held assess stability of vessels skill
- already held assess trim of vessels skill
- already held distinguish ship construction methods skill
- already held distinguish various types of ships skill
- already held ensure integrity of hull skill
- already held ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan skill
- already held european classification of inland waterways knowledge
- already held functions of vessel deck equipment knowledge
- already held inland waterway ship building knowledge
- already held international regulations for cargo handling knowledge
- already held international waterways knowledge
- already held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation skill
- already held manipulate sails on vessels skill
- already held multimodal transport logistics knowledge
- already held national regulations on handling cargo knowledge
- already held national waterways knowledge
- already held navigate European inland waterways skill
- already held passenger transport regulations knowledge
- already held physical parts of the vessel knowledge
- already held principles of cargo stowage knowledge
- already held provide first aid skill
- already held recognise abnormalities on board skill
- already held restrict passenger access to specific areas on board skill
- already held use meteorological information skill
- already held use modern electronic navigational aids skill
- already held use radar navigation skill
- already held vessel fuels knowledge
- already held vessel points of sail knowledge
- already held vessel stability principles knowledge
- already held act reliably skill
- already held have computer literacy skill
- already held implement environmental protection measures skill
- already held use maritime English skill
- already held verify qualifications of water transport crew skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn secure cargo in stowage required
- still to learn vessel safety equipment required
5 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held analyse travel alternatives optional
- optional, not held secure ships using rope optional
- optional, not held create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement optional
- optional, not held maintain updated professional knowledge optional
- optional, not held manage staff optional
40 held skills the skipper role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles skill
- not needed by the target role anchor ships to the port skill
- not needed by the target role anchors used in inland water transport knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply conflict management skill
- not needed by the target role apply regulations on cargo transport operations skill
- not needed by the target role assist anchoring operations skill
- not needed by the target role clean parts of vessels skill
- not needed by the target role communicate reports provided by passengers skill
- not needed by the target role comply with checklists 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 electrical systems used in transportation knowledge
- not needed by the target role encourage teambuilding skill
- not needed by the target role evaluate engine performance skill
- not needed by the target role execute safety assurance exercises skill
- not needed by the target role facilitate safe disembarkation of passengers skill
- not needed by the target role follow procedures in the event of an alarm skill
- not needed by the target role help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations skill
- not needed by the target role implement workplace drug policies skill
- 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 moor vessels skill
- not needed by the target role operate life-saving appliances skill
- not needed by the target role perform risk analysis skill
- not needed by the target role perform vessel maintenance and cleaning skill
- not needed by the target role provide feedback on job performance skill
- not needed by the target role show intercultural awareness 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 swim skill
- not needed by the target role understand different types of locks and their operation skill
- not needed by the target role unmoor vessels skill
- not needed by the target role use different communication channels skill
- not needed by the target role use equipment for safe stowage skill
- not needed by the target role vessel traffic services knowledge
- not needed by the target role work in a water transport team skill
2 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 inland waterway police regulations required
- still to learn vessel safety equipment required
Common questions about this move
Can a helmsman become a skipper?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A helmsman already covers 56% of what a skipper is expected to do: 35 skills carry over, 30 of which the skipper role treats as required.
What skills does a helmsman need to become a skipper?
23 required skills are missing, plus 5 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation.
How hard is the move from helmsman to skipper?
Its learning distance is 61.4 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.