Marine mechanic to helmsman
A marine mechanic already meets 39% of what the helmsman role asks for. The move turns on 33 required skills not yet in the profile.
74.9/ 100
1 How much of what a helmsman is expected to do is already part of a marine mechanic’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 helmsman role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A helmsman role treats 20 of its required skills as things a marine mechanic already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways
- apply regulations on cargo transport operations
- clean parts of vessels
- communicate reports provided by passengers
- distinguish ship construction methods
- distinguish various types of ships
What stands in the way is 33 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 30 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A helmsman role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a marine mechanic background worth leading with.
- already held implement workplace drug policies assisting and caring
- already held distinguish ship construction methods information skills
- already held manage vessel control systems working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held provide feedback on job performance communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held execute safety assurance exercises assisting and caring
- already held functions of vessel deck equipment engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 30 carried skills, including the 20 the helmsman role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 45 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 maintain ship stability in relation to weight of passengers required
- still to learn anchor ships to the port required
- still to learn assess trim of vessels required
- still to learn assist anchoring operations required
- still to learn navigate European inland waterways required
- still to learn operate life-saving appliances required
- still to learn understand different types of locks and their operation required
- still to learn use equipment for safe stowage required
- still to learn use modern electronic navigational aids required
- still to learn use radar navigation required
- optional, not held contribute to bilge and ballast operations optional
- optional, not held manipulate sails on vessels optional
- optional, not held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning optional
- optional, not held recognise abnormalities on board optional
- still to learn anchors used in inland water transport required
- still to learn passenger transport regulations required
- still to learn physical parts of the vessel required
- still to learn vessel points of sail required
- still to learn vessel stability principles required
- still to learn vessel traffic services required
- still to learn national regulations on handling cargo required
- still to learn ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan required
- still to learn facilitate safe disembarkation of passengers required
- still to learn help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations required
- still to learn restrict passenger access to specific areas on board required
- still to learn verify qualifications of water transport crew required
- still to learn follow procedures in the event of an alarm required
- optional, not held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation optional
- optional, not held implement environmental protection measures optional
- optional, not held provide first aid optional
- still to learn supervise loading of cargo required
- still to learn supervise movement of crew required
- still to learn supervise movement of passengers required
- still to learn supervise unloading of cargo required
- still to learn assess stability of vessels required
- still to learn use meteorological information required
- optional, not held perform risk analysis optional
- still to learn stow cargo required
- still to learn adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles required
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a helmsman role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 maintain ship stability in relation to weight of passengers practise this
- 02 stow cargo practise this
- 03 adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles 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 30 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 clean parts of vessels skill
- already held communicate reports provided by passengers 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 european classification of inland waterways knowledge
- already held evaluate engine performance skill
- already held execute safety assurance exercises skill
- already held functions of vessel deck equipment knowledge
- already held inland waterway ship building knowledge
- already held international waterways knowledge
- already held manage vessel control systems skill
- already held moor vessels skill
- already held multimodal transport logistics knowledge
- already held national waterways knowledge
- already held principles of cargo stowage knowledge
- already held swim skill
- already held unmoor vessels skill
- already held act reliably skill
- already held comply with checklists skill
- already held detect malfunctions in engines skill
- already held electrical systems used in transportation knowledge
- already held encourage teambuilding skill
- already held have computer literacy skill
- already held implement workplace drug policies skill
- already held provide feedback on job performance skill
- already held use different communication channels skill
- already held vessel fuels knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn manage emergency situations on board required
- optional, not held work in a water transport team optional
- optional, not held apply conflict management optional
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use maritime English optional
- still to learn international regulations for cargo handling required
12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held contribute to bilge and ballast operations optional
- optional, not held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation optional
- optional, not held manipulate sails on vessels optional
- optional, not held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning optional
- optional, not held recognise abnormalities on board optional
- optional, not held work in a water transport team optional
- optional, not held apply conflict management optional
- optional, not held implement environmental protection measures optional
- optional, not held perform risk analysis optional
- optional, not held provide first aid optional
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use maritime English optional
34 held skills the helmsman role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role apply vessel engine regulations skill
- not needed by the target role disassemble engines skill
- not needed by the target role dispose of hazardous waste skill
- not needed by the target role electric generators knowledge
- not needed by the target role electrical machines knowledge
- not needed by the target role electronics knowledge
- not needed by the target role engine components knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure vessel compliance with regulations skill
- not needed by the target role inspect engine rooms skill
- not needed by the target role install electrical and electronic equipment skill
- not needed by the target role maintain hydraulic systems skill
- not needed by the target role maintain records of maintenance interventions skill
- not needed by the target role maintain vessel engine room skill
- not needed by the target role maintain vessel steering mechanisms skill
- not needed by the target role mechanics knowledge
- not needed by the target role mechanics of vessels knowledge
- not needed by the target role monitor pumping system operations skill
- not needed by the target role operate vessel engine room skill
- not needed by the target role perform services in a flexible manner skill
- not needed by the target role prepare equipment for navigation operations skill
- not needed by the target role prepare main engines for navigation operations skill
- not needed by the target role prevent damage to electrical devices on board skill
- not needed by the target role purchase supplies skill
- not needed by the target role read standard blueprints skill
- not needed by the target role repair engines skill
- not needed by the target role repair heating equipment skill
- not needed by the target role repair maritime communication equipment skill
- not needed by the target role repair vessel electrical systems skill
- not needed by the target role repair vessel mechanical systems skill
- not needed by the target role use riverspeak to communicate skill
- not needed by the target role use technical documentation skill
- not needed by the target role wear appropriate protective gear skill
- not needed by the target role work ergonomically skill
- not needed by the target role work in a rail 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 passenger transport regulations required
- still to learn physical parts of the vessel required
- still to learn vessel points of sail required
- still to learn vessel stability principles required
- still to learn vessel traffic services required
- still to learn international regulations for cargo handling required
- still to learn national regulations on handling cargo required
Common questions about this move
Can a marine mechanic become a helmsman?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A marine mechanic already covers 39% of what a helmsman is expected to do: 30 skills carry over, 20 of which the helmsman role treats as required.
What skills does a marine mechanic need to become a helmsman?
33 required skills are missing, plus 12 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is maintain ship stability in relation to weight of passengers.
How hard is the move from marine mechanic to helmsman?
Its learning distance is 74.9 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.