Sailor to decksman
A sailor already meets 25% of what the decksman role asks for. The move turns on 29 required skills not yet in the profile.
82.6/ 100
1 How much of what a decksman is expected to do is already part of a sailor’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 decksman role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A decksman role treats 11 of its required skills as things a sailor already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- assist anchoring operations
- clean parts of vessels
- clean ships
- communicate reports provided by passengers
- follow verbal instructions
- follow written instructions
What stands in the way is 29 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 12 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A decksman role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a sailor background worth leading with.
- already held paint ship decks constructing
- already held clean ships handling and moving
- already held assist anchoring operations working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held clean parts of vessels handling and moving
- already held secure ships using rope working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held communicate reports provided by passengers information skills
All 12 carried skills, including the 11 the decksman role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 46 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 adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways required
- still to learn apply regulations on cargo transport operations 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 manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation required
- still to learn undertake navigation safety actions required
- still to learn comply with checklists required
- still to learn execute safety assurance exercises required
- still to learn follow procedures in the event of an alarm required
- optional, not held ensure integrity of hull optional
- optional, not held prepare simple meals on board optional
- optional, not held implement environmental protection measures optional
- optional, not held provide first aid optional
- still to learn launch lifeboats required
- still to learn operate life-saving appliances required
- still to learn perform daily maintenance on ship machinery required
- still to learn perform vessel maintenance and cleaning required
- still to learn prepare engine room for operation required
- still to learn understand different types of locks and their operation required
- still to learn use ballasts required
- still to learn use equipment for safe stowage required
- optional, not held manipulate sails on vessels optional
- optional, not held use waterway traffic control systems 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
- optional, not held distinguish various types of ships optional
- still to learn types of cargo required
- still to learn vessel safety equipment required
- still to learn national regulations on handling cargo required
- optional, not held european classification of inland waterways optional
- optional, not held passenger transport regulations optional
- optional, not held vessel stability principles optional
- still to learn maintain vessel engine room required
- still to learn maintain vessel technical equipment according to instructions required
- still to learn swim required
- optional, not held work in a water transport team optional
- optional, not held perform services in a flexible manner optional
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a decksman role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways practise this
- 02 apply regulations on cargo transport operations practise this
- 03 facilitate safe disembarkation of passengers 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 12 skills that carry over
- already held assist anchoring operations skill
- already held clean parts of vessels skill
- already held clean ships skill
- already held communicate reports provided by passengers skill
- already held follow verbal instructions skill
- already held follow written instructions skill
- already held moor vessels skill
- already held paint ship decks skill
- already held secure ships using rope skill
- already held unmoor vessels skill
- already held use different types of fire extinguishers skill
- already held act reliably skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn international regulations for cargo handling required
- optional, not held inland waterway police regulations optional
- still to learn load cargo onto ships required
- optional, not held perform manual work autonomously optional
- optional, not held principles of combustion engines optional
17 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held distinguish various types of ships optional
- optional, not held ensure integrity of hull optional
- optional, not held european classification of inland waterways optional
- optional, not held inland waterway police regulations optional
- optional, not held manipulate sails on vessels optional
- optional, not held passenger transport regulations optional
- optional, not held perform manual work autonomously optional
- optional, not held prepare simple meals on board optional
- optional, not held use waterway traffic control systems optional
- optional, not held vessel stability principles optional
- optional, not held work in a water transport team optional
- optional, not held implement environmental protection measures optional
- optional, not held perform services in a flexible manner optional
- optional, not held principles of combustion engines optional
- optional, not held provide first aid optional
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
20 held skills the decksman role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role Global Maritime Distress and Safety System knowledge
- not needed by the target role anchor ships to the port skill
- not needed by the target role anchors used in maritime water transport knowledge
- not needed by the target role assist in maritime rescue operations skill
- not needed by the target role conduct on board safety inspections skill
- not needed by the target role deal with challenging work conditions skill
- not needed by the target role ensure public safety and security skill
- not needed by the target role follow work procedures skill
- not needed by the target role guide ships into docks skill
- not needed by the target role have computer literacy skill
- not needed by the target role lift heavy weights skill
- not needed by the target role operate echo sounding equipment skill
- not needed by the target role operate traditional water depth measurement equipment skill
- not needed by the target role perform lookout duties during maritime operations skill
- not needed by the target role prepare deck equipment skill
- not needed by the target role prepare lifeboats skill
- not needed by the target role steer vessels in ports skill
- not needed by the target role types of maritime vessels knowledge
- not needed by the target role use maritime English skill
- not needed by the target role watch for maritime navigation aids skill
9 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 types of cargo required
- still to learn vessel safety equipment required
- still to learn international regulations for cargo handling required
- still to learn national regulations on handling cargo required
- optional, not held european classification of inland waterways optional
- optional, not held inland waterway police regulations optional
- optional, not held passenger transport regulations optional
- optional, not held vessel stability principles optional
- optional, not held principles of combustion engines optional
Common questions about this move
Can a sailor become a decksman?
Yes, and it is a career change move. A sailor already covers 25% of what a decksman is expected to do: 12 skills carry over, 11 of which the decksman role treats as required.
What skills does a sailor need to become a decksman?
29 required skills are missing, plus 17 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by assisting and caring. The single most important is adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways.
How hard is the move from sailor to decksman?
Its learning distance is 82.6 out of 100, which is the career change 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.