Skipper to helmsman
A skipper already meets 48% of what the helmsman role asks for. The move turns on 27 required skills not yet in the profile.
68.1/ 100
1 How much of what a helmsman is expected to do is already part of a skipper’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 26 of its required skills as things a skipper 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 27 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 helmsman role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a skipper 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 26 the helmsman role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 40 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 maintain ship stability in relation to weight of passengers required
- still to learn anchor ships to the port required
- still to learn assist anchoring operations required
- still to learn manage vessel control systems required
- still to learn operate life-saving appliances required
- still to learn understand different types of locks and their operation required
- still to learn unmoor vessels required
- still to learn use equipment for safe stowage required
- still to learn moor vessels required
- optional, not held contribute to bilge and ballast operations optional
- optional, not held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning optional
- 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 execute safety assurance exercises required
- still to learn follow procedures in the event of an alarm required
- optional, not held comply with checklists optional
- optional, not held implement workplace drug policies 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
- optional, not held encourage teambuilding optional
- still to learn stow cargo required
- still to learn adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles required
- still to learn clean parts of vessels required
- still to learn manage emergency situations on board required
- still to learn swim required
- optional, not held work in a water transport team optional
- optional, not held apply conflict management optional
- optional, not held provide feedback on job performance optional
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
- still to learn communicate reports provided by passengers required
- still to learn evaluate engine performance required
- optional, not held perform risk analysis optional
3 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 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 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 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 verify qualifications of water transport crew skill
- 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 manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation skill
- already held manipulate sails on vessels skill
- already held provide first aid skill
- already held recognise abnormalities on board skill
- already held use maritime English skill
- already held vessel fuels knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn anchors used in inland water transport required
- still to learn vessel traffic services required
- optional, not held detect malfunctions in engines optional
- optional, not held electrical systems used in transportation optional
13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held contribute to bilge and ballast operations optional
- optional, not held detect malfunctions in engines optional
- optional, not held electrical systems used in transportation optional
- optional, not held encourage teambuilding optional
- optional, not held perform vessel maintenance and cleaning optional
- optional, not held work in a water transport team optional
- optional, not held apply conflict management optional
- optional, not held comply with checklists optional
- optional, not held implement workplace drug policies optional
- optional, not held perform risk analysis optional
- optional, not held provide feedback on job performance optional
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
28 held skills the helmsman role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role analyse reports provided by passengers skill
- not needed by the target role analyse travel alternatives skill
- not needed by the target role assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation skill
- not needed by the target role calculate the amount of cargo on a vessel skill
- not needed by the target role communicate mooring plans skill
- not needed by the target role compose stowage plans skill
- not needed by the target role conduct analysis of ship data skill
- not needed by the target role conduct water navigation skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate the itineraries of vessels skill
- not needed by the target role create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement skill
- not needed by the target role ensure vessel compliance with regulations skill
- not needed by the target role ensure vessel security skill
- not needed by the target role inland waterway police regulations knowledge
- not needed by the target role instruct on technical shore-based operations skill
- not needed by the target role maintain updated professional knowledge skill
- not needed by the target role manage staff skill
- not needed by the target role manage vessel cargo activities skill
- not needed by the target role monitor crew members operating engines skill
- not needed by the target role plot shipping navigation routes skill
- not needed by the target role prepare safety exercises on ships skill
- not needed by the target role provide on-board safety training skill
- not needed by the target role read stowage plans skill
- not needed by the target role secure cargo in stowage skill
- not needed by the target role secure ships using rope skill
- not needed by the target role steer vessels skill
- not needed by the target role undertake navigation safety actions skill
- not needed by the target role use water navigation devices skill
- not needed by the target role vessel safety equipment knowledge
3 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 vessel traffic services required
- optional, not held electrical systems used in transportation optional
Common questions about this move
Can a skipper become a helmsman?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A skipper already covers 48% of what a helmsman is expected to do: 35 skills carry over, 26 of which the helmsman role treats as required.
What skills does a skipper need to become a helmsman?
27 required skills are missing, plus 13 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 maintain ship stability in relation to weight of passengers.
How hard is the move from skipper to helmsman?
Its learning distance is 68.1 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.