Skipper to matrose
A skipper already meets 35% of what the matrose role asks for. The move turns on 39 required skills not yet in the profile.
77.2/ 100
1 How much of what a matrose 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 matrose role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A matrose role treats 20 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
- ensure integrity of hull
- european classification of inland waterways
- inland waterway police regulations
What stands in the way is 39 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 29 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 skipper background worth leading with.
- already held navigate European inland waterways working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held inland waterway police regulations business, administration and law
- already held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation assisting and caring
- already held secure cargo in stowage handling and moving
- already held steer vessels working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held inland waterway ship building engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 29 carried skills, including the 20 the matrose role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 48 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 steer ship in compliance with helm orders required
- still to learn assist anchoring operations required
- 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 unmoor vessels required
- still to learn use ballasts required
- still to learn use equipment for safe stowage required
- still to learn use waterway traffic control systems required
- still to learn moor vessels required
- still to learn operate marine communication systems required
- optional, not held operate vessel engine room 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 comply with checklists required
- still to learn execute safety assurance exercises required
- still to learn follow procedures in the event of an alarm required
- still to learn use different types of fire extinguishers required
- optional, not held prepare simple meals on board optional
- still to learn swim 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
- 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 maintain ropes required
- still to learn maintain service record book required
- still to learn manage on board hazards required
- 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 adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles required
- still to learn clean parts of vessels required
- still to learn load cargo onto ships required
- optional, not held perform manual work autonomously optional
2 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 adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles practise this
- 03 anchors used in inland water transport 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 29 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 ensure integrity of hull skill
- already held european classification of inland waterways knowledge
- already held inland waterway police regulations knowledge
- 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 national regulations on handling cargo knowledge
- already held navigate European inland waterways skill
- already held passenger transport regulations knowledge
- already held provide first aid skill
- already held read stowage plans skill
- already held secure cargo in stowage skill
- already held secure ships using rope skill
- already held steer vessels skill
- already held undertake navigation safety actions skill
- already held use modern electronic navigational aids skill
- already held vessel safety equipment knowledge
- already held act reliably skill
- already held distinguish various types of ships skill
- already held ensure vessel compliance with regulations 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 vessel fuels knowledge
- already held vessel points of sail knowledge
- already held vessel stability principles knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn anchors used in inland water transport required
- still to learn influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships required
- still to learn types of cargo required
- still to learn principles of combustion engines required
- optional, not held engine components optional
- optional, not held principles of mechanical engineering optional
9 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- 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
- optional, not held show intercultural awareness optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
34 held skills the matrose 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 distinguish ship construction methods skill
- not needed by the target role ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan skill
- not needed by the target role ensure vessel security 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 instruct on technical shore-based operations skill
- not needed by the target role international waterways knowledge
- 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 multimodal transport logistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role national waterways knowledge
- 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 principles of cargo stowage knowledge
- not needed by the target role provide on-board safety training 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 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 use water navigation devices skill
- not needed by the target role verify qualifications of water transport crew skill
6 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 influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships required
- still to learn types of cargo 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 skipper become a matrose?
Yes, and it is a career change move. A skipper already covers 35% of what a matrose is expected to do: 29 skills carry over, 20 of which the matrose role treats as required.
What skills does a skipper need to become a matrose?
39 required skills are missing, plus 9 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 steer ship in compliance with helm orders.
How hard is the move from skipper to matrose?
Its learning distance is 77.2 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.