Life As a Ship Mate
Ship Mate Definition Supervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges.
A Day in the Life of a Ship Mate
- Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.
- Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
- Determine geographical positions of ships, using lorans, azimuths of celestial bodies, or computers, and use this information to determine the course and speed of a ship.
- Assume command of vessels in the event that ships’ masters become incapacitated.
- Arrange for ships to be stocked, fueled, or repaired.
- Observe water from ships’ mastheads to advise on navigational direction.
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Things a Ship Mate Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Ship Mates say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Ship Mate
- First Officer
- Second Officer
- Mate
- Ferry Terminal Agent
- Dredge Mate
Ship Mate Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 38,800 jobs for Ship Mate in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Ship Mate by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Ship Mate are Nevada, Georgia, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Indiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Ship Mate
The salary for Ship Mates ranges between about $35,410 and $144,690 a year.

Ship Mates who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Ship Mates in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $79,750 |
Alaska | $72,570 |
California | $70,840 |
Delaware | $74,790 |
Florida | $78,880 |
Georgia | $73,410 |
Hawaii | $52,830 |
Illinois | $67,020 |
Iowa | $75,600 |
Kentucky | $79,130 |
Louisiana | $93,010 |
Maine | $61,410 |
Maryland | $86,460 |
Massachusetts | $57,700 |
Michigan | $83,040 |
Minnesota | $73,910 |
New Hampshire | $51,490 |
New Jersey | $75,170 |
New York | $95,370 |
North Carolina | $55,710 |
Ohio | $47,810 |
Oregon | $100,150 |
Pennsylvania | $74,780 |
South Carolina | $67,090 |
Tennessee | $54,480 |
Texas | $103,950 |
Virginia | $77,370 |
Washington | $90,890 |
Wisconsin | $48,190 |
What Tools do Ship Mates Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ship Mates may use on a daily basis:
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Log book software
- KNMI TurboWin
- Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral
- Maptech The CAPN
Becoming a Ship Mate
What kind of Ship Mate requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Ship Mates?

Ship Mates work in the following industries:

References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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