Job description Deckhand in the Lethbridge–Medicine Hat Region

Find out what work is like for a deckhand in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Water transport deck and engine room crew (NOC 74201).

Water transport deck and engine room crew

Description

Water transport deck and engine room crew stand watch, operate and maintain deck equipment, perform other deck and bridge duties and assist ship engineer officers to operate, maintain and repair engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment aboard ships or self-propelled vessels. They are employed by marine transportation companies and federal government departments.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Water transport deck and engine room crew have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Deck crew - water transport
  • Stand watch and steer ship or self-propelled vessel under the direction of the officer on watch
  • Operate, maintain and repair deck equipment such as winches, cranes, derricks and hawsers
  • Clean, chip and paint deck surfaces
  • Handle mooring lines, and splice and repair ropes, wire cables and other cordage
  • Load, discharge and secure ship cargo.
  • Engine room crew - water transport
  • Assist ship engineer officers in performing routine maintenance work and repair to ship's engine, machinery and auxiliary equipment
  • Monitor engine, machinery and equipment indicators, record variables and report abnormalities to ship engineer officer on watch
  • Lubricate moving parts of engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment
  • Operate and maintain off-loading liquid pumps and valves
  • Maintain engine parts and keep engine room clean.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 74201), and a list of similar occupations:

  • able seaman/woman (except armed forces)
  • boatswain - water transport
  • deckhand
  • engine room crew member - ship
  • helmsman/woman - water transport
  • marine engine oiler
  • marine engineering mechanic
  • ship stoker
  • ship tunnel operator

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Water transport deck and engine room crew in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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