Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
•   Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
•   Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Working Life

The Captain of a Ship or a Boat has the important job of commanding the vessel through domestic and deep-sea waterways, so that passengers and cargo arrive safely.

To do this, they need knowledge of the mechanical and electrical workings of ships, navigation, signaling, national and international legal rules in waterways, as well as strong leadership skills, since they also supervise the work of all other crew members.

Captains in the merchant marine have the most senior jobs. They typically attend officer training programmes, and qualify for their jobs through a series of examinations and qualifications over a period of years.

At sea, the Captain is on call 24 hours a day. While in port, a 40-hour workweek is standard.

The work can be hasardous with the risks of falls, fire, collision, and sinking always present. Harsh temperature variations and violent storms are possible at sea.

Captains travel extensively, but they seldom have time to explore the ports they visit. They are away from their home ports for long periods of time.

Work Activities

• Steer and operate the vessel using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, and lighthouses

• Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, by using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions

• Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment, and conformance to regulations

• Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment

• Direct and coordinate crew members or workers performing activities, such as loading and unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, and operating, maintaining, and repairing ship equipment

• Calculate sightings of land using electronic sounding devices, and following contour lines on charts

• Signal passing vessels using whistles, flashing lights, flags, and radios

• Maintain boats and equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, and life preservers

• Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates and ramps, and pull guard chains across entries

• Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, and oxygen

• Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, and/or cargo and passenger status

• Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, and/or repaired

• Assign watches and living quarters to crew members

• Purchase supplies and equipment

• Tow and manoeuver barges, or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations

• Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports and harbors, and patrolling beaches

• Monitor the loading and discharging of cargo or passengers

• Collect fares from customers, or signal ferryboat helpers to collect fares

• Sort logs, form log booms, and salvage lost logs

• Resolve questions or problems with customs officials

• Interview and hire crew members

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialised knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hasards.
• Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
• Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
• Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
• Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
• Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
• Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
• Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
• Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
• Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Captains in the merchant marine have the most senior jobs. Knowledge of the mechanical and electrical workings of ships, together with navigation skills, signaling, national and international legal rules in waterways are all part of their job.

Entrants to a career path as a ships officer, may choose to apply to be taken on by a shipping company. They may will sponsor You onto a training programme. Training varies according to the employing company. Some develop via Irish Naval Pathways or by specific skills building via Ireland's Mercantile Marine. 

Key Skills: Seafarers & Maritime Skills

• Radio & Communications
• Health & Safety at Sea 
• Navigation 

New entrants usually begin work for a company as Juniors. Training continues at sea and Ordinary Seamen may attend college for additional courses and qualifications. Training usually lasts for one to two years.

The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) are the designated national centres for the education and training of personnel for the Merchant Navy.

A Certificate in Navigational Studies (Seamanship) which will suit school leavers and those with experience of working aboard merchant ships or fishing vessels - NMCI click here. 

It is likely that you will be required to undergo Garda Vetting. Garda Vetting forms are submitted through the employer and cannot be completed by the applicant prior to employment. 

Professional Development 

Your skills & knowledge of Maritime career can be developed via courses in one of Ireland National Fisheries & Maritime centre [BIM] Bord iascaigh Mhara

Mercantile, and maritime career development: IMDO Career Development Pathways

• Engineer 
• Broker 
• Ships Officer 
• Ship Executive 

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €38k - €150k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. Captains may be in charge or lesiure & cruise, Naval & Marine, and mercantile shipping vessels and teams. Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
IMDO/ Military.ie/ Salaryexpert/ Indeed/ WEI

Last Updated: February, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Bus and coach drivers; Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs; Train and tram drivers; Marine and waterways transport operatives; Air transport operatives; Rail transport operatives; Other drivers and transport operatives n.e.c.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was negative for this occupation, with little change in employment levels since 2020. Most are employed as taxi drivers and bus and coach drivers; although employment levels remained unchanged for taxi drivers between quarter 4 2021 and quarter 4 2022, there was a fall in the number of persons employed as bus and coach drivers. At 43%, the share aged 55 years and older far exceeded the national average and may lead to an increase in replacement demand across the roles in the coming years. Issues with recruiting taxi drivers that occurred with the reopening of the economy post-COVID-19 appears to have eased somewhat; the data does not point to any evidence of shortages.

In a statement to the Joint Oireachtas committee on Transport and Communications, the National Transport Authority noted issues with retaining and recruiting bus drivers in a time of full employment. There have been advertising campaigns (e.g. Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann) to recruit new bus drivers. As a result of issues with recruitment, a quota for 1,500 new permits for bus and coach drivers was added in December 2022 which has yet to be reflected in the data. The Skills for Growth data also indicates issues with filling vacancies for bus drivers (including for those with good communication skills). Despite the negative employment growth for this occupation overall, skills shortages have emerged for bus and coach drivers.

• National Maritime College of Ireland

  • Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
  • (021) 433 5600
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