Sailors and Marine Oilers
On the Job
Sailors and Marine Oilers perform a wide variety of tasks on ships. They may stand watch to look for things that block the ship's path, measure water depth, or use emergency equipment as directed. They may also work to maintain the ship.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight and good hearing and time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems.
- Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
- Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
- Control pumps or pumping equipment.
- Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
- Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
- Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.
- Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
- Secure watercraft to docks, wharves or other vessels.
- Set up material handling gear or equipment, such as rigging, packaging, or temporary structures.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Working outdoors exposed to weather.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Frequent contact with others.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Serious consequences if mistakes are made.
- Working with a group or team.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
