SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Sailors and Marine Oilers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman)
  • Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman)
  • Able Seaman
  • Boat Crew Deck Hand
  • Bosun
  • Deck Hand
  • Deckhand
  • Deckhand Engineer
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What do Sailors and Marine Oilers do?

Sailors and marine oilers are essential personnel in the maritime industry responsible for operating and maintaining the machinery on board various types of vessels. This includes cargo ships, tankers, fishing boats, tugboats, and ferries. Sailors typically focus on the navigation, safety, and security of the ship, while marine oilers specialize in the maintenance and operation of engines, boilers, and other machinery that keep the vessel running smoothly. Their work is crucial for ensuring safe passage over the oceans and rivers, maintaining proper fuel and oil levels, and performing routine checks and repairs on equipment. This job demands a strong understanding of engineering principles, the ability to work in challenging and sometimes hazardous environments, and teamwork with other crew members to maintain the vessel's operational efficiency. Sailors and marine oilers may work in various weather conditions and navigate through rough seas, often spending extended periods away from home. As global trade continues to grow, the need for skilled sailors and oilers remains vital to the shipping industry's infrastructure.

What the work actually is

  • Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.
  • Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
  • Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
  • Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.
  • Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • 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.

Abilities

  • Far Vision The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Depth Perception The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Perceptual Speed The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Knowledge

  • Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Transportation Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  • Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Post-secondary certificate Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
Less than high school diploma

A normal week

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
  • Getting Information

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Data base user interface and query software KNMI TurboWin · Kongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck Logbook · Log book software
  • Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook
  • Facilities management software Computerized maintenance management system CMMS

Tools

  • Anchor rollers Electric windlasses · Hand capstans · Hydraulic capstans
  • Anchor lines Mooring cables · Mooring chains · Natural fiber mooring ropes
  • Winches Electric mooring winches · Hydraulic mooring winches · Manual winches
  • Depth gauges Sounding rods · Sounding tapes · Tank level gauges
  • Hoists Cargo derricks · Chain cargo falls · Magnet hoists

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Sailors and Marine Oilers earn in South Africa?

Sailors and Marine Oilers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Sailors and Marine Oilers do?

Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached, Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks and Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.