Boatswain Drivers & Mobile Plant Operators
SaveWhat Does a Boatswain Do?
Boatswains organise the crew on deck and at the fishing hold to execute the orders received from a superior. They coordinate the operations of maintenance, manoeuvres, assembly and repair of fishing gear and sorting, processing and preserving of the catches while observing the hygienic standards and established safety regulations.
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Where Do I Start?
Pollution Prevention
The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Boatswain
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialPollution Prevention knowledge
The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialQuality Of Fish Products knowledge
Factors affecting the quality of fish products. For instance, differences between species, impact of the fishing gears and parasite influence on the preservation of quality.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialInternational Regulations For Preventing Collisions At Sea knowledge
Fundamental aspects of the international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, such as the conduct of vessels in sight of one another, navigation lights and markers, major light and accoustic …
Recommended Books
3 booksNavigation Rules and Regulations Handbook -
EssentialInternational Convention For The Prevention Of Pollution From Ships knowledge
The fundamental principals and requirements laid in the International Regulation for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL): Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil, Regulations for the Control …
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EssentialFisheries Legislation knowledge
The study and analysis of different fisheries management approaches taking into account international treaties and industry norms in order to analyze fisheries management regulations.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialFishing Gear knowledge
Identification of the different gear used in capture fisheries and their functional capacity.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFishing Vessels knowledge
Denomination of the different elements and equipment of fishing vessels.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialCode Of Conduct For Responsible Fisheries knowledge
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the guidelines established for professional fishers.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialRisks Associated With Undertaking Fishing Operations knowledge
General risks occuring when working on fishing boats and specific risks occurring only in some fishing modalities. Prevention of threats and accidents.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialExtinguish Fires skill
Choose the adequate substances and methods to extinguish fires depending on their size, such as water and various chemical agents. Use a breathing apparatus.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPreserve Fish Products skill
Place and classify fish products for proper conservation. Maintain suitable conditions for the conservation of fishery products.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide Training skill
Provide training and orientation to new team members, or assign this task to an appropriately experienced team member.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSurvive At Sea In The Event Of Ship Abandonment skill
Identify muster signals and what emergencies they signal. Comply with established procedures. Don and use a lifejacket or an immersion suit. Safely jump into the water from a height. Swim …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSwim skill
Move through water by means of the limbs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Fishing Maneuvres skill
Run shooting and hauling gear operations for its optimal performance, complying with the regulations for responsible fishing and with the security measures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssist In Ship Maintenance skill
Contribute to shipboard maintenance and repair using painting, lubrication and cleaning materials and equipment. Execute routine maintenance and repair procedures. Dispose safely waste materials. Apply, maintain and use hand and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCoordinate Fish Handling Operations skill
Organise fish handling operations to avoid fish products deterioration. Check the cleanliness of the deck and fishing hole before loading and manipulation. Control that the fishes are headless, gutted, washed …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCoordinate The Ship Crew skill
Coordinate the daily activities of the crew. Ensure that each member of the deck department understands and performs his/her assigned duties adequately. Assist the captain with training and orientation of …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Cargo skill
Manage safely the mechanical elements in the loading and unloading of cargo and stores. Stowing and unstowing of products following instructions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Fish Products skill
Handle fish with care and hygiene required to maintain quality. Adequately prepare fish products for storage.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Safe Navigation Watches skill
Observe principles in keeping a navigation watch. Take over, accept and pass on a watch. Steer the vessel and perform routine duties undertaken during a watch. Observe safety and emergency …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Ship Equipment skill
Operate ship equipment such as engines and generators, winches, and HVAC systems. Assume responsibility for all exterior equipment, as well as some interior. Ensure that deck equipment is operated safely.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Vessel Critical Systems skill
Operate vessel critical systems such as electronic navigation aids, steering, de-watering, safety apparatus. Carry out captain's orders.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialParticipate In The Organisation Of Emergency Drills skill
Participate in preparing and executing emergency drills. Take charge of on-scene response actions. Help ensure that written drill reports are logged properly. Make sure that all personnel adhere to pre-planned …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrepare Fishing Equipment skill
Dispose fishing gear and ship's deck for successful extraction activities. Coordinate the crew in this operation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialStand Watch On Vessel skill
Stand watch in ships' bows, sterns, or bridge wings. Look out for obstructions in the ship's path and locate navigational aids such as buoys. Determine geographical position of the ship, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSupport Vessel Manoeuvres skill
Participate in manoeuvres at port: berthing, anchoring and other mooring operations. Contribute to a safe navigational watch.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Fishing Vessel Equipment skill
Dispose fishing gear and ship's deck for successful extraction activities as directed by the superior. Run shooting and hauling gear operations for its optimal performance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 8 displayed)
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OptionalAssessment Of Risks And Threats knowledge
The security documentation and any security-related communications and information.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalFisheries Management knowledge
The principles, methods and equipment used in population management applied to fisheries: the concept of catch, by-catch, fishing effort, maximum sustainable yield, different sampling methods and how to use sampling …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalGlobal Maritime Distress And Safety System knowledge
The internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCommunicate Using The Global Maritime Distress And Safety System skill
Send an alert in case of distress, using any of the various GMDSS radio systems such that the alert has a very high probability of being received by either shore …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Maritime English language skill
Communicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEvaluate Schools Of Fish skill
Interprete the information provided by electronic equipment and other aid to fisheries to evaluate the characteristics of a school of fish.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPrepare Inventory Reports skill
Prepare inventory reports of sport fishing gear, skiff equipment, boatswain's stores at the start of the season and at the end. At the end of the season, thoroughly clean and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalReport To Captain skill
Perform the full array of responsibilities and tasks for the deckhand, and report information regarding this orally to the master of the vessel and or the mate in the other …
Course recommendations coming soon.