Description
Operate and maintain lighthouses and related aids to navigation to ensure safe marine passage near shores and hazardous areas. Monitor weather and vessel traffic, maintain lights, fog signals, and communications, respond to incidents, and may supervise station operations and grounds.
- • Activate and monitor navigation lights, fog signals, and alarms.
- • Adjust light intensity, flash sequence, and rotation per standards.
- • Start and maintain generators, solar arrays, and battery systems.
- • Observe weather, visibility, sea state, and tides; log conditions.
- • Keep watch for vessel traffic and distress signals.
- • Broadcast warnings and safety information via VHF or signal devices.
- • Record vessel movements and notable events in station logs.
- • Inspect tower, lantern room, lenses, and optics for damage or defects.
- • Clean lenses and lantern glass; lubricate mechanisms.
- • Test alarms, backup lamps, and automatic changeover systems.
- • Maintain and repair fog signal and communication equipment.
- • Perform painting, sweeping, and groundskeeping to keep facilities in order.
- • Prepare and submit maintenance work orders and supply requests.
- • Track fuel, spare parts, and consumables; schedule resupply.
- • Ensure safe access to docks, walkways, and helipads; assist supply mooring.
- • Develop watch schedules and operating procedures; train seasonal staff.
- • Prepare incident and accident reports for groundings or equipment failures.
- • Coordinate outages, tests, and Notices to Mariners with authorities.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
