Description
Plan, direct, and monitor a vessel’s navigation and bridge operations to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant voyages. Maintain charts, publications, and navigation systems; stand watches; coordinate with the master, pilots, VTS, and port authorities. Requires a U.S. Coast Guard deck officer license and applicable STCW/GMDSS endorsements.
- • Plan voyage routes and speeds using ECDIS, radar, GPS/AIS, tides, currents, and weather forecasts.
- • Stand bridge watches and maintain safe track, position fixes, and lookouts.
- • Apply COLREGS and bridge resource management to prevent unsafe operations.
- • Update and correct charts and nautical publications per Notices to Mariners.
- • Operate and supervise helm, radar, ECDIS, AIS, echo sounders, and autopilot.
- • Use GMDSS and VHF/MF/HF radios to coordinate with ships, VTS, and shoreside agencies.
- • Assist the master and pilot during arrivals, departures, docking, and undocking.
- • Maneuver in confined waters under direction; monitor under-keel clearance and squat.
- • Conduct pre-departure, arrival, and watch handover checklists.
- • Inspect bridge and navigation equipment for readiness and regulatory compliance.
- • Monitor and record depths using echo sounders and manual sounding when required.
- • Maintain navigation logs, bell books, position reports, and voyage plans.
- • Plot and communicate ship positions, courses, ETAs, and port calls.
- • Assess weather, visibility, traffic, and sea state; recommend route or speed adjustments.
- • Signal other vessels using whistle, lights, flags, or radio as required.
- • Brief and coordinate lookouts and helmsmen; issue conning orders clearly.
- • Verify cargo, ballast, draft, and stability data relevant to safe navigation.
- • Oversee distress, urgency, and safety communications; support search and rescue operations.
- • Report navigation incidents, near misses, or regulatory breaches to appropriate authorities.
- • Train crew on navigation procedures, equipment use, and emergency bridge drills.
- • Conduct and document man-overboard, fire, and emergency steering drills.
- • Learn and integrate new bridge technology and procedures through instruction or simulators.
- • Coordinate maintenance and spares for bridge and navigation equipment.
- • Plan voyage logistics for fuel, water, and stores; coordinate resupply with deck department.
- • Supervise care and maintenance of bridge gear and assigned lifesaving and firefighting appliances.
- • Coordinate mooring and line-handling signals during berthing and unberthing.
- • Measure tides, currents, set, and drift; apply corrections to the ship’s track.
- • Advise the master on port entry requirements, VTS rules, and customs procedures affecting navigation.
- • Assign and manage bridge watch and rest schedules in compliance with STCW.
- • Requisition charts, publications, and bridge supplies; keep inventories current.
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
