Ordinary Seaman

Primary Responsibilities

• Work towards certification as an able seaman.
• Stand watch on deck department of merchant ship.
• Perform lookout duty.
• Take a turn at ship's wheel.
• Work with bridge equipment.
• Clean and perform maintenance on ship.
• Work with deck equipment.
• Identify and remove rust accumulations.
• Refinish affected areas with sealants, primers, and paints to slow the oxidation process.
• Scale, buff, and paint decks.
• Scrub, sweep, and wash deck.
• Splice wire and rope.
• Demonstrate marlinspike seamanship skills.
• Stage large amounts of equipment, such as twist-locks, braces, ratchet-straps, tie-down rods.
• Break out, rig, overhaul, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear.
• Secure or fasten cargo to ship.
• Check cargo to look for wear and tear, broken or compromised securements, shifting, or any other sort of noncompliance.
• Loosen cargo at end of voyage.
• Launch and recover boats.