While still in maritime college, many cadets wonder what their actual duties will be once they step aboard. There are no detailed guidelines or official job descriptions tailored to cadets—and everyone simply tell you this: assist the deck officers in the day-to-day running of the ship. Maritime books don’t truly outline what is expected from a trainee officer. They mostly focus on theory and procedures. And yes, there are excellent books on seamanship and training-but the real education begins onboard. The practical experience gained on the ship beats any classroom or textbook learning.
It is therefore important for cadets to have a general idea of the duties they’ll be expected to perform. Of course, the details may vary from ship to ship, but the goal remains the same: to learn. Everything else you do onboard is just a means to that end. And here’s the truth every aspiring cadet must understand: This list of duties isn’t a checklist of your jobs-it’s a list of learning opportunities. Your only job is to LEARN.
Nobody is going to sit down and teach you everything.Everyone onboard is already occupied with their own responsibilities. You will only learn if you show initiative, ask questions, observe, and take notes. You’ll be told something once and expected to remember it. No one has the time to repeat themselves again and again. So bring your best attitude, stay sharp, and always be hungry to learn.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the most important duties (or rather, learning opportunities) for a deck cadet onboard.
Navigation Duties: Assist during bridge watches (usually 0400–0800 and 1600–2000), learning under the officer on watch. You’ll see how to use radar, plot positions, correct charts, and handle communication systems. You’re not expected to master it all on day one—but you’re expected to watch, ask, and learn.
Tank Soundings: Take readings of ballast and fuel tanks—an important task to understand ship stability. You’ll use sounding tapes and learn their interpretation. Ask once, remember forever.
Ship Maintenance: From chipping rust to painting steel, you’ll be involved in maintaining the ship’s hull and decks. You’ll learn proper use of tools, safety practices, and how to work alongside ratings. Show initiative and willingness to get your hands dirty.
Deck Work and Seamanship: Learn rope work, splicing, mooring gear, rigging, and other seamanship fundamentals. Every knot and every cable is a lesson—observe, ask, and practice.
LSA and FFA Maintenance: Help the 3rd officer maintain life-saving and firefighting equipment. Inspect extinguishers, lifeboats, SCBA sets, and more. Learn to log details, check expiry dates, and conduct drills—skills vital for future responsibilities.
Paperwork at Sea: Assist the Chief Officer with paperwork like cargo checklists, ballast reports, muster lists, and maintenance logs. It may be tedious, but it’s your crash course in how a ship operates.
Cargo Operations and Port Work: Observe cargo loading/unloading, tank level monitoring, and VHF communications. Understand cargo plans, and absorb as much as you can—without waiting to be taught.
Berthing/Unberthing Operations: Get involved with mooring lines, rigging gangways, and communication during berthing. If given the chance, relay bridge orders—show that you’re dependable.
ISPS Watch and Ship Security: Perform gangway watch in port—checking IDs, logging visitors, and coordinating with officials. Dull as it may seem, this builds your attention to detail and trustworthiness.
Pilotage Operations: Assist in rigging the pilot ladder and observe bridge procedures during pilotage. Listen closely and take mental notes—it’s your preview of future bridge watch responsibilities.
Project Work: Complete your SSTP projects diligently. Document everything you do and learn. Keep your training record book updated—it’s your key to future certifications.
Learning Attitude Is Everything: Be Curious: Ask questions—but only after trying to figure it out first.
Be Responsible: Own up to your mistakes and learn from them.
Be Proactive: Don’t wait for orders—look for work, ask to assist.
Be Professional: Respect every crew member, officer or rating.
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Final Thoughts
Being a deck cadet isn’t about ticking off a checklist. It’s about developing a mindset—a mindset of learning, observing, and stepping up without waiting to be told.
If you’re about to board your first ship, remember:
Your only job is to learn.
So suit up, keep your notebook handy, and approach every task like it’s preparing you to be the officer you want to become and step onto the ship with your eyes open.
