Table 1Transition record

skippertoship captain

A skipper already meets 29% of what the ship captain role asks for. The move turns on 23 required skills not yet in the profile.

From skipper

29%

Overlap1

To ship captain

11 Skills carried over

23 Required, not held

75.6 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 75.6

This move: 75.6 of 100 · career change

1 Share of the ship captain role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the skipper profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 11 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A ship captain role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a skipper background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held communicate mooring plans communication, collaboration and creativity
already held plot shipping navigation routes working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held steer vessels working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held vessel points of sail services
already held conduct water navigation working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held ensure vessel security information skills

All 11 carried skills, including the 10 the ship captain role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 29 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 management skills 6 required

required, not held supervise loading of cargo required
required, not held supervise movement of crew required
required, not held supervise movement of passengers required
required, not held supervise unloading of cargo required
required, not held prepare transportation routes required
required, not held supervise crew required

02 information skills 4 required

required, not held carry out navigational calculations required
required, not held maintain voyage logs required
required, not held stay up-to-date with maritime transportation technology required
required, not held analyse work-related written reports required

03 working with machinery and specialised equipment 3 required

required, not held assess vessel status required
required, not held operate marine communication systems required
required, not held operate mechanical equipment of ships required

04 assisting and caring 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held ensure public safety and security required
required, not held ensure ongoing compliance with regulations required

optional, not held comply with checklists optional
optional, not held deal with challenging work conditions optional

05 business, administration and law 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held international regulations for preventing collisions at sea required
required, not held International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships required

optional, not held warehouse operations optional

06 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required

required, not held types of maritime vessels required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required

4 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a ship captain role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 11 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held communicate mooring plans skill
already held conduct water navigation skill
already held ensure vessel security skill
already held manage staff skill
already held plot shipping navigation routes skill
already held steer vessels skill
already held use maritime English skill
already held use water navigation devices skill
already held vessel points of sail knowledge
already held vessel safety equipment knowledge
already held secure ships using rope skill

The 4 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 services 2 required

required, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System required
required, not held freight transport methods required

08 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held follow verbal instructions required

optional, not held apply transportation management concepts optional
optional, not held create solutions to problems optional

09 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required

required, not held geographic areas required

10 constructing 1 supplementary

optional, not held manage ocean-going oil tankers optional

6 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held apply transportation management concepts optional
optional, not held manage ocean-going oil tankers optional
optional, not held warehouse operations optional
optional, not held comply with checklists optional
optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
optional, not held deal with challenging work conditions optional

52 held skills the ship captain role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role act reliably skill
not needed by the target role adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways skill
not needed by the target role analyse reports provided by passengers skill
not needed by the target role analyse travel alternatives skill
not needed by the target role assess stability of vessels skill
not needed by the target role assess trim of vessels skill
not needed by the target role assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation skill
not needed by the target role calculate the amount of cargo on a vessel skill
not needed by the target role compose stowage plans skill
not needed by the target role conduct analysis of ship data skill
not needed by the target role coordinate the itineraries of vessels skill
not needed by the target role create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement skill
not needed by the target role distinguish ship construction methods skill
not needed by the target role distinguish various types of ships skill
not needed by the target role ensure integrity of hull skill
not needed by the target role ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan skill
not needed by the target role ensure vessel compliance with regulations skill
not needed by the target role european classification of inland waterways knowledge
not needed by the target role functions of vessel deck equipment knowledge
not needed by the target role have computer literacy skill
not needed by the target role implement environmental protection measures skill
not needed by the target role inland waterway police regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role inland waterway ship building knowledge
not needed by the target role instruct on technical shore-based operations skill
not needed by the target role international regulations for cargo handling knowledge
not needed by the target role international waterways knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain updated professional knowledge skill
not needed by the target role manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation skill
not needed by the target role manage vessel cargo activities skill
not needed by the target role manipulate sails on vessels skill
not needed by the target role monitor crew members operating engines skill
not needed by the target role multimodal transport logistics knowledge
not needed by the target role national regulations on handling cargo knowledge
not needed by the target role national waterways knowledge
not needed by the target role navigate European inland waterways skill
not needed by the target role passenger transport regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role physical parts of the vessel knowledge
not needed by the target role prepare safety exercises on ships skill
not needed by the target role principles of cargo stowage knowledge
not needed by the target role provide first aid skill

12 further entries not listed here

8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held international regulations for preventing collisions at sea required
required, not held types of maritime vessels required
required, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System required
required, not held International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships required
required, not held freight transport methods required
required, not held geographic areas required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required
optional, not held warehouse operations optional

Index

Other moves recorded from skipper

Full index of moves from skipper

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.