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First mate skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
First mate example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical first mate skills. We ranked the top skills for first mates based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.6% of first mate resumes contained vessel maintenance as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a first mate needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 first mate skills for your resume and career

1. Vessel Maintenance

Vessel Maintenance is a routine process that requires adequate check-up, repair, and updating of the various parts of a vessel. The goal is to keep the vessel in good shape at all times to avoid unnecessary breakdowns and other challenges that might occur when the vessel is offshore. The maintenance process can range from changing its engine oil to painting its body and lubricating parts of the machinery prone to friction.

Here's how first mates use vessel maintenance:
  • Performed scheduled vessel maintenance, cared for tools and equipment, and performed general housekeeping duties as assigned by their supervisor.
  • Varied; included food preparation, sailing duties, vessel maintenance, and work with young adults.

2. Cleanliness

Here's how first mates use cleanliness:
  • Ensured the safety and cleanliness of the sales floor and the backroom.
  • Assisted in maintaining the operation and cleanliness of the vehicle.

3. Passenger Safety

Passenger safety means the state of a conveyance, where risks associated with travel activities either related to the operating or support functions of the vehicle are either controlled or reduced to an acceptable level. It incorporates the practice, theory, investigation, and categorization of safety failures, and the avoidance of failures through education, regulation, and training.

Here's how first mates use passenger safety:
  • Monitored passenger safety; responsible for safe mooring of vessels; general maintenance and janitorial
  • Oversee passenger safety and act as tour guide for the Harbor of NY

4. Mooring Lines

Here's how first mates use mooring lines:
  • Handle mooring lines and rigging to launch or dock the boat.

5. Engine Room

An engine room serves as the heart of an establishment or vessel. It must be maintained in good and working conditions to ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently according to guidelines and protocols.

Here's how first mates use engine room:
  • Started as a deckhand worked my way up to captain including 3 years of assistant engineering in the engine room.
  • Assisted Captain at the helm as well as the engine room.

6. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how first mates use cpr:
  • Obtained Captain's License, Standard First Aid and Adult CPR certification annually
  • Trained to use an AED defibrillator, and conducting CPR.

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7. USCG

Here's how first mates use uscg:
  • Used radio contact with the USCG across the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Alaska to ensure safe traveling and direction.
  • Provided preventative maintenance ensuring vessel's compliance with USCG regulations, inspections, and certificates.

8. Safety Drills

Here's how first mates use safety drills:
  • Supervised a crew of 4-6 members, conducted regular safety drills, and trained in shipboard firefighting and safety protocol.
  • Conduct and supervise routine safety drills on a monthly basis.

9. Emergency Drills

Here's how first mates use emergency drills:
  • Conduct crew training, meetings, and emergency drills.
  • Participated in all vessel and vessel base safetyinspections, safety meetings, emergency drills.

10. Safety Equipment

Here's how first mates use safety equipment:
  • Maintain fishing vessel, safety equipment, rods and reels Supervise clients on fishing requirements
  • Maintain safety equipment Strategic planning of fishing trips Prepare equipment for diving and fishing operations

11. Deck Hand

Here's how first mates use deck hand:
  • Acted as a First Mate, Deck Hand and Maintenance Crew as needed for job.
  • Monitored and supervised deck hands to ensure all safety practices and assigned duties were completed.

12. Coast Guard Regulations

Here's how first mates use coast guard regulations:
  • Clean and maintain all areas of the vessel to meet high nautical and U.S. Coast Guard regulations and standards.
  • Conduct required drills according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

13. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how first mates use gps:
  • Navigate vessel safely and precisely using GPS and Sonar equipment to locate underwater structures.
  • Maintained navigational knowledge of waterways using a compass, GPS, and radar.

14. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how first mates use safety procedures:
  • Maintained dock and safety procedures.
  • Deliver informational and entertaining spiels to Guests on board about safety procedures and park information.

15. Bartending

Here's how first mates use bartending:
  • Performed numerous tasks: painting, bartending, maintenance, ticket sales, and river tours.
  • Provided Interior management, service, table setting, bartending, housekeeping, provisioning.
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List of first mate skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a first mate resume and required skills for a first mate to have include:

  • Vessel Maintenance
  • Cleanliness
  • Passenger Safety
  • Mooring Lines
  • Engine Room
  • CPR
  • USCG
  • Safety Drills
  • Emergency Drills
  • Safety Equipment
  • Deck Hand
  • Coast Guard Regulations
  • GPS
  • Safety Procedures
  • Bartending
  • Routine Maintenance
  • Diesel Engines
  • Electrical Systems
  • Engine Maintenance
  • RAN
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Vessel Operations
  • Caribbean
  • AC
  • Emergency Situations
  • East Coast
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Deck Maintenance
  • Scuba Diving
  • Safety Training
  • Boat Operations
  • Vessel Security
  • Customer Safety
  • Nuclear Power
  • Usvi

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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