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Merchant marine skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical merchant marine skills. We ranked the top skills for merchant marines based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 29.0% of merchant marine resumes contained safety procedures as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a merchant marine needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 merchant marine skills for your resume and career

1. 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 merchant marines use safety procedures:

Supervised crew members and trained them in safety procedures.
Tug boat fueling operations and safety procedures.

2. Vessel Security

Here's how merchant marines use vessel security:

Carry out duties assigned under the Vessel Security Plan as the Vessel Security Officer.
Provided safe and secure interior and exterior vessel security.

3. Diesel Engines

Diesel engines use an internal combustion technique that burns diesel oil in hot compressed air to propel a machine.

Here's how merchant marines use diesel engines:

Sailed in the united states merchant marine industry as a licensed USCG engineer unlimited horsepower steam or diesel engines
Conducted preventive and corrective maintenance on all electrical equipment and diesel engines.

4. Cargo Operations

Here's how merchant marines use cargo operations:

Coordinated vessel and terminal cargo operations.
Manage Bridge, Navigation, and Cargo Operations on a variety of domestic oil tank vessels.

5. Deck Hand

Here's how merchant marines use deck hand:

Deck hand on vessels supplying oil rigs and the moving of oil rigs in the gulf of Mexico.
Trained deck hands and new Tankerman according to their job descriptions.

6. USCG

Here's how merchant marines use uscg:

Designed and implemented counter-terrorist procedures specific to company and USCG regulations.
Assumed several independent general maintenance projects completed for USCG and General Motors inspections of the vessel.

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7. TWIC

Here's how merchant marines use twic:

Obtained a Transportation Workers' Identification Credentials(TWIC) card prior to being hired on for Kirby Inland Marine.
Issue has been addressed and my TWIC card is currently in hand.

8. Routine Maintenance

Here's how merchant marines use routine maintenance:

Performed routine maintenance of tug and barge to include painting, grinding, and greasing equipment.
Operate and perform routine maintenance on vessel equipment.

9. General Maintenance

General maintenance is the regular check-up and repairs of machinery, buildings, and other mechanical equipment. General maintenance is performed by repair workers who are skilled to handle the day-to-day defects produced in the machinery. General maintenance aims to make sure the items remain in the best operational conditions. Usually, a set of planned activities are performed regularly by an expert to monitor the maintenance.

Here's how merchant marines use general maintenance:

Engaged in paint chipping as part of general maintenance tasks.
Worked on general maintenance of the towboat.

10. Firefighting

Here's how merchant marines use firefighting:

Captain , AB Limited , Unlimited Radar, Basic and Advance Firefighting , Bridge Management , Lifeboatman Unlimited .
Performed emergency marine salvage response and shipboard firefighting.

11. Engine Room Equipment

Here's how merchant marines use engine room equipment:

Maintained all engine room equipment, scheduling/performing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting.

12. HVAC

Here's how merchant marines use hvac:

Assisted Captain and supervisory personnel in maintain vessel equipment and systems such as HVAC, engine, and technical equipment.
Operate and maintain ship equipment such as engines and generators, winches, and HVAC systems.

13. Emergency Situations

Here's how merchant marines use emergency situations:

Obtained certification as Lifeboat man to be able to assist in emergency situations aboard ship and sea operations.
Perform engine room maintenance of vessel for daily performance and in emergency situations.

14. Emergency Drills

Here's how merchant marines use emergency drills:

Conducted/assisted with safety & emergency drills.
Attended weekly emergency drills and training.

15. Near Coastal

Here's how merchant marines use near coastal:

Master of steam or motor vessels up to 100 gross tons upon near coastal waters, for domestic voyages.
Master 50 GT, Near Coastal

5 Merchant Marine resume examples

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What skills help Merchant Marines find jobs?

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List of merchant marine skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a merchant marine resume and required skills for a merchant marine to have include:

Safety Procedures
Vessel Security
Diesel Engines
Cargo Operations
Deck Hand
USCG

TWIC
Routine Maintenance
General Maintenance
Firefighting
Engine Room Equipment
HVAC

Emergency Situations
Emergency Drills
Near Coastal
Management System

Updated January 8, 2025

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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