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Seafarer Rating (Able Seafarer Deck/Engine)

Logistics

Stand watch to look for obstructions in path of vessel, measure water depth, turn wheel on bridge, or use emergency equipment as directed by captain, mate, or pilot. Break out, rig, overhaul, and store cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear. Perform a variety of maintenance tasks to preserve the painted surface of the ship and to maintain line and ship equipment. Must hold government-issued certification and tankerman certification when working aboard liquid-carrying vessels. Includes able seamen and ordinary seamen.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Logistics & Supply ChainMechanical Engineering

In Malaysia

O*NET's sailors and marine oilers map to Malaysia's deck and engine 'ratings', the crew below officer rank on tankers, container ships and offshore vessels. Malaysian ratings need STCW certificates of proficiency endorsed by the Marine Department (Jabatan Laut), and most train at ALAM, which has shipowners' support for sea placements.

How people get into it here
After SPM/SVM, join ALAM's dual-certificate ratings programme: 12 months at ALAM plus 3 months on board, ending with SKM Level 3 and an Able Seafarer Deck (or Engine) certificate. ALAM's current intake is for men aged 18–25 with good eyesight (no colour blindness) and a Marine Department medical.

Sources:alam.edu.my

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.
  2. 2Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
  3. 3Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
  4. 4Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.
  5. 5Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.
  6. 6Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
  7. 7Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.
  8. 8Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.
  9. 9Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.
  10. 10Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings.
  11. 11Stand by wheels when ships are on automatic pilot, and verify accuracy of courses, using magnetic compasses.
  12. 12Steer ships under the direction of commanders or navigating officers or direct helmsmen to steer, following designated courses.
  13. 13Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
  14. 14Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores.
  15. 15Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
  16. 16Overhaul lifeboats or lifeboat gear and lower or raise lifeboats with winches or falls.
  17. 17Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
  18. 18Stand gangway watches to prevent unauthorized persons from boarding ships while in port.
  19. 19Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels.
  20. 20Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.
  21. 21Record data in ships' logs, such as weather conditions or distances traveled.
  22. 22Provide engineers with assistance in repairing or adjusting machinery.
  23. 23Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
  24. 24Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.
  25. 25Give directions to crew members engaged in cleaning wheelhouses or quarterdecks.
  26. 26Measure depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadlines, and telephone or shout depth information to vessel bridges.
  27. 27Clean and polish wood trim, brass, or other metal parts.
  28. 28Participate in shore patrols.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Bosun
  • Cadet
  • Oiler
  • Wiper
  • Sailor
  • Scaler
  • Seaman
  • Yeoman
  • Boatman
  • Crewman

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. Typical entry

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationHigh school diploma

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Mechanical Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
PhysicsDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Public Safety and Security65%
  • Transportation61%
  • Mechanical60%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Education and Training59%
  • Administration and Management59%

    BusinessEconomics

  • English Language57%

    English

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Indoors, air-conditionedAlmost never
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentEvery day
  • Time spent sittingA little
  • Time spent standingMost of the time

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

0%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Commercial Pilot

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Sailors and Marine Oilers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org