What does an Ordinary Seaman do?
An Ordinary Seaman is an entry-level role in the deck department of a ship. They assist in the maintenance, movement, and operation of the vessel, including performing general duties such as loading and unloading cargo, cleaning and painting the ship, and handling lines during docking and undocking. They also stand lookout watch, maintaining a vigilant watch for other vessels, potential dangers, and changes in weather conditions. Ordinary Seamen are expected to develop a range of skills and knowledge, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and familiarity with navigation and safety procedures, in order to progress towards more senior positions onboard a ship.
Our Ordinary Seaman job description includes the Ordinary Seaman responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.
Ordinary Seaman Example
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If you need an example job description for an Ordinary Seaman download the one below, alternatively we have many other Transportation and Logistics job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.
What does an Ordinary Seaman do?
An Ordinary Seaman is a junior position in the deck department of a ship. The role involves a variety of tasks, including the maintenance of the decks, rigging, mooring lines, anchors, cargo and navigation equipment. The job also involves carrying out a variety of cleaning and painting duties, as well as helping to manoeuvre the vessel away from the dock. The Ordinary Seaman is expected to have a basic knowledge of navigation and safety, as well as an understanding of the International Maritime Organisation's regulations.
Ordinary Seaman Role Purpose
The purpose of an ordinary seaman's job role is to provide assistance to the ship's officers and crew. This includes tasks such as general maintenance, cleaning, and other manual labour. They will also help with navigation, ship repairs, and other duties as necessary. Ordinary seamen also need to be aware of safety procedures and take care to follow them at all times.
Ordinary Seaman Role
An Ordinary Seaman is an entry-level rating in the deck department of a merchant ship. Their duties include maintenance of the ship, lookout duties, working aloft, and helping the bosun with any jobs that may be required.
Ordinary Seaman Duties
- Assist in the operation of the ship's deck department
- Perform maintenance on deck equipment
- Assist in handling sails and mooring lines
- Perform lookout duties
- Help to maintain the ship's hull, superstructure and decks
- Perform other duties as assigned by the deck officers
Ordinary Seaman Requirements
- Ability to understand and follow instructions
- Ability to take initiative and work with minimum supervision
- Good physical fitness
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work in a team
Ordinary Seaman Skills
- Ability to understand and carry out instructions
- Knowledge of basic ship operations
- Ability to identify and report any potential safety hazards
- Knowledge of the correct use of life-saving appliances
- Ability to perform routine maintenance and cleaning tasks
- Ability to work as part of a team
Ordinary Seaman Personal Traits
- Team-oriented
- Strong work ethic
- Ability to follow instructions
How to write an Ordinary Seaman Job Advert
Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.
A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.
Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.
How to write an Ordinary Seaman Job Description
To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.
Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise an Ordinary Seaman Job Specification
The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.
Job Description Tips - Help on formatting an Ordinary Seaman Job Specification
When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:
Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.
Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.
Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.
The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.
Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth.
Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources.
Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.
Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.
Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.
How to Hire an Ordinary Seaman
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