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Seaman skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical seaman skills. We ranked the top skills for seamen based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.8% of seaman resumes contained safety equipment as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a seaman needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 seaman skills for your resume and career

1. Safety Equipment

Here's how seamen use safety equipment:
  • Directed others to wear safety equipment and observe proper safety standards while working on various jobs.
  • Board vessels for inspection of illegal immigrants, drugs, and safety equipment.

3. Coast Guard

A coast guard is a maritime defence organization of a nation. The duties that a coast guard embraces may vary from one nation to the other. They are a strongly armed military establishment with customs and duties. A coast guard's tasks are different from the navy and the transit police. They are generally having the duty to carry search and rescue but without law enforcement authority.

Here's how seamen use coast guard:
  • Coordinated events on base and represented the Coast Guard in over 20 Military Funerals as a member of the honor guard.
  • Qualified Boatswain Mate of the Watch coordinating daily activity on board Coast Guard Cutter to include operating radios and radars.

4. Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is the task of certain members of the community who work together to uphold the law by identifying, preventing, rehabilitating, or prosecuting others who break society's laws and norms. The phrase refers to the police, the judiciary, and the correctional system.

Here's how seamen use law enforcement:
  • Responded to and investigate motor vehicle accidents, response to emergency situations and law enforcement or security related call for service.
  • Exercised team building skills Conducted search and rescue operations Carried out maritime law enforcement Involved in many missions under stressful conditions

5. 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 seamen use cpr:
  • Received training in First Aid, Adult CPR.
  • Certified First Aid and CPR training.

6. Firefighting

Here's how seamen use firefighting:
  • Attended various Military Training exercises such as Firefighting and Small Marksmanship.
  • Organized and presented demonstrations on firefighting and first aid procedures.

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7. 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 seamen use general maintenance:
  • Performed general maintenance, repair sanitation and upkeep of material, equipment and areas in the deck department.
  • General maintenance of vessel, deck machinery, and in charge of mooring operations at forward mooring station.
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8. Preventative Maintenance

Here's how seamen use preventative maintenance:
  • Performed preventative maintenance to computer software and * computer electronics.
  • Performed preventative maintenance on shipboard equipment and lifeboats.

9. Routine Maintenance

Here's how seamen use routine maintenance:
  • Performed Routine maintenance on Shipboard Lifesaving equipment.
  • Completed routine maintenance on equipment, determining appropriate frequency and method.

10. USCG

Here's how seamen use uscg:
  • Represented the USCG and Barque Eagle to thousands of visitors in domestic and foreign ports.
  • Verified the accuracy and pricing of all purchase orders and requests according to USCG guidelines.

11. Sailors

Sailors primarily work at watercrafts such as commercial or private boats, naval, and crew ships.

Here's how seamen use sailors:
  • Served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) as an E-3 seaman supervisor of 5-20 other sailors.
  • Escorted new sailors aboard the USS Harry S. Truman and advised them of their living quarters.

12. Compasses

Here's how seamen use compasses:
  • Used magnetic compasses and other navigational instruments.
  • Stand by wheels when ships are on automatic pilot and verify accuracy of courses, using magnetic compasses.

13. Medical Discharge

Here's how seamen use medical discharge:
  • Administered a medical discharge during basic training.
  • Reason for leaving: Medical discharge for Anemia for iron levels that are now stable once again.

14. Telephone Systems

A telephone system is a technology that enables wired or wireless telecommunication services. It is used for enabling electronic transmission of voice or data between distant parties. Landlines, mobile phones, smartphones, voice calling apps and software, all are examples of modern telephone systems.

Here's how seamen use telephone systems:
  • Operated sound powered telephone systems to communicate effectively with leadership.
  • Operated sound-powered telephone systems while standing security watches in port.

15. Booms

Here's how seamen use booms:
  • Man and operate small boats, booms, cranes and winches.
  • Performed sounding duties, used various winches, rigged and stowed yard and stay boom.
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List of seaman skills to add to your resume

Seaman Skills

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

  • Safety Equipment
  • Navigational Aids
  • Coast Guard
  • Law Enforcement
  • CPR
  • Firefighting
  • General Maintenance
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Routine Maintenance
  • USCG
  • Sailors
  • Compasses
  • Medical Discharge
  • Telephone Systems
  • Booms
  • Core Values
  • Rescue Operations
  • Ribbon
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Leadership
  • PowerPoint
  • Helmsman
  • Physical Fitness
  • Deck Equipment
  • Shipboard Equipment
  • E-3
  • Deck Machinery
  • Fire Hose
  • Mooring Lines
  • Physical Training
  • Training Command
  • Maritime Law
  • Deck Maintenance
  • Fire Security
  • Rescue Missions
  • Dry Chemical
  • Received Training
  • Military Training
  • Lifeboats
  • Ammunition
  • Security Watches

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.

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