Marine Transport Masters, Officers and Technicians

Marine transport masters, officers and technicians not elsewhere classified operate and maintain ships and vessels in Australian and international waters. They perform navigation, vessel command, cargo handling supervision, and marine engineering duties across commercial shipping, offshore operations, and specialist maritime services. This role encompasses positions that do not fit standard captain, deck officer, or engineer classifications but require equivalent maritime qualifications and regulatory compliance.

Navigate vessels using electronic charts, GPS systems, and radar in compliance with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) standards and International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Conduct bridge resource management and maintain deck logs documenting vessel position, weather conditions, and operational events. Supervise cargo loading, stowage, and securing operations in accordance with International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and International Safety Management (ISM) Code requirements. Perform maintenance on hull structures, deck equipment, rigging, and winches using mechanical and hand tools. Operate and monitor marine engine systems, propulsion equipment, and auxiliary machinery for compliance with AMSA marine orders and Class Society rules. Conduct planned maintenance activities on vessel systems and record findings in vessel log books and planned maintenance systems (PMS). Undertake watchkeeping duties including collision avoidance, course monitoring, and communication using VHF radio and maritime safety systems. Inspect cargo holds and tanks prior to loading and discharge to ensure condition meets contract specifications and safety requirements.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll spend months at sea away from family, working 12-hour shifts in confined spaces with the same crew. The qualifications take years to obtain and are expensive. Pay varies wildly depending on vessel type and company: some roles pay well, others are modest. Automation is shrinking deck crew numbers on modern ships.

Positions exist with shipping lines, offshore oil and gas operators, and port authorities. Remote work is not available.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2312, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Dispatch Documentationcore
• Freight Coordinationcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Act reliably
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Conflict Resolution
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Digital Literacy
• Electronic Document Management
• Multitasking
• Negotiation

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026