Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels score 26 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #571 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 30 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 6 on its own and 4 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

26/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #571of 923 jobs
US workers: 36,850BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $92,460a year
In real AI use: 0 of 30tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 6 (20%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 4 (13%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 20 (67%)

Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Purchase supplies or equipment.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Interview and hire crew members.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.Little or no AI speed-up

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Questions about captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels and AI

Will AI replace captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels score 26 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #571 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 10 of the job's 30 tasks, 6 of them on its own, while 20 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations"; "Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws"; "Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status".

Which captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards"; "Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations"; "Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels, and what do they earn?

About 36,850 people in the US, with median pay of $92,460 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.