Ship Captain Resume Template
A finished one-page ship captain resume with the duties, tools and credentials employers look for. Download it as Word or PDF, print it, or change every line in the builder.
Erica Garrett
Ship Captain · 1,600-Ton Master, Coastal Routes
Miami, FL · (305) 555-1654
erica.garrett@email.com · linkedin.com/in/ericagarrett
Master, Near Coastal, up to 1,600 GRT
U.S. Coast Guard
Profile
USCG-licensed Master with 7 years commanding coastal cargo vessels between Florida and the Caribbean. Docked or piloted over 900 port calls with no groundings or cargo damage claims.
Command Experience
Ship Captain
2019 – Present
Biscayne Coastal Shipping, Miami, FL
- Command a 190-foot coastal freighter carrying containerized cargo between Florida and the Bahamas.
- Plot courses using ECDIS and radar, adjusting for tides, currents and tropical weather systems.
- Docked or undocked the vessel at 14 different ports with no groundings or allisions.
- Supervise a crew of 9, assigning watches and overseeing safety and firefighting drills.
- Reduced port turnaround time by 20% by resequencing cargo operations with terminal staff.
Mate / Deck Officer
2015 – 2019
Biscayne Coastal Shipping, Miami, FL
- Stood navigation watches and directed helmsmen on courses across open and coastal waters.
- Inspected cargo lashing and vessel systems before departure to confirm regulatory compliance.
- Operated ship-to-shore radios to coordinate arrivals, berthing and cargo handling.
- Assisted in maritime rescue operations and led monthly abandon-ship drills for the crew.
Third Mate
2012 – 2015
Southern Cross Marine, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Kept navigation logs and read gauges for hydraulic fluid, air pressure and fuel levels.
- Stood watches under the master's direction on cargo runs through the Florida Straits.
Licensure
Merchant Mariner Credential
U.S. Coast Guard
STCW Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch
U.S. Coast Guard
Navigation Skills
Vessel navigation
ECDIS chart plotting
Radar & AIS operation
Crew supervision
Cargo safety management
Regulatory compliance
Emergency procedures
Systems
ECDIS navigation softwareLog book softwareMicrosoft OfficeComputerized maintenance CMMS
Education
B.S. in Marine Transportation
2011
State University of New York Maritime College
Names, employers and dates on the sample are invented. Duties and software come from O*NET 31.0; credentials were checked against the sources listed below.
Licenses and certifications
- Master License (by tonnage and route) U.S. Coast Guard Required in most states
- Merchant Mariner Credential U.S. Coast Guard Required in most states
Sources: www.bls.gov, www.ecfr.gov
Licensing rules differ by state; check with your state board before you apply.
Skills to list
- Vessel Navigation
- Chart Plotting/ECDIS
- Radar and AIS Operation
- Cargo/Passenger Safety Management
- Maritime Regulations Compliance
- Crew Supervision
- Emergency and Rescue Procedures
- Radio Communication (VHF)
Software and tools
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- KNMI TurboWin
- Log book software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Apple macOS
- ECDIS navigation software
Duties to describe on a ship captain resume
- Directed courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevented ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Served as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Consulted maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steered and operated vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Operated ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
Titles along the way
- Mate/Deck Officer
- Ship Captain
- Harbor Pilot
Your salary range
Pick where you work and how long you have done it. The range comes from the published wage percentiles for this job.
Experience
The survey has no complete figures for that job — pick the closest title from the list.
Name this figure
When they ask “What are your salary expectations?”
An estimate from survey percentiles, not an offer. Employer, industry, shift and credentials move pay within and beyond this range. Full wage page for this job →