What Does a Deckhand Do On a Superyacht?
- Authors
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- Name
- Patrick Maflin
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The role of a deckhand is one of the most common starting points for those who wish to enter the yachting industry.
Working as a deckhand offers you the opportunity of gaining essential knowledge, skills and experience while working on a large sea vessel.
Chapters
- What is a Deckhand
- Assist Berthing and Unberthing
- Ensure Safety of Crew and Passengers
- Monitor Sea Depth and Steer Vessel
- Communicate with Port Authorities & Other Vessels
- Operate and Maintain Onboard Equipment
- Assist Captain and Senior Deck Crew
- Tow and Secure Deck Cargo
- Load and Unload Cargo
- Observe Obstacles at Sea
- Perform Night-watch Duties
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Prepare Cabins for Guests
- What Does a Deckhand Do?
- Key Deckhand Requirements
- How to Become a Deckhand
- How Much Do Deckhands Make?
- Conclusion
What is a Deckhand
The deckhand is a junior position on board a sea vessel.
This could be any ship, including recreational, fishing and oil transportation.
The responsibilities of the deckhand will vary from one ship to another but they are always essential to ensure the operation and maintenance of the sea vessel.
A deckhand will be responsible for cleaning and maintenance related tasks, taking care of machines, loading and unloading cargo, and keeping watch, among other things.
Duties can vary from one day to another.
The larger the ship, the more deckhands will be on board as part of the crew.
If the ship is relatively small, then there will be fewer deckhands, resulting in a more diversified range of duties.
What Does a Deckhand Do?
The deckhand will be entrusted with numerous tasks, including:
Assist Berthing and Unberthing
Deckhands will operate mooring equipment in order to secure the vessel during berthing and unberthing.
Deckhands will use ropes or wires in order to maintain the position of the vessel on arrival, and release it upon departure.
This is an important task whenever people, cargo or resources need to be transferred to or from the vessel and in docks.
Ensure Safety of Crew and Passengers
Deckhands will also be responsible to enforce safety protocols in order to maintain the safety and wellbeing of the crew members and any passengers on board.
This includes regular patrols, carrying out inspections of the vessel to check for potential hazards, and adhering to processes which enhance security on board the ship.
Monitor Sea Depth and Steer Vessel
The deckhand will generally attend to water depth monitoring equipment in order to ensure that the ship is sailing through an adequate depth.
This is important to make sure that the ship is navigating on a safe course or if there is the need to steer it.
This is an important role which is generally entrusted to deckhands who are more experienced.
Communicate with Port Authorities & Other Vessels
Over time deckhands will need to become well acquainted with the ship’s licensed VHF radio or satellite equipment to be able to relay messages between the vessel, others nearby and the ports.
Using technological equipment is important for communication purposes, such as to announce the ship’s arrival, communicate trajectories etc.
Operate and Maintain Onboard Equipment
Seafarers use various types of equipment during onboard tasks.
The deckhand will need to learn how to operate and maintain such equipment.
The equipment used will vary depending on the type of sea vessel.
Some are generic to sailing, while others have a more specialised purpose.
Assist Captain and Senior Deck Crew
As previously noted, deckhands are junior members of the crew.
Hence, they will need to assist any senior deck members with various duties.
Sometimes orders may come directly from the captain of the ship.
Tow and Secure Deck Cargo
Deckhands who work on boats and ships that transport cargo will often be required to help to move such items on the ship.
In many cases, heavy equipment will be used to place the cargo where trucks or cranes will be accessing it for offloading.
It is also important for deckhands to take care of securing cargo on the vessel to make sure that it does not move while in motion.
Load and Unload Cargo
Deckhands will often help out during the loading and unloading of cargo to and from the moored ship.
This task will vary depending on the weight of the cargo in question.
If the cargo is lightweight, hand-operated equipment will generally suffice.
But in the case of more demanding and heavy cargo, larger machines will need to be used.
Hence deckhands will need to know how to operate the necessary equipment, as well as have good physical strength.
Observe Obstacles at Sea
Deckhands will often need to keep watch toward the front of the ship to identify any potentially hazardous obstacles.
The course of the ship will need to be adjusted accordingly, to ensure that the ship is on a safe path.
Perform Night-watch Duties
Watch duties will be assigned in shifts during the day and night.
Deckhands often perform night-watch duties.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Deckhands will also help in the maintenance of equipment on board the ship.
They will also take care of the ship’s maintenance, including cleaning both the interior and exterior.
Deckhands will need to wash down surfaces, scrub decks, wax and polish, among other tasks.
Prepare Cabins for Guests
Deckhands may also be required to prepare cabins for guests who will be staying on board.
Making sure that the cabins are clean and well maintained is crucial so that guests are satisfied with their stay on board.
Key Deckhand Requirements
To work as a deckhand you will be expected to have at least a good working knowledge of seafaring skills.
Some knowledge pertaining to navigation, using radio equipment and handling boats is recommended.
Having said that, with it being an entry position there are no specific boating qualifications expected of you.
Many start off working as a deckhand without any prior experience.
However, if you would like to improve your chances of being hired as a deckhand, you could embark on some courses to obtain qualifications and knowledge that will give you an advantage.
What really matters is that you demonstrate you have a good work ethic, are willing to learn and have the right attitude.
Gaining knowledge and experience will come as you go along and by following certain courses.
How to Become a Deckhand
The following are some important steps you should follow in order to become a deckhand and kickstart your maritime career:
Update Your CV
It is very important to have a CV that can demonstrate that you are an ideal candidate for a deckhand position.
You will need to include personal details as well as provide any experience and qualifications which could be relevant for the post.
This includes any activities that are related to boating, water sports, handyman skills, engineering, maintenance work, hospitality and cleaning.
Prep for Interviews
Make sure to be well prepared for interviews.
You need to show your prospective employer that you are the ideal candidate.
So do try to prepare some answers for commonly asked questions.
It is also a good idea to do some research in order to be well informed about the maritime industry and related aspects.
It is important to show that you are a person who is a good team worker, willing to learn, and hardworking.
Do your best to look confident, smart and polite.
Yachting Recruitment Agencies
There are numerous yachting recruitment agencies that you could register with.
You can look them up online and complete the registration forms.
Dockwalking
Dockwalking is probably one of the best ways to improve your chances of finding a job on board a sea vessel.
Even the initiative that you take to go dockwalking demonstrates that you are a person who is eager to find a job and willing to learn and adapt.
It is important to dress in a smart but practical way, and take copies of your CV with you.
Be aware that there are certain times of the day when to go dockwalking and other times which are best avoided.
Never approach a yacht if there are guests on board.
Most yachts will typically be looking for new crew members between February and May so you may wish to go dockwalking during these months.
Find Daywork
Looking for daywork is a great way to improve your chances of getting a job as a deckhand.
Finding daywork has been rendered extremely easy by means of the Dayworker app where you can simply enter your location and availability, and matching opportunities will be provided for you to choose from.
By engaging in several daywork opportunities you will be able to enrich your CV and gain experience too.
Gain Skills and Experience
While working as a deckhand you will be able to gain a lot of working experience as it will essentially be a unique opportunity for on-the-job training for other roles further down the track.
You will be able to gain a good understanding of the working environment, different tasks as well as the responsibilities of other maritime professionals and authority structures on board.
If however you have never worked as a deckhand before, you can focus on gaining experience in certain key transferable skills.
These include water sports experience, tender driving, hospitality or boat building and maintenance experience.
Any activity or role that demonstrates your experience in mechanics, cleaning and water sports is great, as it will improve your chances of being considered as a good candidate for a deckhand position.
Looking up daywork opportunities is a great way to gain more experience too.
Efficient Deckhand Certificate
The Efficient Deckhand Certificate can be achieved after following the Efficient Deckhand course.
To enrol for the course one will need to be at least 17 years of age, hold a valid ENG1 medical certificate and have a minimum of 6 month experience on board sea vessels that are over 15m long.
This short course offers a good overview of shipboard operations, seamanship, safety and cargo work, among others.
During the course participants will learn about the various parts of a sea vessel, important deck equipment, berthing, anchoring, mooring arrangements, pilot ladders, lifeboats, fire extinguishers, sailing knots, bends, hitches, and much more.
It thus comprises both theoretical and practical elements, with the latter being more prevalent.
Participants will be assessed by direct observation during the coursework as well as oral questioning.
The EDH certification will remain valid indefinitely as there is no expiration date.
ENG 1 Medical Certificate
The ENG 1 Medical is a key prerequisite to become a deckhand.
This is basically a medical fitness check which anyone working on board a sea vessel is expected to undergo.
It demonstrates that he or she is sufficiently fit to be working at sea.
STCW Basic Safety Training
The STCW Basic Safety Training course is a must for crew members as it equips them with a good general understanding of key aspects relating to responding to emergency situations at sea.
This course will tackle areas such as fire prevention and fire fighting, first aid, security awareness and personal survival techniques.
The course will typically run for five consecutive days, following which a STCW Certificate is issued.
This will need to be renewed every five years.
How Much Do Deckhands Make?
The starting salary of a junior deckhand is around £1,500 monthly.
For deckhands who have more experience, the monthly salary will typically go up to around £2,000 per month.
The salaries will vary as they depend on the size of sea vessel one is working on.
For instance, if a deckhand works on a charter yacht, they can benefit from tips given by the charter guests, thereby increasing their income.
Tips are generally around 10% of the charter fee.
While talking about how much deckhands make, it is worth pointing out that since one will be living on the sea vessel there is the advantage of saving up on living expenses.
Another point worth mentioning is that UK citizens who work as crew members can benefit from the HMRC’s seafarers earnings deduction scheme.
Upon meeting certain criteria, you may benefit by having your income being 100% free of income tax.
Career progression is very common when one is a deckhand, as there is a very good chance of progressing to a bosun and even to other positions in the future.
Hence, improvement in the salary is very much possible over time.
Conclusion
Working as deckhand can be a rewarding and interesting experience, which could pave the way for more senior roles in the maritime industry.
By following the guidelines discussed in this article you can greatly improve your chances of landing such a job.
Good luck!
Disclaimer: Any advice in this publication is not intended or written by Marine Accounts to be used by a client or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party matters herein.
