Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Lookout: Maintaining a proper lookout by sight and hearing for other vessels, hazards, and navigational aids
• Helmsman: Steering the vessel according to orders from the watch officer
• Rounds: Conducting hourly safety and security rounds throughout the vessel
• Log Keeping: Assisting with maintaining the deck log and other records
• Communications: Relaying information between the bridge and other parts of the ship

ABs typically stand 4-8 hour watches, often on a rotating schedule (e.g., 4 hours on, 8 hours off). Watch duties are critical for safe navigation and are regulated by international standards.

• Chipping: Removing rust and old paint from metal surfaces
• Painting: Applying primer and paint to maintain vessel surfaces
• Cleaning: Keeping decks, passageways, and work areas clean
• Line Handling: Maintaining and repairing mooring lines and wires
• Equipment Maintenance: Lubricating winches, davits, and other deck machinery
• Safety Equipment: Inspecting and maintaining lifeboats, life rafts, and firefighting equipment

Maintenance work is typically performed during day work hours (outside of watch duties) and is essential for preventing corrosion and ensuring the vessel's longevity and safe operation.

• Line Handling: Handling mooring lines during docking and undocking
• Heaving Lines: Throwing heaving lines to shore personnel
• Operating Winches: Using mooring winches to tension lines
• Securing Vessel: Properly securing the vessel to the dock
• Gangway Watch: Monitoring the gangway and controlling access to the vessel while in port

Mooring operations are considered one of the most dangerous aspects of an AB's job, requiring careful attention to safety procedures and awareness of potential hazards like snap-back zones.

• Cargo Monitoring: Assisting with monitoring cargo loading and discharge
• Lashing/Unlashing: Securing or releasing cargo with lashing gear
• Tank Cleaning: On tankers, assisting with cleaning cargo tanks
• Hatch Operations: Opening, closing, and securing cargo hatches
• Equipment Operation: Operating cargo handling equipment like forklifts or cranes (if qualified)

Cargo duties vary significantly by vessel type. On container ships, ABs may assist with lashing, while on tankers, they may be involved in connecting cargo hoses and monitoring transfers.

• Firefighting: Responding to fires as part of the vessel's fire team
• Lifeboat Operations: Launching and operating lifeboats and life rafts
• Man Overboard: Participating in man overboard recovery operations
• Damage Control: Assisting with emergency repairs and damage control
• Medical Response: Providing basic first aid and assisting with medical emergencies
• Security Response: Responding to security threats and breaches

ABs are assigned specific roles in the vessel's emergency response plan and participate in regular drills to maintain readiness for various emergency scenarios.

A typical day for an AB might look like this:

• 0800: Morning meeting/muster
• 0820-1000: Maintenance work
• 1000-1030: Coffee break
• 1030-1200: Continue maintenance work
• 1200-1300: Lunch break
• 1300-1500: Maintenance work
• 1500-1530: Break
• 1530-1700: Maintenance work
• 1700-1800: Dinner break
• 1800-2000: Additional work (often optional overtime)
• Watch duties: 4-hour shifts (e.g., 0000-0400, 0400-0800, 1200-1600, 1600-2000, 2000-0000)

This schedule varies by vessel type and company policies. ABs typically work every day while on board, with no weekends or holidays off, but earn premium pay for weekend and holiday work.