How to become a ship's deck crew member

Official title: Ships' deck crews and related workers

Also called: Boatswain, Ferry hand, Sailor, Tug hand

Ship’s deck crews and related workers carry out deck duties on board ships and similar duties on board other water-borne craft.

Main tasks

• Standing look-out watches at sea and when entering or leaving harbour or other narrow waters
• Steering ships according to instructions
• Handling ropes and wires, and operating mooring equipment
• Maintaining and, in some cases, operating ships’ equipment, cargo gear, rigging, lifesaving and firefighting appliances
• Performing deck and hull cleaning, scraping, painting and other maintenance duties as required
• Breaking out, rigging and stowing cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging and running gear

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$20,000 a month
• About 387,500 people in 2025, and about 403,200 projected by 2028. (+4.1%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

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Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a ship's deck crew member?

Usually not. Only 2% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a ship's deck crew member?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026