How to become a sea traffic controller
Official title: Sea traffic controller
Also called: Sea traffic control officer, Sea traffic coordinator, Sea traffic service operator, Sea traffic control officer, Sea traffic coordinator, Sea traffic service operator
Sea traffic controller commands, navigates and directs ships, using radio and radar. He/she provides information and directions to ensure safe and efficient movement and operation of ships.
Main tasks
- Providing comprehensive information on the movement of ships to on-shore and ships’ personnel
- Commanding and navigating ships
- Directing the movements of ships
- Supervising waterborne transport operations
- Coordinating and monitoring of en-route operations
- Intervening to alert ships at sea traffic separation zone
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Related jobs
- Port master/Dockmaster
- Marine engineering officer
- Port captain
- Ship’s deck navigating officer
- Harbour pilot
- Air traffic controller
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Questions people ask
Will AI change the work of a sea traffic controller?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- 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