Will AI replace Sailors and Marine Oilers?

AI can do 1% of the work Sailors and Marine Oilers do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 1 of them. Robots can technically handle 16 physical tasks. 11 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next1 · 1% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Record data in ships' logs, such as weather conditions or distances traveled.1% of time

Robots can technically do this16 · 64% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Steer ships under the direction of commanders or navigating officers or direct helmsmen to steer, following designated courses.Robots: almost anywhere7% of time
  • Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.Robots: purpose built settings6% of time
  • Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Stand by wheels when ships are on automatic pilot, and verify accuracy of courses, using magnetic compasses.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Stand gangway watches to prevent unauthorized persons from boarding ships while in port.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Clean and polish wood trim, brass, or other metal parts.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Measure depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadlines, and telephone or shout depth information to vessel bridges.Robots: almost anywhereunder 1% of time
  • Participate in shore patrols.Robots: structured workplacesunder 1% of time

Still needs a person11 · 35% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.10% of time
  • Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.7% of time
  • Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.4% of time
  • Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.4% of time
  • Provide engineers with assistance in repairing or adjusting machinery.4% of time
  • Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.3% of time
  • Overhaul lifeboats or lifeboat gear and lower or raise lifeboats with winches or falls.2% of time
  • Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.1% of time
  • Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.1% of time
  • Give directions to crew members engaged in cleaning wheelhouses or quarterdecks.1% of time
  • Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores.under 1% of time

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 64% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 1 task AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 16 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 11 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Motorboat Operators19%Ship Engineers34%Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels36%Crane and Tower Operators1%Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors0%Dredge Operators0%

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