Job Description:

• 1) Performs any combination of following duties aboard watercraft, such as dredges, ferryboats, scows, and river boats: Handles lines to moor vessel to wharves, tie up vessel to another vessel, or rig towing lines.

• 2) Sweeps and washes decks, using broom, brushes, mops, and firehose.

• 3) Lowers and mans lifeboat in case of emergencies.

• 4) Stands steering watches or lookout watches while underway.

• 5) Moves controls or turns handwheels to raise or lower passenger or vehicle landing ramps or kelp-cutter mechanism.

• 6) Inserts blocks under wheels of vehicles to prevent them from moving on ferryboats.

• 7) Loads or unloads material from barges, scows, and dredges.

• 8) Paints lifeboats, decks, and superstructure of vessel, using brush.

• 9) Lubricates machinery and equipment.

• 10) Splices and repairs cables and ropes, using handtools.

• 11) Examines cables that holds vessels in tow and tightens cables to ensure vessels are snug.

• 12) May tour decks during watch to caution passengers engaged in unsafe practices, and ensures departure of passengers at end of voyage.

• 13) Deckhands are designated according to type of craft as Barge Hand; Dredge Deckhand; Ferryboat Deckhand; Pilot-Boat Deckhand; Scow Deckhand; Tugboat Deckhand.