Share and intensity of work current AI systems can materially affect.
SOC 53-5011
Sailors and Marine Oilers AI displacement risk
Sailors and marine oilers stand watch, handle mooring lines, maintain machinery, and keep engineering logs aboard commercial vessels. Autonomous vessel trials make headlines, but international crewing rules, port operations, and the physical reality of lines, barges, and machinery keep deck crews aboard.
Likely potential for exposed tasks to move to software after workflow integration.
Regulation is the near-term anchor: SOLAS and flag-state rules mandate crew levels, and ports require hands for docking, cargo hose handling, and watch-standing. Unmanned vessels target short, simple routes first — a small fraction of tonnage.
Distribution
Where Sailors and Marine Oilers sits across 620 tracked roles
Displacement pressure 18 — higher than 20% of the 620 occupations tracked on displacement.ai.
Score version
This page uses Seed model v0.4 (seed-v0.4-2026-05), last reviewed 2026-08-15. Directional occupation-level planning model using hand-reviewed public research, task exposure estimates, wage context, and transition-pathway assumptions.
24 O*NET task statements matched to SOC 53-5011. The displayed task profile combines these official task statements with the current public score model.
Median wage context: $51,520 (May 2025, US national). The latest BLS row matched SOC 53-5011.
Scores are planning signals, not forecasts. Local hiring demand, employer-specific workflows, licensing, and credentials must be validated before making career decisions.
2030 economic stress test
How Anthropic's scenarios classify Sailors and Marine Oilers
SOC 53-5011 places this role in the paper's all-other occupation group. These group-level outcomes do not change the 18/100 role score and are not an occupation forecast.
+1.1% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +1.6% GDP and 3.9% unemployment.
+5.9% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +8.3% GDP and 4.6% unemployment.
+33.6% group wage
Employment rises and unemployment falls for the all-other group, but the paper does not publish a separate group rate.
Economy-wide: +32.4% GDP and 11.9% unemployment.
Compare the assumptions and limitations across all three scenarios. Source: The Anthropic Institute Working Paper No. 2026-02.
Official task evidence
O*NET task matches for Sailors and Marine Oilers
The current evidence import matched 24 task statements from Task Statements 31.0 (August 2026). These rows are used as a grounding layer for judging which parts of the occupation are repeatable, language-heavy, analytical, social, physical, or compliance-sensitive.
Dataset31.0 (August 2026)
Matched tasks24
SOC53-5011
- Core task / ID 14457
Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
- Core task / ID 14461
Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
- Core task / ID 14462
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.
- Core task / ID 14469
Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
- Core task / ID 14465
Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
- Core task / ID 14472
Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
Source: O*NET Resource Center, Task Statements. Raw import target: data/raw/onet/task-statements-31-0.txt.
Task profile
Where AI changes the work
Handle lines to moor vessels and rig towing
Exposure 16, automation 6%, augmentation 30%.
O*NET evidence: Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig t... (ID 14461)
Stand watch to look for obstructions
Exposure 26, automation 12%, augmentation 40%.
O*NET evidence: Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or... (ID 14462)
Read gauges and record data in engineering logs
Exposure 44, automation 24%, augmentation 50%.
O*NET evidence: Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs. (ID 14475)
Attach hoses and operate pumps for cargo transfer
Exposure 20, automation 8%, augmentation 38%.
O*NET evidence: Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks. (ID 14479)
TaskExposureAutomationAugmentation
Handle lines to moor vessels and rig towing166%30%
Stand watch to look for obstructions2612%40%
Read gauges and record data in engineering logs4424%50%
Attach hoses and operate pumps for cargo transfer208%38%
Transition pathways
Adjacent moves that preserve existing skills
credentialed transition
LowAble Seaman
Training horizon: 6-12 months. Skill overlap 64. Wage preservation signal 116.
- Accumulate sea time
- Earn AB endorsement
- Add tankerman credentials
role redesign
LowMarine Terminal Operator
Training horizon: 3-6 months. Skill overlap 58. Wage preservation signal 112.
- Move to shore-side cargo ops
- Master transfer systems
- Run terminal equipment
Comparison guides
Compare the next move before you commit
6-12 months
Sailors and Marine Oilers to Able Seaman
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Sailors and Marine Oilers into Able Seaman.
3-6 months
Sailors and Marine Oilers to Marine Terminal Operator
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Sailors and Marine Oilers into Marine Terminal Operator.
What the AI risk score means for Sailors and Marine Oilers
The displacement pressure score for Sailors and Marine Oilers is 18. That score blends task exposure, automation pressure, augmentation potential, wage vulnerability, transition feasibility, and source confidence. It is designed to help workers and workforce teams decide where to act first, not to claim a specific date when a job will disappear.
For this role, the clearest risk pattern is visible at the task level. Read gauges and record data in engineering logs carries 24% automation pressure, while Read gauges and record data in engineering logs carries 50% augmentation potential. That means the best response is usually a targeted redesign of work: move away from repeatable production tasks and toward judgment, exception handling, coordination, stakeholder context, and accountable use of AI tools.
Labor-market context and wage risk
Median wage: $51,520 (May 2025, US national). Employment context: Deck-crew role under SOLAS crewing rules. Typical education: Merchant Mariner Credential required.
Wage vulnerability is 36, while transition feasibility is 60. A high wage-vulnerability score means workers should pay close attention to salary preservation before making a move. A high transition-feasibility score means there are adjacent paths that can reuse existing skills without requiring a complete career reset.
- Low displacement pressure
- Crewing rules mandate hands aboard
- Autonomy targets short routes first
Upskilling priorities
Skills that make this role more resilient
The safest upskilling plan starts with skills already close to the work. For Sailors and Marine Oilers, the strongest near-term skill priorities are listed below. These are useful whether the goal is to stay in the role, move to a redesigned version of the role, or transition into an adjacent occupation.
Mooring operations
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Watch safety procedures
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Cargo handling
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Marine safety compliance
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
90-day transition plan
The most practical next step is not to wait for a layoff or a full role redesign. Use the next 90 days to create evidence that you can operate in a safer, more AI-augmented version of the work.
- In the first 30 days, document the repetitive tasks in your current work and identify where AI can reduce drafting, lookup, classification, or reporting time.
- By 60 days, complete one small project connected to Able Seaman, such as accumulate sea time.
- By 90 days, compare internal openings and external postings for Able Seaman or Marine Terminal Operator and update your resume around measurable workflow outcomes.
FAQ
Questions about AI and Sailors and Marine Oilers
Will AI replace Sailors and Marine Oilers?
Sailors and marine oilers stand watch, handle mooring lines, maintain machinery, and keep engineering logs aboard commercial vessels. Autonomous vessel trials make headlines, but international crewing rules, port operations, and the physical reality of lines, barges, and machinery keep deck crews aboard. The better planning signal is not full replacement, but which tasks become automated, which tasks become AI-assisted, and which responsibilities still need human judgment.
Which parts of Sailors and Marine Oilers work are most exposed to AI?
Read gauges and record data in engineering logs and Stand watch to look for obstructions show the strongest automation pressure in this model. Read gauges and record data in engineering logs and Stand watch to look for obstructions are better treated as AI-augmented work.
What should Sailors and Marine Oilers learn next?
Start with Mooring operations, Watch safety procedures, Cargo handling. The most practical adjacent paths in this model are Able Seaman and Marine Terminal Operator.
How should this score be used?
Use it as a planning signal, not a prediction. Confirm local hiring demand, wages, licensing, credentials, and employer adoption before making a career move.
Sources
Evidence trail
OECD / 11 July 2023OECD Employment Outlook 2023: Artificial Intelligence and the Labour MarketO*NET Resource Center / Database 31.0 (August 2026)Occupation, Task, Skill, and Work-Activity DataUS Bureau of Labor Statistics / May 2025 estimates (released 15 May 2026)Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics