# Motorboat Operators

> Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.

- **SOC code:** 53-5022.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-5022-00
- **Also known as:** Boat Operator, Launch Operator, River Pilot, Water Taxi Business Operator, Crew Boat Operator, Harbor Pilot, Launchman, Motorboat Operator
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
- Direct safety operations in emergency situations.
- Secure boats to docks with mooring lines, and cast off lines to enable departure.
- Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids.
- Organize and direct the activities of crew members.
- Follow safety procedures to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels.
- Maintain equipment such as range markers, fire extinguishers, boat fenders, lines, pumps, and fittings.
- Report any observed navigational hazards to authorities.
- Oversee operation of vessels used for carrying passengers, motor vehicles, or goods across rivers, harbors, lakes, and coastal waters.
- Service motors by performing tasks such as changing oil and lubricating parts.
- Arrange repairs, fuel, and supplies for vessels.
- Issue directions for loading, unloading, and seating in boats.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Customer and Personal Service _(knowledge)_
- English Language _(knowledge)_
- Control Precision _(ability)_
- Education and Training _(knowledge)_
- Operation and Control _(transferable_skill)_
- Spatial Orientation _(ability)_
- Public Safety and Security _(knowledge)_
- Transportation _(knowledge)_
- Operations Monitoring _(transferable_skill)_
- Far Vision _(ability)_
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Perceptual Speed _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Equipment Maintenance _(Specialized Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Depth Perception _(Common Skill)_
- Speech Recognition _(Specialized Skill)_
- Finger Dexterity _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Visualization _(Specialized Skill)_
- Time Management _(Common Skill)_
- Social Perceptiveness _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Autopilot software
- Cartography software
- Echo sounder software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Radar software
- Roam Devices Roam Marine Monitor Hub
- SEA.AI Offshore ONE
- Web browser software

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 5th percentile (Low) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 22nd percentile (Low) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 3rd percentile (Low) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 1st percentile (Low) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 53rd percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 1.4% growth (About average); 0.3k annual openings; 2.7k → 2.8k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $51,880; 2,380 employed.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-5022-00_