Deckhand Job Descriptions

Create your own Deckhand job description, or find job description examples you can re-use to hire faster.

Deckhand Job Description

Deckhands are service workers who work in the maritime industry. They perform a variety of tasks that help ships, ferries, and boats run optimally. For example, a deckhand may be asked to prepare cabins for patrons, clean and maintain machinery, repair various parts of the shift, and keep watch during parts of the night. Deckhands need to be flexible and capable of carrying out a variety of cleaning and maintenance-related tasks. Their most common responsibility is to help keep the ship clean and capable of navigating the seas or lakes that it operates on.

No advanced education is needed in order to become a deckhand. But a certain level of physical fitness and stamina is required, as someone who is hired for this role needs to be able to spend the majority of the day on their feet.

Deckhand Job Description Template

We’re searching for a skilled and hard-working deckhand to join our expanding team. In this role, it will be your responsibility to perform a variety of tasks that help our ship function. For example, your duties will include cleaning machinery, preparing cabins for patrons, performing maintenance tasks, and keeping watch during the night. You’ll also help the ship prepare to depart. Your duties in this area will involve the loading and unloading of cargo, among other tasks.

To do well in this position, you will need to have some familiarity with the maritime industry and what it takes to run a ship. You should be good at working with your hands and capable of performing a variety of ship maintenance and cleaning tasks with minimal supervision. If you believe that you would do well as a deckhand on our team, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a resume to begin the application process.

Deckhand Responsibilities:

  • Grease and clean machinery
  • Perform simple maintenance tasks
  • Load and unload cargo while in port
  • Prepare cabins for patrons
  • Keep watch during some nights
  • Perform other tasks as instructed by the captain

Deckhand Requirements:

  • Fitness levels sufficient to remain standing for most of your shift
  • Existing knowledge of the maritime industry
  • Ability to perform a variety of maintenance tasks
  • Willingness to work in tough climates
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to work well as a part of a team

Deckhand FAQ

What tasks does a deckhand complete?

Deckhands perform a variety of tasks related to the sailing of ships, boats, and ferries. Their jobs include preparing the ship for patrons, doing simple maintenance jobs, and cleaning the ship. Deckhands also spend some of their unloading and loading cargo when the ship reaches its port.

What should I include in my deckhand help-wanted ads?

As you design your deckhand help-wanted ads, we recommend that you start with the format that we’ve shown above. You’ll want to begin with a few paragraphs that highlight the parts of the job that you believe your candidates will care the most about. After that, you can get more specific. Follow the paragraphs up with two bulleted lists, which provide applicants with a closer look at the detailed responsibilities and requirements of your deckhand position.


Can I use your deckhand job description template?

Absolutely! You should feel free to use all of our job description templates in whatever way you think is best for your company. However, it’s not a good idea to copy what we’ve written word-for-word. Doing so will rob you of the chance to make your position stand out from the others that your applicants may also be considering. That’s why we recommend you supplement what’s written here with some of the information that makes your job unique.

Frequently Asked Questions about hiring a Deckhand

What is the best way to find and hire a Deckhand near me?
Online job boards are the best place to find qualified Deckhand applicants. Employers posting their Deckhand job on Indeed get about 19 applications from that board on average.
Which job boards should I post on to find Deckhand applicants?
You should post to multiple job boards at once. The most successful job postings for a Deckhand are on Indeed – but on average, employers post to 13 boards at the same time, using tools like Workstream. Publishing to multiple job boards at once helps you get your first applicant in 8 hours on average, which is shorter than the national average for Deckhand positions.
What's the best way to communicate with applicants looking for a Deckhand role?
SMS has 88% open rates which is higher than phone call or Email. Text to hire today!
Is it OK to text Deckhand job applicants?
Hourly paid workers, such as Deckhands are actually more engaged when texting about jobs. We have found that text messages are 116% better than email at getting an applicant's response. Have a look at Workstream, which automates the process of texting and uses a phone number specifically assigned to your job post so you don’t have to use your personal phone.
Can I use a different phone number to engage Deckhand applicants via text message?
Yes, tools such as Workstream provide custom phone numbers that allow employers to engage with applicants through their tool without having to use a personal or business cell phone.

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