Mate Jobs in the U.S. Maritime Industry
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About Mate Jobs
Mate covers a wide range of boats and a narrow job description: you are the licensed officer standing the other watch. On a towboat that means six on and six off in the wheelhouse opposite the captain, handling the tow through bridges and locks, working fleets, and running the deck crew during your watch. On an OSV it means cargo and DP operations alongside a rig, crane work and mooring. On a passenger vessel it means loading, safety briefings, drills and navigation in heavy traffic.
The credential depends on the sector. Towing requires Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels with a signed-off TOAR. Offshore and limited-tonnage work runs on Mate endorsements keyed to tonnage and route, with OSV-specific variants. STCW applies on international and near coastal routes.
This is the grade where hawsepipe mariners are most visible. A deckhand who sails as a Steersman and finishes the TOAR becomes a mate without ever setting foot in an academy.
Volume is highest in Gulf Coast towing and offshore, the Western Rivers, and harbor and ferry operations on both coasts. The next step is Master, and most companies expect you to be working toward it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between Mate and Chief Mate?
- Mate is a general title for a licensed deck officer below the Master. On ships the deck officers are ranked chief, second and third mate. On towing and smaller vessels there is often just a Master and a Mate.
- What license does a Mate of Towing Vessels need?
- A Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsement for the route, with a completed Towing Officer Assessment Record. Apprentice Mate (Steersman) is the grade below it.
- Can I get a Mate job without an academy degree?
- Yes. Towing, offshore and limited-tonnage sectors are full of mates who came up through deck work and built sea time toward a license. The hawsepipe is alive and well below unlimited tonnage.
- What rotation do Mates work?
- Towing and offshore vessels commonly run even time or 28/14 with a six on, six off watch. Passenger and harbor operations more often run shifts with time at home.