Stand deck department watches and perform a variety of tasks to preserve the painted surface of the ship and to maintain lines and ship equipment, such as running and cargo-handling gear. May oil and grease moving parts of engines and auxiliary equipment. Must hold government-issued certification. Must hold certification when working aboard liquid-carrying vessels.

Cleans and polishes wood trim, brass, and other metal parts. Chips and cleans rust spots on deck, superstructure, and sides of ship, using wire brush and hand or air chipping machine. Paints or varnishes decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ship. Lubricates machinery, equipment, and engine parts, such as gears, shafts, and bearings. Sweeps and washes deck, using broom, mops, brushes, and hose. Splices and repairs cables and ropes, using marlinespike, wirecutters, twine, and hand tools. Handles lines to moor vessel to wharf, tie up vessel to another vessel, or rig towing lines. Stands watch from bow of ship or wing of bridge to look for obstructions in path of ship. Examines machinery for specified pressure and flow of lubricants. Loads or unloads materials from vessel. Reads pressure and temperature gauges or displays, and records data in engineering log. Lowers and mans lifeboat in case of emergency. Assists engineer in overhauling and adjusting machinery. Records data in ship's log such as weather conditions and distance traveled. Turns wheel while observing compass to maintain ship on course.

Transportation -- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. Mechanical -- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Equipment Maintenance -- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. Repairing -- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools. Operation and Control -- Controlling operations of equipment or systems. Equipment Selection -- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job. Operation Monitoring -- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. Judgment and Decision Making -- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Troubleshooting -- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. Monitoring -- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Far Vision -- The ability to see details at a distance. Manual Dexterity -- The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Spatial Orientation -- The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you. Trunk Strength -- The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing. Glare Sensitivity -- The ability to see objects in the presence of glare or bright lighting. Near Vision -- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Extent Flexibility -- The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs. Dynamic Strength -- The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue. Static Strength -- The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects. Wrist-Finger Speed -- The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Handling and Moving Objects -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. Performing General Physical Activities -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. Getting Information -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment -- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles. Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. Documenting/Recording Information -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft. Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.