Ship pilot dispatcher
Also known as: dispatcher of ship pilots, ship pilot coordinator, ship pilot controller, dispatcher, ship pilot, shipping pilot dispatcher
About this occupation
Ship pilot dispatchers coordinate ships entering or leaving port. They write orders showing name of ship, berth, tugboat company, and time of arrival or departure, and notify the maritime pilot of assignment. They obtain receipts of pilotage from the pilot upon return from ship. Ship pilot dispatchers also record charges on receipt, using tariff book as guide, compile reports of activities, such as number of ships piloted and charges made, and keep records of ships entering port, showing owner, name of ship, displacement tonnage, agent, and country of registration.
Essential skills and knowledge
- measure ship tonnage
- maritime transportation technology
- dock operations
- operate radio equipment
- guide ships into docks
- liaise with port users
- international tariffs
- prepare documentation for international shipping
- review ship documentation
- provide accurate information on water routes
- liaise between the client and various transportation services
- write dock records
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (O*NET 43-5032.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
- Prepare daily work and run schedules.
- Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
- Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
- Receive or prepare work orders.
- Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Realistic, Enterprising
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Time Management
US median pay: US$50,340 a year (2025), 202,810 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.9)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.5)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
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- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
- First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.