Will sailors be replaced by AI?
Updated
Sailors score 13 of 100 for AI exposure. 86% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 2% today and speed up another 12%.
- 2% AI can do it
- 12% AI helps
- 86% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 92% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 28 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 3 and leaves 24 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record data in ships' logs, such as weather conditions or distances traveled. Logging weather and distances is data entry from sensors. | 75% AI can do it |
| Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs. Gauge reading is on-site; logging could be automated. | 35% AI helps |
| Maintain government-issued certifications, as required. Paperwork tracking is easy; exams and proof stay human. | 35% AI helps |
| Stand by wheels when ships are on automatic pilot, and verify accuracy of courses, using magnetic compasses. Autopilot does most steering; person monitors compass and course. | 30% AI helps |
| Give directions to crew members engaged in cleaning wheelhouses or quarterdecks. Directing crew members is live people management on board. | 15% Needs a person |
| Steer ships under the direction of commanders or navigating officers or direct helmsmen to steer, following designated courses. Manual helm steering under officer direction; autopilot covers some. | 15% Needs a person |
| Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows. Visual gauge and flow checks need physical presence on machinery. | 12% Needs a person |
| Measure depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadlines, and telephone or shout depth information to vessel bridges. Leadline depth sounding is physical; sonar already automates most. | 12% Needs a person |
| Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks. Hands-on hose connections and pump operation at cargo manifolds. | 10% Needs a person |
| Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses. Physical lookout duty; cameras may assist but crew stays responsible. | 10% Needs a person |
Show the other 18 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores. Physical signaling with lights or flags; little AI value. | 10% Needs a person |
| Stand gangway watches to prevent unauthorized persons from boarding ships while in port. Gangway presence is physical; visitor logs could be digitized. | 10% Needs a person |
| Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached. Physical coupling of barges; needs crew on deck. | 8% Needs a person |
| Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers. Hands-on engine maintenance directed by engineers on board. | 8% Needs a person |
| Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools. Hand splicing of rope and cable needs skilled manual work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Provide engineers with assistance in repairing or adjusting machinery. Hands-on help with machinery repair alongside engineers. | 8% Needs a person |
| Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system. Physical operation and repair of winches and cranes. | 8% Needs a person |
| Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines. Physical line handling during mooring and towing operations. | 5% Needs a person |
| Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear. Physical rigging and stowing of heavy gear on deck. | 5% Needs a person |
| Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings. Hands-on greasing of moving machinery parts. | 5% Needs a person |
| Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels. Physical loading and unloading of cargo and passengers. | 5% Needs a person |
| Clean and polish wood trim, brass, or other metal parts. Physical polishing of brass and wood trim. | 5% Needs a person |
| Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines. Physical rust chipping with hand and air tools. | 4% Needs a person |
| Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships. Physical painting of decks and hulls; minimal AI help. | 4% Needs a person |
| Overhaul lifeboats or lifeboat gear and lower or raise lifeboats with winches or falls. Physical lifeboat overhaul and winch operation at sea. | 4% Needs a person |
| Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur. Emergency lifeboat launching is physical and safety critical. | 3% Needs a person |
| Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses. Physical deck washing; no meaningful AI contribution. | 3% Needs a person |
| Participate in shore patrols. In-person patrol duty with people and authority. | 3% Needs a person |
How sailors compare
All occupations (923)
Transportation and material moving (52)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $51,520 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 31,670 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +3.2% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Hold tankerman certification for liquid-carrying vessel work
- Steer manually and verify courses using magnetic compasses
- Chip, prime, and paint rust spots on decks and hulls
- Lower and man lifeboats during drills and emergencies
- Log deck entries in Kongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck Logbook
- Track maintenance work orders in a CMMS
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about sailors and AI
Will AI replace sailors?
Partly. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly recording weather and distances in ships' logs and logging gauge readings. Watch duty, deck work, lifeboat launches, and steering under an officer's direction stay with the crew.
Which sailor tasks is AI taking over?
Recording weather and distances in ships' logs is the task AI takes over most, with an exposure score of 75, because it is data entry from sensors. Logging gauge readings in engineering logs scores 35 and can be automated, while the physical reading stays on site.
Which sailor tasks stay human?
Lowering and manning lifeboats in emergencies scores 3 on exposure, since launching a boat is physical and safety critical. Deck washing, rust chipping, and hull painting also score 3 to 4, because they need a person working on the ship itself.
How can sailors stay valuable?
Hold tankerman certification and keep government certifications current, since exams and proof of competence stay with people. Pair compass watch and manual steering skills with hands-on deck and lifeboat work, and use CMMS and Kongsberg K-Log records to show the work done.
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