Will AI replace Marine and waterways transport operatives?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 47 official task statements scored for Marine and waterways transport operatives (United Kingdom, SOC 8232), 4% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 8 out of 100 (range 6–13, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Marine and waterways transport operatives” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Record usage of engine room supplies” (75/100, high); “Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations” (66/100, high); “Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts” (38/100, low). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Marine and waterways transport operatives” stay human?

About 96% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Repair leaks using caulking compound” (0/100, minimal); “Maintain water systems” (0/100, minimal); “Maintain electrical power systems for industrial and marine applications” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Marine and waterways transport operatives” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 4% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 96% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Marine and waterways transport operatives calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 47 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Marine and waterways transport operatives

assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations, monitoring and testing operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes and conducting emergency drills as required by regulations. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 4%
changing shape: 0%
staying human: 96%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 8 out of 100 (6–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 47 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for marine and waterways transport operatives is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

What shifts is recording usage of engine room supplies. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.

Your week, as this page understands it

Marine and waterways transport operatives supervise and carry out a variety of deck duties and operate and maintain engines, boilers and mechanical equipment on board ships, boats and other marine vessels. The job title says “marine” or “waterways transport operatives”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But marine and waterways transport operatives is not one task. It is 47 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 4%
changing shape: 0%
staying human: 96%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

One row is marked low confidence, so treat it as a ballpark rather than a fine measurement.
18 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Shifting to AI

2 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Recording usage of engine room supplies
This is reading one thing and writing another: usage of engine room supplies in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Record usage of engine room supplies.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Logging what stores were used is routine record-keeping that software already does very well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Maintaining complete records of engineering department activities
This is reading one thing and writing another: complete records of engineering department activities in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 66 out of 100 (62–70 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Engine room records are structured entries that shipboard systems capture and compile with little manual work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

Changing shape

0 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Nothing in this job’s scored task list landed in this group. That is the measurement, not an editorial choice, and it is worth knowing either way.

Staying human

45 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations
This work happens in the physical world: vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8232/00
Source: “Assist in vessel mooring, anchoring, and securing operations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Mooring and anchoring a vessel is rope and deck work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Loading and unloading cargo from vessels to facilitate maritime transport
This work happens in the physical world: cargo, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8232/00
Source: “Load and unload cargo from vessels to facilitate maritime transport.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cargo has to be physically lifted, slung and stowed on and off the vessel, so someone must be there doing it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Refueling marine vessels to maintain transport schedules
This work happens in the physical world: marine vessels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 8232/00
Source: “Refuel marine vessels to maintain transport schedules.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Refuelling means connecting hoses and watching tanks on the quayside, which needs a person on the spot.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Ensuring compliance with international regulations regarding equipment use and condition
This work happens in the physical world: compliance, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8232/00
Source: “Ensure compliance with international regulations regarding equipment use and condition.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 22 out of 100 (15–29 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: The international rules are published and easy to check against, but verifying equipment condition means inspecting it aboard.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Supervising marine engine technicians in maintaining and repairing marine vessels
This work happens in the physical world: marine engine technicians, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8232/00
Source: “Supervise marine engine technicians in maintaining and repairing marine vessels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–8 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Overseeing engine technicians happens in the engine room, and a certificated engineer officer must hold that charge.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Assisting in the execution of specific vessel deck operations
This work happens in the physical world: the execution of specific vessel deck operations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8232/00
Source: “Assist in the execution of specific vessel deck operations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Deck operations are physical work carried out on board.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Maintaining or repairing engines, electric motors, pumps, winches and other equipment
This work happens in the physical world: engines, electric motors, pumps, winches and other equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, and other equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Maintaining and repairing engines, motors and pumps is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Operating engine throttles and steering mechanisms to navigate boats on desired courses
This work happens in the physical world: engine throttles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 8232/00
Source: “Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to navigate boats on desired courses.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Steering a boat on a course is hands on the controls with eyes on the water, aboard the vessel.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

Show the other 37 tasks

Ordering and receiving engine room stores
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: engine room stores, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 38 out of 100 (31–45 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Placing orders is straightforward admin, though someone still has to take the delivery aboard.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Noting gauge readings and testing data
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: gauge readings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Note gauge readings and test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 36 out of 100 (29–43 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Logging engine readings is largely automatic now, with sensors and monitoring systems recording the figures directly.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Logging orders for changes in ship speed or direction in engineering logs or bellbooks
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: orders, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Log orders for changes in ship speed or direction in engineering logs or bellbooks.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 33 out of 100 (26–40 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Recording engine orders is straightforward writing-down that systems already capture automatically, though the person must be aboard when it happens.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Monitoring engineering operational parameters of a vessel at sea
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: operational parameters of a vessel, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Monitor engineering operational parameters of a vessel at sea, including engine temperatures and fuel consumption.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 31 out of 100 (24–38 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Engine temperatures and fuel use are already tracked continuously by monitoring systems that flag anything drifting.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Monitoring and testing operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: operations of engines, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8232/00
Source: “Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 25 out of 100 (18–32 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sensors and monitoring software already spot many machinery faults, though confirming the cause means working on the equipment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Monitoring the availability of lifesaving and pollution prevention equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the availability, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Monitor the availability of lifesaving and pollution prevention equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 22 out of 100 (15–29 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: The register and checklists can be managed by software, but confirming the gear is actually there means looking aboard.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Reporting any abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff for immediate action
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: any abnormalities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Report any abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff for immediate action.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 21 out of 100 (14–28 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Flagging something abnormal to the right person is a quick handover made by whoever notices it on watch.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Acting as the main contact between ship and shore-based staff
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the main contact, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Act as the main contact between ship and shore-based staff.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (11–25 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Being the link between ship and shore depends on people knowing and trusting who they are calling.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Operating within own competence, adhering to relevant local and national standards, policies and workplace protocols
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: within own competence, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Operate within own competence, adhering to relevant local and national standards, policies, and workplace protocols.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Staying inside your own competence is bounded by the certificate you hold, and only the certificated seafarer can work to it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Controlling heating systems to ensure optimal temperature and efficiency
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: systems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Control heating systems to ensure optimal temperature and efficiency.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Heating control is partly automatic, but on a vessel it still means adjusting valves and checking plant in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Managing the safety of those onboard the vessel
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the safety of those onboard the vessel, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Manage the safety of those onboard the vessel, promoting a safe working environment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–8 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Keeping everyone aboard safe means being on the vessel making decisions, which a certificated officer must do.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Assisting crew members with maintenance or repairing duties
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: crew members, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Assist crew members with maintenance or repair duties.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Helping the crew with maintenance and repairs is hands-on work aboard.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Conducting marine craft operations, including towing, personnel transfer and hydrographic surveying, in accordance with port specific guidelines
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: marine craft operations, including towing, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Conduct marine craft operations, including towing, personnel transfer, and hydrographic surveying, in accordance with port specific guidelines.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Towing, transferring people and running survey work is physical vessel handling by a licensed boatmaster or officer.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining and adjusting equipment for optimal performance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain and adjust equipment for optimal performance.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping equipment running well means working on it with tools.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Painting or varnishing decks, superstructures, lifeboats or sides of ships
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: decks, superstructures, lifeboats or sides of ships, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Painting and varnishing the ship is manual work with a brush.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 0/4.
Taking charge of a watch at sea
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: charge of a watch, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 8232/00
Source: “Take charge of a watch at sea, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew by taking decisions on navigation and vessel operations such as avoidance of collision with other vessels, and safe navigation of natural and man-made hazards.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Taking charge of a navigational watch is a duty the law places on a certificated deck officer physically on the bridge.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Conducting emergency drills as required by regulations
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: emergency drills, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8232/00
Source: “Conduct emergency drills as required by regulations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Running a muster or lifeboat drill is physical practice aboard, led by a certificated officer as regulations require.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Performing routine repair and maintenance duties for facilities and equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: routine repair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8232/00
Source: “Perform routine repair and maintenance duties for facilities and equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Routine repairs need tools in someone’s hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Safelying handle and operating boat handling equipment to lift and launch vessels
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: handle, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 8232/00
Source: “Safely handle and operate boat handling equipment to lift and launch vessels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Lifting and launching boats is heavy handling with slings and cranes, entirely a physical job.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Cleaning and maintaining parts for installation and repairing tasks
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: parts, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Clean and maintain parts for installation and repair tasks.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning and preparing parts is manual work with the parts in hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting holds, tanks, cranes and winches
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: holds, tanks, cranes and winches, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Inspect holds, tanks, cranes, and winches.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking holds, cranes and winches means climbing into them and looking and touching, not reading about them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Maintaining decks of transport vessels to ensure cleanliness and operational efficiency
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: decks of transport vessels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain decks of transport vessels to ensure cleanliness and operational efficiency.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping decks clean and sound is scrubbing, clearing and tidying by hand on the vessel itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Maintaining vessel machinery spaces in a clean
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vessel machinery spaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain vessel machinery spaces in a clean, tidy, and oil-free condition.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping machinery spaces clean and oil-free is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Operating pumps for transferring bulk liquids like oil
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: pumps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Operate pumps for transferring bulk liquids like oil.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Running transfer pumps means being at the valves and controls.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Properlying store vessels ashore to ensure their safety and protection
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: store vessels ashore, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Properly store vessels ashore to ensure their safety and protection.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Storing boats ashore means moving, chocking and covering real hulls, which nobody can do from a screen.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Repairing and painting the ship's hull
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the ship's hull, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Repair and paint the ship's hull, fixtures and fittings.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Repairing and painting a hull is manual work with tools, brushes and materials on the ship.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Starting engines of hoists or winches to facilitate maritime operations
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: engines of hoists, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Start engines of hoists or winches to facilitate maritime operations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Starting hoists and winches means operating machinery in person and watching the load as it moves.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Taking control of survival craft and rescue boats
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: control of survival craft, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 8232/00
Source: “Take control of survival craft and rescue boats.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Taking charge of a lifeboat means being in it, handling it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Cleaning pressure vessel equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: pressure vessel equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Clean pressure vessel equipment using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Scraping and brushing out a pressure vessel is close physical work inside the equipment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Installing engine controls
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: engine controls, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Install engine controls.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting engine controls is physical installation work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Maintaining ventilation systems on marine vessels to ensure safety and comfort
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: ventilation systems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain ventilation systems on marine vessels to ensure safety and comfort.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Ventilation upkeep on a vessel means getting to ducts and fans with tools, so a body is needed.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Specializing in a specific area
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: a specific area, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Specialize in a specific area such as retail, fuel, rigging, or lock and bridge operation.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, low confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Whether it is fuel, rigging or working a lock, the specialist duties all need someone physically present.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Testing fire-fighting and life-saving equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 8232/00
Source: “Test fire-fighting and life-saving equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Testing firefighting and lifesaving gear means physically operating each item aboard.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Installing propeller shafts
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: propeller shafts, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Install propeller shafts.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting a propeller shaft is heavy hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Maintaining electrical power systems for industrial and marine applications
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: electrical power systems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain electrical power systems for industrial and marine applications.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Maintaining electrical power systems on a vessel is hands-on work with the switchboards and machinery.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining water systems
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: water systems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Maintain water systems.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Maintaining water systems is hands-on site work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Repairing leaks using caulking compound
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: leaks, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 8232/00
Source: “Repair leaks using caulking compound.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Caulking a leak means getting to the seam with the compound.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: £39,400a year, before tax, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.ashe-t14, 2025 · ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
How we know this
Source: ashe-t14
Reference period: ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)
Rounding: Shown to the nearest £100. The exact published figure is in the downloadable dataset. We do not render pounds the survey cannot support.
People doing this job: 6,700in the UK, 2026.nomis-aps · Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period)This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: usage of engine room supplies in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: recording usage of engine room supplies and maintaining complete records of engineering department activities. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations get done. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 4% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 0% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 96% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 47 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Recording usage of engine room supplies is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to usage of engine room supplies, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations are in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with National Careers Service. It is free and government-funded, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest UK occupations to marine and waterways transport operatives (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was boat and ship builders and repairers: it pays 13.9% less. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 8/100 here, with only 4% of the task list in the top band, and “assist in vessel mooring, anchoring, and securing operations” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 412 UK occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Boat and ship builders and repairers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 44% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: It is a pay cut, in those words: £33,896 against your £39,358, 13.9% less (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Ship and hovercraft officers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “take charge of a watch at sea, ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew…”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 19% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 19% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on. This release publishes no median pay for that job, so I cannot show you what the move costs or pays. I do not recommend a move I cannot price.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Other drivers and transport operatives n.e.c.
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “assist in vessel mooring, anchoring, and securing operations”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 10% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 10% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 4% of its task weight, across 47 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like assisting in vessel mooring, anchoring and securing operations arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

If you run a team doing this job

If you run a team doing this job, the conversation you owe them is the one on this page, and sooner than feels comfortable. Show them the ledger rather than a reassurance: the rows moving toward the software are recording usage of engine room supplies, and the rows that are not are where you want your people visible. Ask each of them to do the this-week move and bring the list to your next one-to-one. It turns a rumour into a piece of work, and it tells you which parts of your team's week are actually at stake. And say the thing out loud that a team lead usually leaves unsaid: a shrinking team is your exposure too, so do the move yourself as well.

You are reading the United Kingdom figures

The United States splits this work across more than one official group, of which Sailors and Marine Oilers is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United States page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

Motorboat Operators

In US official statistics this job is counted as Sailors and Marine Oilers and Motorboat Operators. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

In England:
National Careers Service
A free hour with a government-funded careers adviser is worth more than another evening of reading. In England that's the National Careers Service.
Free, government-funded
- Discover your skills and careers (the skills assessment)
In England:
National Careers Service - Find a course
Search what's actually running near you before you spend anything.
Free to search; individual courses vary
In England:
Free courses for jobs (Level 3 qualifications)
A free Level 3 qualification you already qualify for beats a paid course you don't need.
Free for eligible adults
In England:
Skills Bootcamps
Free, up to 16 weeks, and you get a job interview at the end. In England these are Skills Bootcamps - search what's running near you.
Free for eligible adults in England
- Skills Bootcamps - what they are and who can do them (DfE, Skills for Careers)
- Skills Bootcamps - JobHelp (DWP)
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
- Skills Development Scotland
In Wales:
Careers Wales
In Wales it's Careers Wales.
Free, Welsh Government-funded
In Northern Ireland:
Careers Service Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it's the Careers Service on nidirect.
Free, Department for the Economy-funded

Why there is no community here

Collab365, who build this site, run paid Spaces for a small number of subjects, and none of them is built for this job. We are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

So the free services listed on this page are the whole answer, and it is the same answer we would give a friend.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for marine / waterways transport operatives launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for marine / waterways transport operatives yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for marine / waterways transport operatives existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for marine / waterways transport operatives launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Marine and waterways transport operatives?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 47 official task statements scored for Marine and waterways transport operatives (United Kingdom, SOC 8232), 4% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 8 out of 100 (range 6–13, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Marine and waterways transport operatives” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Record usage of engine room supplies” (75/100, high); “Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations” (66/100, high); “Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts” (38/100, low). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Marine and waterways transport operatives” stay human?: About 96% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Repair leaks using caulking compound” (0/100, minimal); “Maintain water systems” (0/100, minimal); “Maintain electrical power systems for industrial and marine applications” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Marine and waterways transport operatives” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 4% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 96% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Marine and waterways transport operatives calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 47 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.
One row is marked low confidence, so treat it as a ballpark rather than a fine measurement.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
18 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: gaisi-indexProcessing: catalogue-bridge → ssc-relatedness-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: gaisi-index (relatedness)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: ashe-t14 (ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025))nomis-aps (Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

How we score a job Download this release Look up another job

Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.