Boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations
Career Overview
Workers in this group:
- Operate lock gates, bridges and similar equipment along canal systems
- Operate cable ferries and ferry terminals
- Include boat operators, and owner-operators, who operate small motorboats or watercraft to transport passengers or freight
- Work for the federal government, cable ferry companies and ferry terminals, marine companies and canal, port or harbour authorities
- Owner-operators of small boats are self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Lock equipment operators:
- Operate telecommunication equipment or use portable loudspeakers to direct movements of vessels in lock area
- Operate controls to open or close lock gates
- Operate controls to raise, lower or turn bridges
- Watch progress of vessels passing through locks
Cable ferry operators:
- Signal passengers and motor vehicles to get on and off ferry
- Operate cable ferry across narrow waterway
- Do routine maintenance and repairs to engine, cables and winches
Ferry terminal workers:
- Operate controls to adjust landing bridge, position or remove gangplank, open or close doors and gates, and secure or remove docking devices
- Signal passengers and motor vehicles to get on and off ferry
- May collect tickets or fares from passengers
Boat operators:
- Operate motorboats, launches, small ferry boats and other similar vessels to transport passengers or freight
- Maintain boats and equipment on board, such as engines, winches, derricks, fire extinguishers and life preservers
- May perform other duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports and harbours, patrolling beaches and measuring depth of water
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,175% Employed Full Time
42%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in a controlled indoor environment
- Work takes place outdoors in various weather conditions
- Work also takes place from the inside of a ferry
- Working with machinery, equipment and tools can be a source of injury
- The workplace may be noisy enough to affect hearing
- Workers may also experience vibrations of the body in the workplace
Career Pathways
There is little or no movement among lock equipment operators, cable ferry operators and ferry terminal workers.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Some secondary school education is usually required
- On-the-job training is provided
- Master of a Small Craft or Master of a Small Passenger Craft certificate, issued by Transport Canada, is required for boat operators
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Marine Training
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,175Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 1.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 385 | 32.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 80 | 6.8% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 3.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 660 | 56.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
540Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 0 | -5.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 170 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 90 | 5.4% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | 2.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 270 | 1.0% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 470 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 20 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 10 |
Resources
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Boating BC Associationwww.boatingbc.ca
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Boating BC Association – Careerswww.boatingbc.ca/cpages/careers-in-boating
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Canadian Marine Pilots' Associationwww.marinepilots.ca/index.html