A professional who commands ferryboat to transport passengers, motor vehicles, or freight across lakes, bays, sounds, or rivers. Responsibilities include:

• Signals crew to close ferry gates and raise loading ramp, and signals engine room to start engines.
• Determines course and speed of ferryboat on basis of specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, tides, and current.
• Steers ferryboat, or orders worker at helm to steer ferryboat toward slip on opposite side of water.
• Inspects ferryboat to ensure that passengers and crew observe regulations pertaining to safe and efficient operation of ferryboat.
• Signals engine room to reverse engines, and maneuvers ferryboat into slip.
• Maintains ferryboat's log.
• Must hold license issued by U.S.
• Coast Guard, depending on tonnage of ferryboat and waters crossed.