TS 13053

TS 13053 is a vocational standard for the deck boy role on board a ship. In marine operations, a deck boy is generally understood as an entry-level or support crew member who carries out routine deck duties under supervision and contributes to the day-to-day order of deck operations. This standard addresses the classification of the occupation, its qualifications, and the criteria used for evaluation and testing, together with the tools and equipment associated with the job.

The deck support role in ship operations

A deck boy is not a navigating officer or decision-maker in the command chain; the role belongs to the operational support side of seamanship. In general technical terms, such duties matter because safe and efficient vessel operation depends on disciplined routine work on deck: cleanliness, preparation, assistance during cargo-related activities, line handling support, and basic upkeep tasks. The standard places this occupation within a structured vocational framework, showing how the role is defined and how competence is to be assessed.

What this standard focuses on

• Occupation classification and different qualification levels
• Knowledge, skills, and behavioral requirements for the role
• Evaluation and testing criteria
• Tools and equipment used in the occupation
• A vocational framework aligned with maritime rules and safe working practice

The document should be read against the wider maritime reference framework cited for it, including STCW-related arrangements, seafarer regulations, collision-prevention rules, SOLAS, and GMDSS. This does not turn the standard into a general shipboard rulebook; rather, it places the deck boy occupation within the broader logic of maritime training and competence. For purchasers and users, the value of the standard is that it provides a common professional language for training, assessment, and job definition in deck support work.