Water Traffic Coordinator
Key facts
Water traffic coordinators manage the movements of a vessel in ports and waterways. They ensure the efficient deployment of vessels of a shipping company.
Water traffic coordinators are essential for managing vessel movements in busy port environments and along waterways. Your daily tasks involve planning routes, communicating with ship captains and port authorities, and monitoring vessel locations to prevent congestion and ensure safety. You’ll be responsible for the efficient deployment of vessels belonging to a shipping company, optimizing schedules and responding to unexpected situations.
- • Planning and coordinating vessel routes within ports and waterways.
- • Communicating effectively with ship captains, pilots, and port control.
- • Monitoring vessel traffic and responding to potential hazards or delays.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Numerical and material recording clerks — 39 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $101,110 2025-05 | −1.7% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +38.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £32,060 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.
Future Outlook for water traffic coordinator
The outlook for water traffic coordinator reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could water traffic coordinator change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- ensure compliance with port regulations
- apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations
- verify qualifications of water transport crew
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- load cargo onto ships
- operate port communications systems
- anticipate shipment handling requirements
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a water traffic coordinator
09 09:00 · Morning develop efficiency plans for maritime shipping
10 10:30 · Mid-morning anticipate shipment handling requirements
12 12:00 · Midday apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations
14 14:00 · Afternoon coordinate dock operations
15 15:30 · Late afternoon coordinate the itineraries of vessels
17 17:00 · Wrap-up ensure compliance with port regulations
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
-
coordinate dock operations
Coordinate cargo shipments in and out of dock. Position cranes and arrange containers into shipments, taking into account the exact measures and weight of each container.
-
manage port operations improvement procedures
Manage all improvement procedures in port operations, including their development and implementation. Understand port activities, operations, and the way these are carried out, to manage improvement.
-
match vessels to shipping routes
Understand how particular types of ships are transport different kinds of cargo and operate on different shipping routes. Know the current maritime routes to plan and schedule the arrival and departure of ships from ports.
-
apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations
Apply the different procedures required to meet customs obligations when transporting goods across borders and arriving via ports/airports or any other logistics hub, such as producing written customs declarations. Apply different procedures for different types of goods, and ensure compliance with shipping regulations.;
-
ensure vessel compliance with regulations
Inspect vessels, vessel components, and equipment; ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
-
implement efficiency plans for logistics operations
Implement efficiency plans developed by managers in facilities. Use techniques, resources, and training in order to improve workplace efficiency.
-
implement cost-effective cargo handling strategies on ships
Implement cost-effective strategies for loading and unloading of cargo on ships with the aim of maximising efficiency, reducing the resources expended, and assuring sufficient operations while increasing profit.
-
prepare transportation routes
Prepare routes through the addition or subtraction of routes, making changes to route frequency, and changing the service span of routes. Adjusts routes through providing additional running time to routes, adding additional capacity during periods of overcrowding (or reducing capacity during periods of low passenger numbers), and adjusting departure times in response to changes in circumstances along a given route, thereby ensuring efficient use of resources and achievement of customer relations goals.;
-
coordinate the itineraries of vessels
Develop, manage, and coordinate the itinerary of vessels worldwide together with other stakeholders.
-
develop efficiency plans for maritime shipping
Arrange the most efficient use of cargo space and vessel movement; monitor the number of available cranes and dock space; and assess the physical condition of ships and impact of cargo weight on the stability of ships.
-
ensure compliance with port regulations
Enforce compliance with regulations in harbours and sea ports. Communicate with relevant authorities to identify potential risks.
-
operate port communications systems
Operate telephone and radio systems, and more complex communication systems used in inland waterway ports, in the coordination of port operations.
-
anticipate shipment handling requirements
Ensure correct handling of shipment cargo; calculate cargo weight and operate cranes to move containers.
-
load cargo onto ships
Load and unload cargo onto ships. Oversee cargo loading and discharging operations.
-
manage dispatch software systems
Manage dispatch software systems to execute tasks such as work order generation, route planning, and other activities.
commodities in maritime transportation
Knowledge of the most important commodities in maritime transportation, i.e. oil, grain, ore, coal and fertilisers, and their characteristics and subdivisions.
customs regulations for passengers
The customs regulations applicable to passengers. The official documents and declaration forms required from different kinds of passengers and for different types of items and goods.
maritime telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting equipment and overall operation of telecommunications systems.
port regulation
The legal standards and regulations applicable to ports, based primarily on municipal laws, port laws or the Maritime Code.
principles of cargo stowage
The principles of cargo stowage. The procedures by which containers should be efficiently loaded and unloaded, taking into account gravitational forces that are exerted during transportation.
types of maritime vessels
Various types of maritime vessels such as container ships, passenger ships and fishing vessels, and their characteristics and specifications, security, technical, and maintenance requirements.
vessel stability principles
Thoroughly understand the principles of vessel stability; follow safety requirements during loading and unloading of cargo.
vessel traffic services
Shore-based systems of different types, from comprehensive traffic management within a waterway or port to specific tasks such as sending messages with weather or position information.
warehouse operations
The basic principles and practices of warehouse operations such as goods storage and the organisation of warehouse facilities.
transportation methods
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and optimal work strategies.
- freight transport methods
Path to become a water traffic coordinator
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Primary education
94 programmes in 22 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 31 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
These are 6 of 125.
Sources
- 1. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov), CC BY. Data as at 10/06/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 2. Source: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (students.kuccps.ac.ke).
- 3. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 4. Source: Study in Korea, National Institute for International Education (NIIED) (studyinkorea.go.kr).
- 5. Source: YÖK Atlas, Council of Higher Education (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
- 6. Contains information from MySkillsFuture Course Run accessed on 2026-09-28 from data.gov.sg which is made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0 (https://data.gov.sg/open-data-licence)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does water traffic coordinator fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What skills are particularly important for a water traffic coordinator?
Is this role typically office-based, or does it involve being on-site at a port?
What kind of background would be helpful for someone considering this career?
How much does Water Traffic Coordinator pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data