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Water transportation workers held about 68,000 jobs in 2002. The total number that worked at some point in the year was perhaps twice as large because many merchant marine officers and seamen worked only part of the year. The following tabulation shows employment in the occupations that make up this group:
Sailors and marine oilers 27,000
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels 25,000
Ship engineers 8,200
Motorboat operators 4,100
All other water transportation workers 3,600
About 30 percent of all workers were employed in water transportation services. About one half worked in inland water transportation—primarily the Mississippi River system—while the other half were employed in water transportation on the deep seas, along the coasts, and on the Great Lakes. About another 28 percent worked in establishments related to port and harbor operations, marine cargo handling, or navigational services to shipping. The Federal government employed approximately 5 percent of all water transportation workers, most of whom worked on supply ships and are Civilian Mariners of the Department Navy’s Military Sealift Command.
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