USCG-licensed Master with 15 years at sea and 6 years in command of offshore supply vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. Led 2,100+ days of vessel operations with no lost-time incidents and a clean record across 4 Coast Guard inspections.
Compliance: ISM, SOLAS, MARPOL, USCG inspections, safety management systems
Navigation: ECDIS, ARPA radar, GMDSS radio
How to write a Ship Captain resume
A strong Ship Captain resume shows the licences and ratings you hold, the vehicles, aircraft or routes you run, and your record on safety, on-time performance and compliance. Put your most relevant recent role first and make every bullet show a result, not a duty.
Sections, in order
Summary
Certifications
Experience
Skills
Education
Length: One page for most candidates; move to two only if every line is relevant.
Summary: Write two or three lines: your role, your strongest skills, and one result that proves them.
Skills to feature
CDL, FAA or FRA licences and endorsements
DOT and FMCSA compliance
Hours of service and ELD use
Route planning
Pre-trip and pre-flight inspections
Hazardous materials handling
Dispatch and load planning
Fleet and aircraft maintenance
Customer service
Safety management systems (SMS)
Example bullet points
Drove 1.1M accident-free miles in 9 years on a CDL-A with Hazmat and Tanker endorsements, holding 99% on-time delivery
Cut empty miles from 18% to 11% by rebuilding lane plans and backhaul matches for a 60-truck fleet
Logged 6,200 flight hours as an A320 first officer with zero FAA violations and a 98% on-time departure rate
Tips from recruiters
List each licence with its class, endorsements, ratings and issuing body (for example "CDL Class A, Hazmat and Tanker endorsements" or "FAA ATP, A320 type rating").
Lead with safety numbers such as accident-free miles, clean inspections or violation-free years, because employers screen on them first.
Name the equipment, aircraft, routes and systems you know (Samsara ELDs, McLeod, Sabre, Boeing 737) so recruiters can match you quickly.
Recommended templates
Classic (ATS-friendly): Jake's-style LaTeX classic: small caps and hairline rules
Compact (ATS-friendly): Dense single column that fits long histories
Professional: Dark header band with a tinted skills sidebar
Ship Captain resume FAQ
What should a Ship Captain resume include?
A Ship Captain resume should show the licences and ratings you hold, the vehicles, aircraft or routes you run, and your record on safety, on-time performance and compliance. Use these sections in this order: Summary, Certifications, Experience, Skills and Education. Put your most relevant recent role first and make every bullet show a result, not a duty.
What is the best resume template for a Ship Captain?
Classic, Compact and Professional work well for Ship Captain roles. They are single-column with standard headings, so applicant tracking systems (ATS) parse them reliably.
How long should a Ship Captain resume be?
One page for most candidates; move to two only if every line is relevant.
Which skills should a Ship Captain put on a resume?
Prioritize the skills named in the job posting. Common ones for Ship Captain roles are CDL, FAA or FRA licences and endorsements, DOT and FMCSA compliance, Hours of service and ELD use, Route planning, Pre-trip and pre-flight inspections and Hazardous materials handling.
How do I write strong Ship Captain resume bullet points?
Start with an action verb, say what you did, and end with a measurable result such as accident-free miles, on-time performance and miles or flight hours. For example: "Drove 1.1M accident-free miles in 9 years on a CDL-A with Hazmat and Tanker endorsements, holding 99% on-time delivery."