1. Deck Cadets are involved in the preparations made prior to departure.
2. Deck Cadets will be responsible for inspecting all lifesaving and safety equipment, supervising the loading and storage of cargo or the onboarding procedures of passengers and reviewing and getting acquainted with the routes they will take.
3.Deck Cadets will often undertake navigation responsibilities once at sea. They do so under the supervision of an officer or captain.
4. They will learn how to maneuver the vessel under different weather circumstances, how to engage in traffic negotiations with other ships and how to moor the vessel once in port.
5. The regular logging of ship information in a logbook or position report often falls to the Deck Cadet.
6. The recordkeeping of vessels is an important step in the apprenticeship of the Deck Cadet and they are often tasked with ensuring all the information is accurate and timely.
