Unlike 1st class sailors, the so-called “able seaman”, 2nd class sailors perform the least skilled work on deck, primarily cleaning and painting work, which are the main ones in the fleet to prevent the spread of rust. The immediate supervisor when performing work for sailors is the boatswain. He determines the amount of work for the day and controls the quality of its implementation.

    While staying in ports, such sailors stand watch near the gangway and are involved in other types of work that do not require any specific knowledge and skills. The deck also includes the premises of the ship's superstructure, so maintaining cleanliness and proper condition also falls on the shoulders of the sailors under the guidance of the boatswain.

    Despite the fact that ordinary sailors are forced to do most of the routine, dirty work, their position on merchant ships is important and is the bottom level of the crew hierarchy. At the same time, it becomes the starting point for further career growth on the ladder of the deck crew. Work at sea for ordinary personnel begins precisely with a 2nd class sailor. After official employment, a person falls under the protection of the seafarers' union and has the right to receive all the rights and opportunities provided by this organization.

    Any vacancy at sea requires increased health requirements, so sailors, like other crew members, undergo a mandatory medical examination. This is due to the fact that during a voyage, seafarers are exposed to significant physical and psychological stress caused by the need to be ready to perform urgent and emergency work around the clock. In addition, while at sea, seafarers are deprived of access to qualified medical care.

    Physical health is also necessary to perform basic job duties, without which one cannot count on further career advancement, because the work of a 2nd class sailor is mainly associated with physical labor.

    The average wage for an ordinary sailor is about $1,700 monthly, but can vary quite widely depending on affiliation with a particular shipping company, the class and size of ships, and other factors. From the point of view of sailors' salaries, this is a small amount; among representatives of the deck crew, this is the lowest salary. Nevertheless, in comparison with salaries on shore, this is very good money, which most representatives of blue-collar professions are not able to earn.

    The salary of 1st class sailors is significantly higher, so every novice sailor has excellent incentives to perform their duties efficiently and not have any complaints from the officers, in order to qualify for promotion in the future.