Port Captain/Vessel Manager

Title: Port Captain/Vessel Manager

Position: Full-time Salaried/Exempt

Reports to: Sr VP of Operations

Division: River

Location: Paducah, KY

About Marquette:

Headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky and founded in 1978, Marquette is a leading provider of inland marine transportation services. Our Company operates over 130 towboats on the Mississippi River System, Gulf-Intracoastal Waterway, and near-shore coastwise market. In addition, the Company controls over 1,000 dry cargo barges. The Company has additional offices in St Rose, LA, Lockport, LA and La Porte, TX. With over 1,500 vessel and shore-based employees, Marquette is the largest provider of independent towing services within the inland waterways. We are the only fully integrated fleet in the industry that can do what we do.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Manage fast-paced day-to-day operations of your own fleet of tugs (10-12) line haul towboats in the 5000 to 9000 hp range) applying the company’s Core Principles.
• Continuously identify and implement innovations across your fleet to improve productivity.
• Establish clear goals and objectives and direct the day-to-day activities of your vessel management team (port engineer, crew manager, port mate, safety manager, etc.).
• Oversee dynamic daily voyage planning for your fleet and provide guidance to vessel master’s on execution.
• Ensure tow size/configuration appropriate to vessel and crew capabilities and projected operating environment.
• Ensure appropriate use of tug assists for bridge and lock transits.
• Maximize efficiency of fleeting and mid-stream activities including barge pick-ups/drops, crew changes, fueling, 3rd party vendor repairs and supply deliveries.
• Maintain and continuously improve safety and environmental standards and procedures and ensure their full implementation on your fleet of vessels.
• Manage and deploy vessel crews ensuring experience levels meet operational requirements.
• Investigate incidents and injuries and provide recommendations for their prevention.
• Manage and ensure your fleet is operating within budget.
• Attend meetings and serve on committees established in the marine industry.

Qualifications:

• Served onboard vessel as 3rd Officer or above or equivalent experience.
• Experience with Shipboard ISM Code, ISO 9000, or other safety/quality management systems.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills essential as you will be required to analyze operational data to help improve efficiencies and to also predict operational problems.
• Good communication skills.
• Proactive, team player, hardworking and detailed are essential qualities.
• Familiar with basic computer operations and Microsoft office applications.
• Travel to and from vessels on the Mississippi River between St Paul, MN and New Orleans, LA.

Marquette offers competitive pay, health, dental & vision insurance, 401K plan with company match, bonus plan, company paid life insurance, short- & long-term disability, flexible spending account, critical illness, accident insurance, and other incentives!