Port Captain

The Port Captain / MSI - Offshore Fleet is the shore-based marine operations, assurance and compliance focal point for the assigned fleet of DP2 accommodation, diving support and other offshore support vessels. The role provides active oversight of vessel operational readiness, marine inspections, mobilizations and demobilizations, client requirements, safe navigation and deck operations, crewing readiness and statutory compliance. The Port Captain / MSI supports Vessel Masters and Fleet Management in maintaining safe, efficient and contract-compliant operations and ensures that marine activities are conducted in accordance with company procedures, the ISM Code, ISPS Code, MLC 2006, STCW, flag and class requirements, applicable maritime regulations, client requirements and recognized offshore industry practices, while protecting vessel availability and operational performance

Responsibilities

Core Fleet Marine Operations & Vessel Oversight:
• Act as the principal shore-based marine focal point for the assigned offshore fleet, providing day-to-day operational guidance and support to Vessel Masters and senior deck officers.
• Monitor vessel operational readiness, marine performance, outstanding defects, restrictions, certification status and client requirements, escalating risks that may affect safety, compliance, mobilization or vessel availability.
• Maintain regular communication with Masters and conduct structured operational follow-up to ensure agreed actions, inspection findings and client punch-list items are closed within required timeframes.
• Support Fleet Management with marine risk assessment, operational decision-making, vessel deployment, port calls, weather-sensitive operations, towage/pilotage arrangements and other marine matters.
• Attend vessels at ports, anchorages, yards and offshore locations as required to verify condition, readiness, safe operation and compliance.
Vessel Inspection, Marine Assurance & Readiness:
• Plan and carry out periodic vessel marine inspections covering bridge and navigation, DP operational readiness, deck condition, mooring systems, lifesaving and firefighting readiness, accommodation standards, security arrangements, marine documentation and general housekeeping.
• Conduct pre-mobilization, post-mobilization and operational readiness inspections and issue clear inspection reports with findings, responsible persons, priorities and target close-out dates.
• Review and follow up internal inspections, client inspections, vetting/assurance observations, flag/class findings, port-state observations and audit non-conformities applicable to marine operations.
• Verify that critical vessel certificates, plans, manuals, records and operational checklists are valid, available onboard and consistent with the vessel condition and intended operation.
• Identify recurring deficiencies and fleet-wide marine trends and recommend preventive actions, standardization or procedural improvements.
Mobilization, Demobilization & Project / Client Support:
• Lead the marine coordination of vessel mobilizations and demobilizations in cooperation with Operations, Projects, Technical, QHSE, Crewing and vessel teams.
• Review project and charter requirements and translate them into vessel readiness actions, inspection checklists, certification requirements, manning/competence needs and marine work scopes.
• Coordinate deck preparation, cargo and equipment loading plans, deck layouts, sea-fastening interfaces, access arrangements, mooring requirements and marine operational procedures as applicable to the project scope.
• Attend client kick-off meetings, vessel acceptance inspections, readiness reviews and marine assurance visits; coordinate timely closure of client comments and punch-list items.
• Maintain effective communication with client/charterer marine representatives and ensure vessel operations remain aligned with contractual and client marine requirements throughout the charter period.
• Support change of charter, change of operating area, reactivation and special project preparations by confirming marine, statutory and crew readiness before sailing or commencement of operations.
DP2, Navigation & Marine Operational Control:
• Provide operational oversight for DP2 vessel marine activities and support Masters and DPO teams in maintaining compliance with approved DP operating procedures, limitations and client requirements.
• Verify availability and correct use of vessel-specific DP operational documentation, including relevant checklists, watchkeeping arrangements, activity-specific operating guidance and records.
• Coordinate with Technical/DP specialists on DP trials, FMEA-related operational actions, defects, redundancy concerns and close-out of findings that may affect vessel operational capability.
• Review significant DP events, position-loss incidents, navigation incidents, near misses and operational deviations; support investigation, lessons learned and implementation of corrective actions.
• Promote high standards of bridge resource management, passage planning, navigation watchkeeping, collision avoidance, anchor operations, mooring and offshore marine operations.
ISM, ISPS, MLC, Flag, Class & Statutory Compliance:
• Ensure marine operations are performed in accordance with the company Safety Management System and applicable ISM Code requirements, supporting Masters with implementation and verification onboard.
• Support QHSE/DPA in internal and external ISM audits, management reviews, non-conformity close-out, incident investigation and verification of corrective actions.
• Support implementation of the vessel and company security requirements under the ISPS Code, including coordination with the CSO/SSO on security plans, drills, records, access control and client/port security requirements.
• Monitor compliance with MLC 2006 requirements related to seafarer welfare, living conditions, hours of work/rest, employment documentation and accommodation, in coordination with Crewing/HR and Vessel Masters.
• Ensure marine statutory and class-related requirements are tracked and coordinated, including surveys, audits, certificates, exemptions/conditions of class where applicable and timely closure of findings.
• Liaise with Flag State, Classification Society, Port State, port authorities and other regulatory bodies on marine operational matters as required.
• Verify that vessel manning, watchkeeping and operational arrangements remain consistent with the Minimum Safe Manning Document, STCW requirements, company standards and client requirements.
Crewing, Competence & Manning Matters:
• Coordinate with Crewing/HR to ensure each vessel is adequately manned with competent, medically fit and properly certified personnel for the vessel type, operating area, DP class and project/client scope.
• Review crew matrices, certificates of competency, STCW endorsements, DP qualifications where applicable, medicals, client approvals and other role-specific credentials before assignment to vessels.
• Monitor relief planning and crew-change requirements for key marine positions and escalate gaps that may affect compliance, fatigue management, client acceptance or operational continuity.
• Support selection, assessment and technical interviews for Masters, Chief Officers, DPOs and other key deck personnel when requested.
• Monitor onboard familiarization, competence development, drills, training and performance of marine personnel and provide feedback to Fleet Management and Crewing.
• Review hours-of-rest compliance and fatigue-related risks with Masters and Crewing and ensure corrective actions are taken where repeated exceptions or operational concerns are identified.
Safety, Emergency Preparedness & Incident Management:
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure marine activities are planned and executed using appropriate risk assessments, permits, toolbox talks and operational controls.
• Monitor the effectiveness of emergency drills, lifesaving/firefighting readiness and vessel emergency preparedness, following up deficiencies to closure.
• Participate in the shore emergency response organization and provide marine expertise during vessel incidents, groundings, collisions, DP events, security events, medical emergencies or other operational contingencies.
• Lead or support investigations of marine incidents, near misses and client complaints, ensuring root causes, lessons learned and corrective/preventive actions are identified and shared across the fleet.
• Issue fleet marine alerts, lessons learned and operational guidance where recurring risks or significant events require fleet-wide action.
Marine Maintenance, Certification & Documentation:
• Review and follow up maintenance/readiness of bridge navigation equipment, GMDSS interfaces, deck machinery, mooring equipment, anchors, lifesaving appliances, firefighting appliances and other marine safety equipment in coordination with the Technical Department.
• Review marine PMS status and overdue critical items with Vessel Masters/Chief Officers and ensure deficiencies that may affect class, flag, client acceptance or operations are properly prioritized.
• Maintain fleet-level oversight of marine certificates, operational permits, manuals, plans and recurring inspection/survey dates, working with vessel teams and relevant departments to prevent expiry or operational restrictions.
• Ensure vessel marine records, logbooks, checklists, drill records, passage plans, DP records and inspection files are maintained to company and regulatory standards.
• Prepare or review marine procedures, checklists, standing instructions and fleet guidance following operational changes, lessons learned, new client requirements or regulatory updates.
Commercial / Cost Control Responsibilities:
• Provide marine budget input for vessel inspections, surveys, training, port services, pilotage/towage, marine stores, safety equipment and mobilization requirements.
• Review marine-related quotations, service scopes and purchase requests for technical suitability and cost effectiveness and confirm satisfactory completion before invoice approval where assigned.
• Support Fleet Management in minimizing off-hire and avoidable operating costs through proactive readiness checks, early identification of compliance gaps and effective planning of inspections and mobilizations.
People & Leadership Responsibilities:
• Provide professional guidance, coaching and operational support to Vessel Masters and senior deck officers while respecting the Master's overriding authority and responsibility for safety onboard.
• Promote consistent marine standards across the fleet through inspections, fleet meetings, lessons learned, standard checklists and sharing of best practices.
• Support performance reviews and competency feedback for Masters and key marine personnel as requested by Fleet Management.
• Maintain constructive working relationships across Operations, Technical, QHSE, Crewing, Projects, Commercial and Procurement to resolve vessel issues efficiently.
Strategic Responsibilities:
• Maintain a fleet marine assurance and compliance plan covering inspection cycles, client requirements, recurring findings, training needs, operational risks and readiness priorities.
• Identify changes in client requirements, statutory obligations and offshore marine practices that may affect the fleet and coordinate timely implementation of required actions.
• Provide regular reports to Fleet Management on vessel readiness, inspection findings, compliance status, mobilization progress, client issues, crewing risks and major marine operational concerns.
Drive continuous improvement in marine assurance, mobilization efficiency, client acceptance, crew competence and vessel operational readiness.

Qualifications

Educational and Technical Qualifications:

• Master Mariner Certificate of Competency (STCW II/2) or equivalent recognized unlimited/master-level marine qualification is strongly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of offshore vessel marine operations, DP2 operations, safe navigation, bridge resource management, mooring, deck operations and vessel mobilization activities.

• Sound working knowledge of the ISM Code, ISPS Code, MLC 2006, STCW, SOLAS and applicable flag/class/statutory requirements relevant to offshore vessel operations.

• Good understanding of class and flag survey/audit processes, client marine assurance requirements, port-state expectations and vessel certification control.

• DP certification and/or substantial operational experience on DP2 vessels is highly desirable; experience with accommodation and diving support vessels is preferred.

• Experience with ADNOC, Aramco or comparable major offshore client marine assurance and vessel acceptance requirements is an advantage.

• Strong competence in vessel inspection, audit preparation, incident investigation, risk assessment, report writing, corrective-action follow-up and client interface.

• Good proficiency in MS Office, PMS/CMMS and electronic vessel/crew compliance tracking systems.

Language Skills:

• Excellent English

Years of Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of marine/offshore experience, including significant senior deck experience and preferably at least 3 years as Master or Chief Officer on DP2 offshore support, accommodation or diving support vessels. Previous shore-based Port Captain / Marine Superintendent / marine assurance experience is highly desirable.

Nature of Experience:

• Hands-on experience managing marine operations and vessel readiness for DP2 offshore vessels in active charter/project environments.

• Demonstrated experience with vessel inspections, client acceptance, mobilization/demobilization, audit preparation and close-out of findings.

• Practical experience managing ISM/ISPS/MLC, flag/class and crewing-related compliance matters in coordination with relevant shore departments.

• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills, with confidence dealing directly with Masters, clients, authorities and senior management.

• Ability to travel frequently and attend vessels, shipyards, ports and offshore locations at short notice, including outside normal office hours when operationally required.

• High level of professional judgment, integrity and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize multiple vessels and time-critical operational requirements.