Job Descriptions
Captain Sometimes referred to as “master” in some ads. The
captain has ultimate responsibility for the vessel and authority over
officers and crew. The tugboat is a multi-million dollar asset that
can be manned by over a dozen crew members on larger vessels.
The captain is responsible for lives of her crew and the safe and
economical operation of the vessel. The qualifications sought by a
tugboat company may vary according to the size of its fleet. A captain
is expected to possess managerial and leadership skills in addition
to competence in navigation, seamanship and towing operations.
We aren’t going to list every possible combination of tonnage and
endorsement that appears out there.
However, these are the USCG license qualifications generally
sought:
▪ 100 Ton Master
▪ 200 Ton Master
▪ 500 Ton Master
▪ 1600 Ton Master
Other requirements may include towing endorsements, ocean
endorsements, GMDSS and STCW 95.
Mate The mate directly reports to the captain. Depending on the
vessel, the mate handles or oversees vessel navigation, vessel
docking operations, ship assist operations, ship and barge towing
operations, deck crew operations and command of the vessel
where directed by the master. These are the USCG qualifications
generally sought for mate positions:
▪ 100 Ton Mate
▪ 200 Ton Mate
▪ 500 Ton Mate
▪ 1600 Ton Mate
Other requirements may include towing endorsements, ocean
endorsements, GMDSS and STCW 95.
Able Bodied Seaman, or Able Seaman The able seaman, or AB,
carries out job assignments given out by the captain or mate. This
includes ship assist or barge towing operations. May require STCW
95.
Deckhand The deckhand carries out job assignments given out by
the captain or mate. This includes ship assist or barge towing
operations. May require STCW 95.
Chief Engineer The chief engineer, or chief, is in charge of the
operation and maintenance of a tugboat’s main engines, loading of
fuel and cargo, auxiliary machinery and engineering crew. In
addition to the main engineers, the chief engineer is responsible for
diesel polishing systems, fuel service and transfer systems,
generator sets, electrical distribution system, hydraulic systems,
compressed air systems, sanitation systems, service water,
heating and air conditioning plant, watermaking unit and other
auxiliaries. However, these are the USCG license qualifications
generally sought:
▪ Chief Engineer Limited
▪ Chief Engineer Unlimited
Designated Duty Engineer The designated duty engineer reports to
the chief and assists in the operation of engines, auxiliaries and
other ship systems. However, these are the USCG license
qualifications generally sought:
▪ Designated Duty Engineer
Job descriptions are continued in the white box to the right. Contact
information for the USCG REC's (Regional Examination Centers)
appears below:
Copyright 2006 - Copyright Warning
Rights reserved - U.S. Copyright Law Carries Criminal & Civil
Penalties for Infringement - 17 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 2319
Captain Sometimes referred to as “master” in some ads. The
captain has ultimate responsibility for the vessel and authority over
officers and crew. The tugboat is a multi-million dollar asset that
can be manned by over a dozen crew members on larger vessels.
The captain is responsible for lives of her crew and the safe and
economical operation of the vessel. The qualifications sought by a
tugboat company may vary according to the size of its fleet. A captain
is expected to possess managerial and leadership skills in addition
to competence in navigation, seamanship and towing operations.
We aren’t going to list every possible combination of tonnage and
endorsement that appears out there.
However, these are the USCG license qualifications generally
sought:
▪ 100 Ton Master
▪ 200 Ton Master
▪ 500 Ton Master
▪ 1600 Ton Master
Other requirements may include towing endorsements, ocean
endorsements, GMDSS and STCW 95.
Mate The mate directly reports to the captain. Depending on the
vessel, the mate handles or oversees vessel navigation, vessel
docking operations, ship assist operations, ship and barge towing
operations, deck crew operations and command of the vessel
where directed by the master. These are the USCG qualifications
generally sought for mate positions:
▪ 100 Ton Mate
▪ 200 Ton Mate
▪ 500 Ton Mate
▪ 1600 Ton Mate
Other requirements may include towing endorsements, ocean
endorsements, GMDSS and STCW 95.
Able Bodied Seaman, or Able Seaman The able seaman, or AB,
carries out job assignments given out by the captain or mate. This
includes ship assist or barge towing operations. May require STCW
95.
Deckhand The deckhand carries out job assignments given out by
the captain or mate. This includes ship assist or barge towing
operations. May require STCW 95.
Chief Engineer The chief engineer, or chief, is in charge of the
operation and maintenance of a tugboat’s main engines, loading of
fuel and cargo, auxiliary machinery and engineering crew. In
addition to the main engineers, the chief engineer is responsible for
diesel polishing systems, fuel service and transfer systems,
generator sets, electrical distribution system, hydraulic systems,
compressed air systems, sanitation systems, service water,
heating and air conditioning plant, watermaking unit and other
auxiliaries. However, these are the USCG license qualifications
generally sought:
▪ Chief Engineer Limited
▪ Chief Engineer Unlimited
Designated Duty Engineer The designated duty engineer reports to
the chief and assists in the operation of engines, auxiliaries and
other ship systems. However, these are the USCG license
qualifications generally sought:
▪ Designated Duty Engineer
Job descriptions are continued in the white box to the right. Contact
information for the USCG REC's (Regional Examination Centers)
appears below:
Copyright 2006 - Copyright Warning
Rights reserved - U.S. Copyright Law Carries Criminal & Civil
Penalties for Infringement - 17 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 2319
| Towing and transportation companies have openings for port engineers and dispatchers from time to time. Port Engineer This is a shoreside position. The port engineer is responsible for the maintenance of the tugboat fleet. He or she is expected to carry out necessary diagnostic, trouble shooting, and preventive maintenance measures to ensure proper operation and longevity of a tugboat’s most expensive mechanical asset, its machinery. The ideal candidates are usually experienced diesel mechanics with marine watchstanding experience. Some tug fleets will seek candidates who have obtained factory certification for a particular powertrain, such as Caterpillars, General Motors or EMD’s. In addition to marine diesel engines, the more a port engineer knows about ship systems, the better he or she will be at carrying out the job. This includes ship’s electrical systems, sanitation systems, compressed air, firefighting and other auxiliaries. Basic computer skills will enhance abilities with spare parts inventory, carrying out preventive maintenance timetable, maintaining oil analysis results, and searching for trouble shooting resources on-line. Basic mathematical skills are necessary in reading decimals and taking measurements. Dispatcher This is a shoreside position. The dispatcher is responsible for assigning tugboats to jobs. The dispatcher needs to understand the logistics of vessels traveling to and from a job, understands which tugs and crews are best suited for which jobs, and current weather and tide conditions for the waters in which the tugs operate. A dispatcher understands the strengths and limitations of all the boats in the fleets, including their horsepower, crew experience, enhanced maneuvering capabilities. |
AK Eastern Alaska 800 E. Dimond Blvd., Suite 3-227 Anchorage, Alaska 99515 Phone: (907) 271-6736 AK Western Alaska 2760 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A Phone: (907) 463-2458 CA, NV, AZ, UT Southern California - Arizona, Nevada, Utah California Center 501 W.Ocean Blvd., Suite 6200 Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone: (562) 495-1480 CA, NV Northern California California Center Oakland Federal Bldg., North Tower 1301 Clay Street, Room 180N Oakland, CA 94612-5200 Phone: (510) 637-1124 HI Hawaii 433 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-4909 Phone: (808) 522-8264 MD, DE, VA Chesapeke Area - Maryland, Delaware, Virginia Area Maryland Center U.S. Customs House 40 South Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 Phone: (410) 962-5132 MA, RI, NH, VT, ME New England Area - Massachusetts, Rhode Island New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine Area Massachusetts Center 455 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109-1045 Phone: (617) 223-3040 MO, IL, IA, MN, WS Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin Area Missouri Center 1222 Spruce Street, Suite 8.104E St. Louis, MO 63103-2835 Phone: (314) 539-3091 |
| NYC, NY, NJ, LI, CT, PA Tri-State Area - New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania Area New York Center Battery Park Building 1 South Street New York, NY 10004-1466 Phone: (212) 668-7492 WV, PA, KY, MI West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan Area Ohio Center 420 Madison Ave., Suite 700 Toledo, OH 43604 Phone: (419) 418-6010 OR, ID, NV Oregon, Idaho, Nevada Area Oregon 6767 N. Basin Avenue Portland, Oregon 97217-3992 Phone: (503) 240-9346 Mid-Atlantic Area Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina Area South Carolina Center 196 Tradd Street Charleston, South Carolina 29401-1899 Phone: (843) 720-3250 Inland of Mid-Atlantic - Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee Area Tennessee Center 200 Jefferson Ave., Suite 1302 Memphis, Tennessee 38103 Phone: (901) 544-3297 Texas Center 8876 Gulf Freeway, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77017-6595 Phone: (713) 948-3350 Idaho, Washington Area Washington Center 915 Second Ave., Room 194 Seattle, WA 98174-1067 Phone: (206) 220-7327 |
| job descriptions |
| More Job Descriptions... Tankerman The tankerman carries out cargo loading and discharging operations, spill response, and duties associated with tank entry. QMED QMED, or qualified member of the engine department, carries out tasks assigned by the chief or DDE in the engine department. Other requirements may include STCW 95. Cook, Chief Cook The cook prepares food for the crew and arranges for purchasing of ship’s food stores Steward, Chief Steward Depending on the vessel, the cook may be identified as steward. Trainee Entry level position for working one’s way up towards qualified deckhand |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tugboat Jobs - Barge Jobs - Workboats - Pushboats - Maritime Employment - Maritime Jobs Marine Industry Jobs - Marine Employment - Offshore Jobs - Harbor Jobs - Workboat Jobs |
Trivia: What is a tractor tug ? |
| Are you good at using a vernier caliper like the one shown above? Do you know how to use a micrometer or dial indicator? Are you good with decimals and machine shop measurements? Do you have enough experience to oversee the work of diesel mechanics, welders and other outside contract services? Those are just some of the skills needed to be a good Port Engineer. Read more about the position below. |
Do you know how to use one of these? Can you perform basic arithmetic functions such as
converting fractions of inches to decimals? Read more below...
converting fractions of inches to decimals? Read more below...
| Trivia: What is the celestial sphere ? |
| Engine Question Prior to entering a cargo pumproom, you should ensure that _____________ . a. the cargo pumps are secured b. a suitable gas mask is available d. the oily water separator is de-energized d. the forced ventilating system is operating |
