Jobs: Chief Mate (1st Mate) Uncruise Adventures

WHO WE ARE

At UnCruise, we work together to support and build a brand that provides an enriching adventure travel experience that inspires an appreciation of local cultures and the natural world. Sometimes that means we kayak among icebergs, travel to hidden waterfalls with a local guide or snorkel with sea lions, dive with manta rays and share air with whales. Our destinations include Alaska, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Costa Rica & Panama, Galapagos, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortes and Pacific Northwest. Every employee plays a major role in bringing the adventure to life. When you join our team, you become an important part of our uniqueness.​

JOB SUMMARY

The 1^st Mate supervises, trains and coordinates activities of the deck force and is responsible for assisting with the vessel’s piloting, navigation, safety, security, first aid, cleanliness, and small boat operations. The 1^st Mate reports to the Master of the vessel and will assist the Master in communicating and enforcing all company policies and procedures. The 1^st Mate is also a member of the Vessel Leadership Team (VLT); a group of managers that act as a team to solve problems and discuss important matters aboard the vessel.

APPLY ONLINE: https://www.uncruise.com/apply

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Assume command of the ship in the event the Captain becomes incapacitated.
• Inspects the vessel for overall cleanliness, including engine room, deck areas, crew quarters, windows and exterior hull.
• Maintain deck supply inventories and requisitions.
• Act as vessel security officer.
• Prepare vessel for and attends all U.S. Coast Guard annual dry docks and inspections.
• Maintain professional demeanor with guests, crew, staff, agents, officials and the public.
• Participate in guest activities and public relations such as recaps, dining with guests, etc. as directed by the Captain.
• Exhibit an aptitude and enthusiasm for training and managing inexperienced crewmembers.
• Trains deck force in skills needed to perform docking, anchoring, watch duties, safety and routine ship maintenance.
• Direct the deck force and handles communications between bridge, crew and dock personnel during docking procedures.
• Supervise crew engaged in cleaning and maintaining deck, superstructure, and bridge of ship.
• Review and updates watch and duty work lists.
• Evaluate and documents the performance of the deck force as directed in performance appraisal guidelines.

Watch Duty:

• Assume responsibility for bridge navigation and deck watch during specified periods. Determines geographical position of the ship, using all available means such as GPS, radar ranges, visual observations, depth sounders, etc.
• Make necessary entries in navigation and radio logs.
• Handle the vessel (as directed by the Captain) in docking, anchoring, piloting, en route, in close quarters and open sea conditions.
• Navigate vessel to ensure avoidance of marine hazards such as reefs, outlying shoals, shallow waters, etc. using aids to navigation such as lights, lighthouses, and buoys.

Small Boat Operations:

• Drive inflatable boats as needed.
• Assist with loading guests, staff, and crew in and out of inflatable boats.

Safety and Security:

• Follow company safety and pollution prevention policies and procedures and requests supervisory assistance/guidance when necessary.
• Direct crew in emergency drills. Conducts onboard safety training and drills as directed by the Captain, including fire, abandon ship, man overboard, flooding and medical emergencies.
• Perform gangway watch as directed by the duty schedule.
• Act as vessel Medical Officer; maintains first aid kits and medical supplies on board as well as filling out all guest, crew and staff injury/illness reports. Assists Captain with treating injured/ill guests and crew. Ensures proper handling and disposal of biohazards. Contacts emergency services when required.
• Maintain and administers vessel Preventive Maintenance Plan and Safety Training Program.
• Oversee vessel hazard communications program and related training, including material Safety Data Sheets and utilization of personal protective equipment.
• Participate in shore side training as required by the company.
• Ensure compliance with the company Safety Management System including Emergency Response Activities; reports non-conformities to vessel master and appropriate shore-side personnel.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervise the Deckhands in daily vessel operation including; maintenance, boat operations, docking, undocking and anchoring. Supervise Boatswain in maintenance and operation of rescue and inflatable boats. Train employees, assign and direct work, monitor performance, reward and discipline employees, address complaints and resolve problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience operating port-to-port in Southeast Alaska.
• At least 360 sea days of Mate experience on passenger-carrying vessels, including supervisory responsibility and social interaction with guests.
• Excellent crisis management skills; able to act quickly with confidence while exercising sound judgment.
• Strong time management skills; able to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Personal computer experience: MS Windows applications with extensive use of MS Word and MS Excel.
• Communicate effectively in both one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees.
• Excellent written English language skills, with the ability to prepare documents and reports in a timely manner.
• Able to perform voyage planning and navigational calculations as well as lifting and rigging calculations appropriate to vessel operations.
• Able to problem solve and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Able to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Required Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Valid Passport
• CPR / First Aid / AED
• Advanced Medical Training (e.g. Med Care Provider, WFR, EMT-B)
• Medical Fitness Certificate
• Drug/Alcohol Test Specimen Collector
• USCG 100T Master or Mate License (1)
• Kitts Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) (2)
• Kitts Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) (2)
• Chief Mate Endorsement II/2 (USCG License: 500T Mate NC) (3)
• STCW Advanced Firefighting (3)
• Bridge Resource Management (3)
• STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft (3)
• Valid TWIC (4)
• FCC Marine Radio Operator’s Permit (4)
• Radar Observer Unlimited (4)
• STCW Basic Training (5)
• STCW Crowd Management (Company provided if needed) (5)
• STCW Crisis Management (Company provided if needed) (5)
• VPDSD (Company provided if needed) (5)
• ECDIS Endorsement (6)
• STCW Leadership and Managerial Skills (6)
• GMDSS Endorsement (7)
• MARSEC Card (8)
• Vessel Security Officer (9)
• ARPA Endorsement (9)

1. Near Coastal License required for Safari Explorer Hawaii itinerary and Safari Endeavour Baja itinerary
2. Required for Safari Voyager – Company provided
3. Required for Safari Voyager
4. Required for all vessels, except Safari Voyager
5. Required for Safari Voyager, Safari Endeavour, and Safari Quest; preferred on other vessels
6. Required for Safari Voyager and Safari Endeavour; preferred on other vessels
7. Required for Safari Endeavour, preferred on other vessels
8. Required on Safari Explorer Hawaii itinerary (If you do not currently have, there will be a training once onboard)
9. Company preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Length of Work Shift- Physically able to work 12 hours per day, 7 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Rotations off the vessel are usually 2-3 weeks.
• Mobility- Frequent bending, reaching, twisting, kneeling, crawling, and pushing/pulling. Must ascend and descend stairs and ladders, sometimes while carrying tools or objects. Able to stand or sit for long periods of time.
• Handling/Strength- Able to handle, lift, and lower objects totaling 50 pounds between the ground/deck level to a height of about 4 to 6 feet, and able to repeat these movements. Able to carry these objects up to 100 feet continuously for 20 minutes.
• Environmental Conditions- Able to work in all weather conditions, around loud noise, in small spaces, and fit through a 28-inch wide hatch.

WORK SCHEDULE

Daily 12-hour shifts are comprised of approximately two 4-hour watches, plus 4 hours of administrative and supervisory activities. However, each work day may vary depending on overall needs of the vessel and/or vessel personnel. This position may require overnight and/or night shift hours.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

Department: Deck | Job Type: Seasonal