Port Captain (Asia)

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the SVP - Fleet Operations, the Port Captain functions with considerable independence and initiative and is responsible for the safe, compliant and efficient marine operation of our fleet. This role works regularly in Asia, supporting our vessels, officers and customers on the ground, and when in the U.S., works a schedule built around Asia business hours. In this role, you will keep our vessels inspection-ready and in step with Port State, Flag, Class and customer requirements, lead investigations, and serve as the go-to marine resource for our Masters and Chief Mates. This is a hands-on role for a Port Captain who puts safety first, thrives on international travel, and enjoys developing shipboard leaders as much as solving operational problems.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Treats health, safety and the environment as the top priority and supports the Director of Fleet Operations and Vessel Managers in all marine aspects of vessel operations.

Works extensively in Asia, serving as the company's on-site Port Captain with vessels, terminals, port authorities, agents and customers in the region.

Oversees the company's OCIMF portal and dashboard, drives SIRE readiness through company policies and procedures, and maintains vessel Q88 records.

Ensures vessels comply with Port State, Flag State, Class, federal, state and port authority requirements, as well as company and customer terminal policies, including those of Asian port and terminal authorities.

Serves as a member of the Emergency Response Team.

Leads investigations of incidents, near misses, non-conformities and external audit findings, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Evaluates, coaches and mentors Masters; helps recruit and select Master and Chief Mate candidates and recommends promotions to Chief Mate and Master.

Provides training to Masters and Chief Mates on company processes and systems.

Monitors voyage performance, including speed and fuel consumption, and supports commercial issues and customer needs.

Visits vessels regularly, leads shipboard safety meetings, building strong professional relationships with officers and crew.

Keeps the West Palm Beach office connected to operations in Asia, providing timely updates and hand-offs across time zones.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in marine transportation, nautical science or a related maritime discipline; maritime academy graduates strongly preferred.

8+ years of maritime experience, including seagoing service as a licensed deck officer.

USCG Master or Chief Mate license (or equivalent STCW certificate) strongly preferred.

Shoreside Port Captain, Marine Superintendent or similar experience preferred.

Experience working with vessels, ports, terminals or customers in Asia strongly preferred.

Hands-on experience with OCIMF SIRE inspections, vessel vetting and Q88.

Strong working knowledge of Port State, Flag, Class, USCG and IMO requirements, including ISM and ISPS/MTSA.

Proven experience conducting incident investigations and root cause analysis.

Willingness and ability to travel frequently and for extended periods, particularly to Asia; must hold a valid U.S. passport, pass a post-offer background check, and obtain a TWIC within three months of hire.

When in the U.S., the selected candidate will work a flexible schedule that overlaps with Asia business hours, along with time in the West Palm Beach office as agreed with the SVP - Fleet Operations. The selected candidate is expected to perform work outside and beyond normal working hours during times of critical deadlines, vessel emergencies, or other time-sensitive duties.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL, SLNC offers competitive pay, an exceptional culture and a generous benefits package.

By applying to this position, you consent to your application materials being processed through Indeed Talent Scout, Indeed Smart Sourcing, and associated AI/LLM tools as part of our application process.

Schuyler Line Navigation Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

This posting may be closed or canceled at any time based on business needs.

SLNC does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, recruiters, or search firms. Please do not forward candidate profiles to our employees, hiring managers, or leadership. Any resumes received without a current, signed contractual agreement for this role with our HR department will be considered gratis referrals, and no placement fee will be owed, regardless of whether the candidate is subsequently hired.

Able to successfully pass a post-offer background check.