Port Captain

Black & Grey HR is seeking a Port Captain – Offshore & Marine to join our client's marine operations team based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is a permanent shore-based role with regular visits to ports, vessels, shipyards, and offshore project locations, providing marine assurance, nautical oversight, and operational support across the company's owned and chartered vessel fleet.

You will serve as the shore-based marine authority, ensuring safe and compliant vessel operations while supporting offshore campaigns, marine logistics, port coordination, and vessel assurance activities. Working closely with Vessel Masters, Marine Operations, Project Teams, Port Authorities, Class Societies, and Clients, you will ensure vessels operate in accordance with international maritime regulations, client requirements, and company marine standards.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide marine assurance oversight across the company's fleet, including DP vessels, survey vessels, offshore support vessels, workboats, and third-party chartered vessels, ensuring safe and efficient marine operations.

- Monitor and enforce compliance with the ISM Code, SOLAS, MARPOL, flag state regulations, class requirements, and company marine management systems across all assigned vessels.

- Coordinate with port authorities, harbour masters, terminal operators, pilots, port agents, and customs authorities to facilitate vessel arrivals, departures, berth allocation, and port clearance activities.

- Provide operational guidance and support to Vessel Masters on voyage planning, marine logistics, navigation, weather routing, port operations, and offshore campaign execution.

- Conduct and review marine risk assessments, navigational risk analyses, marine assurance reviews, and vessel safety audits to identify operational risks and recommend mitigation measures.

- Investigate marine incidents, near misses, navigation events, and non-conformities, leading root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lessons learned to improve marine safety performance.

- Review and approve vessel-specific operational documentation, including pre-departure checklists, marine procedures, towing plans, voyage plans, and project-specific marine documentation.

- Participate in vessel vetting inspections, marine assurance audits, third-party vessel assessments, and pre-charter technical reviews to ensure vessels meet company and client operational standards.

- Support marine planning for offshore campaigns, vessel mobilizations, barge operations, cargo movements, and marine logistics activities while coordinating closely with project and operations teams.

- Act as the primary liaison with flag state administrations, class societies, marine warranty surveyors, clients, and marine assurance representatives regarding vessel compliance, inspections, and operational approvals.

- Monitor marine operational performance, regulatory changes, and industry best practices, supporting the continuous improvement of marine management systems, operational procedures, and safety standards.

- Mentor Vessel Masters and marine personnel by promoting safe navigation, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and a strong marine safety culture across the fleet.

Requirements

- Class 1 Master Mariner Certificate of Competency (CoC).

- 10–15 years of seagoing experience, including a minimum of 3 years serving as Master or Port Captain within offshore or marine operations.

- Strong knowledge of offshore support vessels, DP vessel operations, survey vessels, marine logistics, and offshore project execution.

- Excellent understanding of the ISM Code, SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, flag state regulations, and international maritime legislation.

- Proven experience coordinating with port authorities, harbour masters, class societies, marine warranty surveyors, and client marine representatives.

- Experience conducting marine assurance activities, vessel inspections, navigational risk assessments, incident investigations, and vessel vetting.

- Strong leadership, stakeholder management, communication, and decision-making skills in complex marine operational environments.

- Proficiency in marine reporting, risk management, and Microsoft Office applications.

Certifications (please attach below certificates)

- Valid Master Mariner Certificate of Competency (Class 1 CoC).

- Valid GMDSS Certificate.

- Dynamic Positioning (DP) Certificate is advantageous.

- ADNOC Marine Approval is highly preferred.

- ISM Internal Auditor certification is advantageous.