Curtin Maritime

Marine transportation, construction, dredging, subsea installations

Experienced Tugboat Captain

Vehicle Operation & DeliveryUpdated on Nov 12

Full-timeOakland, CA, USA$725 - $1.3k

About the Job

Requirements

Demonstrate attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Handle stressful situations with focus and make safe, effective decisions in potentially dangerous conditions.
Demonstrate responsibility and ownership by being proactive in all situations and tasks.
Mentor others and invest in their development and success.
Communicate effectively with office staff and instruct or train crew members at multiple levels.
Apply logistical and mechanical reasoning to plan and execute voyages and understand vessel mechanics and movement.
Traverse uneven ground and walk gangways at various heights; bend, stoop, or squat frequently; and climb high steps or ladders several times a day.
Safely lift at least 40 pounds and move heavy, large, or awkward equipment.
Catch and handle lines, make up tows with wire rigging, operate deck machinery, and work on equipment that is poorly accessible.
Work below decks in areas that may be dark and in confined spaces.
Think clearly during stressful situations and emergencies, perform emergency duties, and use emergency equipment onboard the vessel.
Maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness, and be able to swim.
Hold a minimum 200 GRT Master of Towing Vessels Near Coastal license or a 500 GRT Master Near Coastal license with TOAR for Captain I; Captain II requires all Captain I licenses; Captain III requires all Captain I and II licenses plus a minimum 500 GRT Master of Towing Vessels license and Oceans endorsement.
Have a passport and VSO.
Demonstrate proficiency in inland and coastwise towing and voyage planning, including tow wire, push, hip, and working in current; properly use tow pins, surge chains, tow wire, VHF radio, lines, and rigging.
Operate the Vessel Management System (VMS), comply with the Curtin Standard, and maintain thorough records.
Own vessel operations, assign projects, hold crew accountable, maintain professionalism with staff, regulators, customers, agents, and crews, and provide crew coaching, feedback, and required performance evaluations.
For Captain II, perform anchor handling and operate assigned vessels; conduct ocean and tandem towing, bar crossings, ocean voyage preparation, and barge rigging; plan proactively to maximize operational efficiency; and understand rigging and cordage.
For Captain II, fully operate and use VMS, conduct audits and corrective actions, understand Sub-M, ABS, and USCG requirements, lead crews and vessels through audits and inspections, and maintain impeccable records.
For Captain III, lead crews starting new jobs by identifying safe routes, standard operating procedures, efficiencies, required notifications, and training; perform deadship rigging and towing, including towing-package and component design; and conduct advanced ocean tandem or triple towing and rigging-package design.
For Captain III, create standard operating procedures, commission new vessels, complete internal and external audits, develop audit criteria, and demonstrate strong VMS performance and train others in its use.
For Captain III, manage drydockings and repairs, commission vessels, prepare inactive vessels to enter service, and manage project interactions with customers, agents, and the shoreside team.

Responsibilities

Work directly with the Port Captain and uphold the company's operating standards and core values onboard.
Plan and execute vessel voyages and towing operations.
Lead, coach, train, and manage crew members; provide feedback and complete required performance evaluations.
Assign projects, maintain accountability, and ensure professional working relationships with company staff, regulators, customers, agents, and crews.
For Captain II, strategically plan operations, including watch schedules that maintain STCW rest requirements and using downtime to obtain provisions, fuel, water, spare parts, and consumables.
For Captain II, maintain an ongoing training environment onboard and lead crews through audits and inspections.
For Captain III, lead crews on new jobs, establish safe routes and operating procedures, and coordinate notifications and training across crews.
For Captain III, manage vessel commissioning, drydockings, repairs, audits, and project delivery with customers, agents, and shoreside personnel.

Desired Qualifications

For Captain I, hold STCW Master 500 GT Near Coastal and an Oceans endorsement.
For Captain II, hold STCW Med PIC and all Captain I preferred licenses.
For Captain III, hold all Captain I and II preferred licenses.
For Captain II, have experience in anchor handling, ocean towing, tandem towing, bar crossings, ocean voyage preparation, barge rigging, audits, and corrective actions.
For Captain III, have experience towing a wide range of vessels and conditions, creating standard operating procedures, commissioning new vessels, completing and designing audit criteria, training others to use VMS, managing drydockings and repairs, and managing customer and project coordination.

EXPERIENCED TUGBOAT CAPTAIN – MULTIPLE OPENINGS

Live anywhere in the US. Curtin Maritime provides fully paid, company-coordinated travel to and from the vessel.

Efficiency. Innovation. Integrity. These are our 3 Pillars. At Curtin Maritime, these core values are the framework for safe performance and operational excellence; proof of these pillars is evident in our people and our fleet. For 25 years, Curtin Maritime has been an industry leader in quality maritime solutions. We are a dynamic Marine Construction and Marine Transportation company experiencing rapid growth. Our team provides customers with a complete suite of maritime solutions, allowing us the incredible opportunity to work on unique projects in some of the most amazing places on earth.

THIS ROLE:

Captain I, II, III will work directly with the Port Captain, applying our three core values of Innovation, Integrity, and Efficiency and maintaining the Curtin Standard onboard.

WHO YOU ARE:

Mental Aptitudes

Attention to detail / excellent organizational skills
Ability to handle stressful situations with focus, including safe and effective decision making under potentially dangerous conditions.
Continuously demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and ownership by being pro-active in all situations/tasks
Understanding importance of being a mentor, ability to invest in the development and success of others
Superior communication skills, ability to speak to your audience whether it be the office or instructing/training multi-levels of crew, etc.
Strong logistical and mechanical reasoning skills, ability to not only plan and execute voyage, but also have a complete understanding of the vessel (mechanical and movement)

Physical Aptitudes

Agility to traverse uneven ground and to walk, gangways at various heights
Agility to bend, stoop, or squat frequently and climb high steps/ladders several times a day
Ability to lift at least 40 pounds safely; moving equipment that is heavy, large, or awkward
Physical dexterity and strength to catch and handle lines; make up tows with wire rigging; operate deck machinery; work on equipment that is poorly accessible
Ability to work below decks in an area that may experience periods of darkness; work in confined spaces
Ability to think clearly during stressful situations or during an emergency
Ability to perform emergency duties and use emergency equipment onboard vessel
Demonstrate good personal hygiene, always maintain cleanliness
Must be able to swim

*Rates listed include Curtin Standard Performance Bonus. Employee is eligible for a performance bonus based on meeting minimum criteria as outlined in the Curtin Standard Performance Bonus Checklist. Employee will be evaluated on performance criteria at the end of their hitch if on regular rotation or at the end of the month if performing local day work. If criteria are met employee will earn a 20% increase on base day rate for their next scheduled hitch or month of work. Criteria must continue to be met to maintain eligibility. Full performance details and program eligibility requirements will be provided.

Captain I - $725 - $900/day

LICENSES & REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum 200 GRT Master of Towing Vessels Near Coastal OR
500 GRT Master Near Coastal w/ TOAR
Passport
VSO

PREFERRED LICENSES & REQUIREMENTS:

STCW Master 500 GT Near Coastal
Oceans endorsement

VESSEL PROFICIENCIES:

Inland and Coastwise towing and voyage planning (tow wire, push, hip, working in current)
Proper use of tow pins, surge chains, tow wire etiquette, VHF radio etiquette, various lines/rigging, etc.

COMPLIANCE:

Proficient in operation of Vessel Management System (VMS)
Understanding and compliance with the Curtin Standard
Thorough recordkeeping

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT:

Ownership of vessels; assign projects and hold everyone accountable
Maintain professionalism with Curtin staff, regulatory bodies, customers, agents, crews, etc.
Advanced crew management skills. Ability to coach crew members and provide feedback for improved performance. Completes required performance evaluations.

Captain II - $750 - $1020/day

LICENSES & REQUIREMENTS:

All those listed in Captain I

PREFERRED LICENSES & REQUIREMENTS:

STCW Med PIC
All those listed in Captain I

VESSEL PROFICIENCIES:

Anchor Handling
Skilled operation of assigned vessels
Ocean towing, tandem towing in various arrangements, bar crossings, etc.
Ocean voyage preparation, rigging barges for tow
Critical path and proactive planning to maximize efficiency in operations
Thorough understanding of rigging and cordage

COMPLIANCE:

Full utilization and operation of VMS
Experienced in auditing and proactively completing corrective actions
Thorough understanding of Sub-M, ABS, and USCG requirements
Attend and lead crews and vessels through audits and inspections
Impeccable recordkeeping

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT:

Act as a leader and mentor to all by leading by example and getting your hands dirty. The Captain should be capable of performing the basic duties of all other crew onboard.
Strategic planning and consideration (Maintaining STCW rest requirements by dogging of watches, taking advantage of downtime to take provisions/fuel/water, spare parts, consumables, etc.)
Maintain a constant training ground on board the vessel
Provide critical and constructive feedback to crew. Complete required performance evaluations.

Captain III - $850 - $1320/day

LICENSES & REQUIREMENTS:

All those listed in Captain I & II
Minimum 500 GRT Master of Towing Vessels
Oceans Endorsement

PREFERRED LICENSES & REQUIREMENTS:

All those listed in Captain I & II

VESSEL PROFICIENCIES:

“Tow anything, anywhere in the world, on any boat, with any crew”
Pathfinder – Lead crews when starting a new job. Identify safe routes, SOP’s, efficiencies, proper notifications and trainings of all other crews.
Deadship rigging and towing, including design of towing package and components
Advanced ocean tandem/triple towing and design of rigging packages

COMPLIANCE:

Experience creating SOP’s and commissioning new vessels
Well versed in completing external and internal audits, as well as building audit criteria to improve the Curtin Standard
Proven track record of performance in the VMS, as well as training of others in its use and function

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT:

Experience managing drydockings and repairs
Proficient in commissioning’s, “Take a dark dead boat with nothing on it and get it ready to work!”
Ability to act as your own project manager. Interacting with and managing customers, agents, Curtin Shoreside Team, etc.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Competitive Compensation
Generous benefits package including:
Medical
Dental
Vision
Short-term Disability
AD&D/Life Insurance
401k (with company match)
Additional option to elect incremental Life Insurance for employee and dependents, and choice to elect Health and/or Dependent Flexible Spending Account.

Curtin Maritime is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

About the Company

Curtin Maritime

Marine transportation, construction, dredging, subsea installations

Curtin Maritime provides marine solutions, including marine transportation, dredging, construction, and subsea installations, serving government, commercial, and private clients in the United States and around the world. It works by offering end-to-end project support: from design through execution, with flexible delivery models that include time charters and turnkey lump-sum solutions. Revenue comes from contracts for marine transport, project cargo, heavy lift work, and other specialized maritime services. The company differentiates itself through its ability to tailor services to each project phase, its dual delivery options (time charter and turnkey), and its emphasis on safety, customer satisfaction, and environmental stewardship. Its goal is to complete projects efficiently and safely, meeting client needs on time and within budget through customized, responsible maritime solutions.

Company size: 201-500
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Long Beach, CA
Founded: 1997

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