Trial Captain

About Us

Are you an experienced maritime professional with strong leadership capabilities and a passion for delivering high-quality vessels? Do you enjoy working in a dynamic international shipbuilding environment where safety, quality, and operational excellence are key priorities? Then this opportunity could be your next career step.

Damen Song Cam Shipyard (DSCS) is part of the Damen Shipyards Group, a leading global shipbuilder specializing in the design and construction of tugboats, workboats, and high-speed crafts. Through standardized and smart-customized shipbuilding solutions, Damen continuously delivers innovative and reliable vessels to customers worldwide.

With shipbuilding facilities in Hai Phong, Vietnam, and cooperation across Damen shipyards globally, we strive to become the world's most sustainable and connected shipbuilder.

The Role

As a Trial Captain, you are responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing sea trials for newly built vessels to ensure they meet contractual, regulatory, and operational requirements before delivery to clients.

You will act as the operational leader during sea trials and vessel delivery voyages, coordinating activities between project teams, classification societies, customers, subcontractors, and vessel crews. Your expertise will contribute directly to the successful completion and handover of high-quality vessels that meet Damen standards.

The Trial Captain works within the Commissioning & Sea Trial Department, collaborating closely with project managers, commissioning engineers, production teams, and external stakeholders throughout vessel testing and delivery phases.

Key Responsibilities

As a Trial Captain, your responsibilities include:

• Planning, organizing, and leading harbor acceptance tests (HAT), sea acceptance tests (SAT), and vessel delivery trials.
• Acting as the primary operational authority onboard during trial and delivery activities.
• Coordinating trial programs with project teams, customers, classification societies, and relevant authorities.
• Verifying vessel performance against contractual specifications, regulatory requirements, and safety standards.
• Supervising trial crews, subcontractors, and operational personnel during testing activities.
• Monitoring navigation, propulsion, steering, maneuvering, safety systems, and overall vessel performance during trials.
• Identifying technical and operational deficiencies and coordinating corrective actions with relevant departments.
• Preparing and reviewing sea trial reports, observations, punch lists, and final acceptance documentation.
• Supporting vessel delivery voyages and ensuring successful handover to clients.
• Promoting and maintaining a strong safety culture throughout all trial and delivery activities.
• Ensuring compliance with company procedures, maritime regulations, class rules, and statutory requirements.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Navigation
• Valid maritime certificates of competency required for command-level functions.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of seagoing experience, preferably in command positions or senior deck officer roles.
• Experience conducting vessel sea trials, commissioning activities, vessel delivery, or shipbuilding projects is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with tugboats, workboats, offshore vessels, or other commercial vessel operations is an advantage.
• Knowledge of international maritime regulations, class requirements, and safety management systems.

Competencies

• Strong leadership and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent planning, coordination, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and solve operational challenges effectively.
• Strong safety awareness and commitment to operational excellence.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for vessel trials and deliveries when required.

At Damen, we believe our people are our greatest asset. We continuously invest in professional growth, innovation, and employee wellbeing.

We offer:

• A dynamic international working environment focused on technology and innovation.
• Competitive salary package.
• Holiday bonus, Tet bonus, and quarterly bonus.
• Monthly fuel allowance.
• 24/7 accident insurance and healthcare insurance for employees and spouses.
• Full Social Insurance contribution in accordance with Vietnamese regulations.
• Business trip allowances for trial voyages and vessel deliveries.
• Extensive training and development opportunities.
• Opportunities to work on international shipbuilding projects with global Damen teams.