Deputy Harbour Master

Overall Purpose

To support the Harbour Master (HM) in ensuring safety of navigation, continuity of Marine Operations, in support of the Harbour's commitment to the stakeholders. Managing commercial shipping and leisure craft, the provision of pilotage, the execution of conservancy functions, collection of dues, and the maintenance of marine infrastructure and craft.

Main Responsibilities

• Pilotage - Plan and efficiently run Pilot support Services (not as a Pilot)
• Projects - Deliver new marine projects in support of the CE/HM and strategic growth agenda.
• Marine Assets - Management and assisted preparation of maintenance plans, operational budgets including overtime, costs are monitored, and expenditure effectively controlled.
• Harbour Conservancy - Ensure the safe management of the harbour - Maintenance of Navigation safety assets, Harbour Surveys.
• Marine Safety - Maintaining an effective and compliant (with PMSC) Marine Safety Management System (MSMS) as part of an Integrated Management System. Constantly assess marine risks and manage a comprehensive risk register as part of the MSMS.

Responsibilities and Duties

Statutory, Marine Safety & Incident Management

• Under direction and accountable to the HM, the DHM is responsible for ensuring the effective management of marine safety in [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Statutory Area.
• Take a lead in emergency preparedness and response in the absence of the HM.
• Manage on behalf of the HM the Harbour Marine Safety Management System.
• As directed by HM undertake investigations into incidents or accidents as required. Investigate near misses, incidents, and dangerous occurrences.
• Scrutinise, 3rd party operations and events and their risk assessments.
• Developing and maintaining emergency response plans including oil spill plan.

Vessel Management

• Manage commercial shipping and leisure craft, the provision of pilotage, the execution of conservancy functions, collection of dues, and the maintenance of marine infrastructure and craft.
• Ensure all harbour vessels are maintained in a seaworthy condition and that their certification and coding or class documentation is kept up to date and appropriate to their employment.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Maintain an effective and compliant (with PMSC) Marine Safety Management System (MSMS) as part of BHC's Marine Safety Management System.
• Constantly assess marine risks and manage a comprehensive risk register as part of the MSMS.
• Work with HM and in partnership with, shipping agent and Pilotage provision to manage shipping movements and pilotage provision.
• Managing and updating risk assessments and the risk assessment register.
• Complete special category risk assessments as required.
• Respond to non-normal and emergency situations and escalate as required.
• Identify hazards and risks on the water in relation to role and implement change to address.
• Proactively highlight areas of improvement and instigate change.
• Carry out internal audits as required of BHC Safety Management System.
• Ensure all safety related maintenance and inspections are completed as required.

Marine Asset Management

• Input into the delivery of the maintenance programme and ensure surveys of vessels and infrastructure are undertaken at regular intervals as required to ensure safe and compliant operations.
• Propose timely asset replacement in order to maintain efficient operations.
• Oversee as delegated procurement of new marine assets to ensure that they are fit for purpose and services are resilient and sustainable.

Revenue & Costs

• Act as project manager for new marine projects as directed.
• Undertake purchasing within budgetary constraints.
• Acting on instruction of HM ensure Harbour dues are proactively charged and collected from all Commercial vessels. Support Harbour leisure staff in collection of Harbour dues from leisure vessels.

Other Duties

• Contribute to the Organisation's strategic plan - formulation and delivery.
• Work with the HM to proactively contribute to the development of departmental policy and procedures, to ensure all statutory requirements are fully met at all times for harbour and pilotage duties.
• Ensure records are maintained and that written procedures are correctly acted upon and Controlled.
• To act as Pilot boat Coxswain as required.
• Monitor training and certification and ensure all personnel in the marine departments remain competent and authorised to perform their roles. Oversee training of pilot boat crews.
• Oversee reviews of navigational aids and their performance and maintenance, act upon directions received from GLA.
• Ensure internal audit programme is delivered and carry out internal audits as required.
• Give presentations explaining the role of the harbour authority to members of the public when required.
• Deputise for HM and attend Marine Safety Committee, Emergency Response Committee and UKHMA and other external meetings as required.
• Work with the HM to monitor for new legislation, advice, guidance and outcomes of relevant MAIB investigations.
• Planning, directing and recording all safety related maintenance;
• Managing training plans and records;
• To allocate and manage all moorings ensuring optimal use throughout the year.
• To manage Duty Harbour Masters, Harbour apprentices and Harbour incremental Staff including: compiling rotas, managing individual training records, monitoring standards of performance and providing appraisals, checking timesheets.
• To ensure an accurate log of harbour activity is maintained.
• If required represent BHC publicly at meetings with outside bodies and agencies and the media portraying the BHC in a responsible and professional manner.

Qualifications and Experience

How to Apply

Applications by email to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] or by post to Harbour Master, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Commissioners, 4 Copperas Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, Essex, CO7 0AP.