POSITION SUMMARY
The Dockmaster is a senior waterfront operations position responsible for the safe planning, coordination, and execution of vessel docking, undocking, movement, berthing, drydock operations, and related waterfront activities at Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI).
The position requires significant practical experience in shipyard docking and waterfront operations, including drydock preparation, docking plans, blocking and shoring arrangements, vessel movements, line handling, tug coordination, and management of personnel and resources involved in critical vessel evolutions.
In addition to supporting HPSI's current commercial and government vessel operations, this position will play a key role in developing HPSI's capabilities for future U.S. Navy and NAVSEA-regulated docking operations. The successful candidate is required to hold experience in NAVSEA-regulated docking operations at the time of hire; however, the individual should possess the experience, technical knowledge, and leadership capability necessary to support development of the shipyard's docking program toward applicable NAVSEA requirements when required by future contracts or operations.
The Dockmaster works closely with Operations, Production, Engineering, Planning, HSE, Fire & Emergency Services, Security, Project Management, shipwrights, waterfront personnel, tug operators, contractors, vessel representatives, and government/customer representatives.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
· Work to ensure that everyone inside the shipyard is safe and performing their work in accordance with HPSI’s core principles.
·Ensure that all HPSI safety procedures, rules and regulations are communicated, understood, and followed.
·Perform other related duties as required and assigned.
1. DOCKMASTER & DRYDOCK OPERATIONS
- Plan, direct, and coordinate docking and undocking operations for commercial, government, and other vessels.
- Provide operational leadership during all critical phases of docking and undocking evolutions.
- Coordinate drydock preparation, including:
- Dock layouts and docking plans
- Blocking and cribbing arrangements
- Shoring requirements
- Vessel positioning
- Line-handling requirements
- Tug and marine-service requirements
- Personnel and equipment requirements
- Waterfront support
- Review applicable vessel drawings, docking plans, hydrostatic information, calculations, procedures, and technical documentation.
- Verify that docking blocks, shores, cribbing, and related support systems are properly positioned and inspected prior to docking.
- Coordinate with Engineering, Production, HSE, vessel representatives, marine service providers, and other stakeholders during docking evolutions.
- Maintain operational oversight throughout dock flooding, vessel entry, positioning, landing, pump-down, blocking, inspection, and undocking activities.
- Monitor vessel position, dock conditions, water levels, lines, blocks, shores, stability considerations, and other critical conditions.
- Coordinate required inspections following vessel landing and dock pump-down.
- Direct or coordinate corrective actions for deficiencies identified during docking operations.
- Stop, delay, or modify docking operations when unsafe conditions, inadequate resources, procedural deviations, or unacceptable operational risks are identified.
2. WATERFRONT & VESSEL MOVEMENTS
- Plan and coordinate vessel movements throughout HPSI waterfront facilities.
- Coordinate vessel movements between drydocks, piers, berthing areas, outfitting locations, construction areas, test areas, and other designated waterfront facilities.
- Coordinate tugboats, line handlers, barges, cranes, pilots, and other marine support resources as required.
- Verify adequate qualified personnel, equipment, communications, and resources are available before vessel movements.
- Coordinate pier assignments, berthing arrangements, vessel arrivals, departures, shifts, docking, and undocking.
- Identify and resolve conflicts between vessel movements, crane operations, construction activities, drydock operations, pier activities, and other shipyard operations.
- Ensure vessel movement plans and critical operational requirements are effectively communicated to affected departments and organizations.
3. DOCKING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & NAVSEA READINESS
- Serve as a technical subject-matter resource for the continued development of HPSI's docking and waterfront operations program.
- Assist HPSI in evaluating existing docking procedures, personnel qualifications, facilities, equipment, documentation, and operational practices against anticipated future U.S. Navy and NAVSEA requirements.
- Support development and implementation of procedures, controls, training, qualification standards, documentation, and organizational responsibilities necessary to mature HPSI's docking program.
- Maintain familiarity with applicable NAVSEA docking requirements, technical manuals, standard items, Navy specifications, and other requirements relevant to future Navy docking operations.
- Identify gaps between existing HPSI docking capabilities and anticipated Navy/NAVSEA requirements and recommend practical corrective actions.
- Participate in development of a structured roadmap for achieving required Navy/NAVSEA docking capability when contractually or operationally required.
- Support future Navy/NAVSEA assessments, reviews, audits, demonstrations, and qualification activities.
- Assist in developing and mentoring additional shipyard personnel necessary to support a sustainable docking organization.
- Maintain professional competency and pursue additional Navy/NAVSEA-related training or qualification as required by HPSI's future business needs.
This position is intended to build HPSI's future NAVSEA docking capability and does not require the incumbent to possess an HPSI-specific NAVSEA Dockmaster qualification upon hire unless subsequently required by contract or regulation.
4. GOVERNMENT & U.S. NAVY WATERFRONT SUPPORT
- Support waterfront activities associated with U.S. Navy and other government vessels when assigned to HPSI.
- Coordinate with Navy representatives, Ship's Force, government personnel, Project Management, Production, Engineering, Planning, HSE, and other departments.
- Support vessel maintenance, modernization, repair, testing, inspection, and waterfront activities.
- Coordinate pier-side services, utilities, access, logistics, marine services, and other operational requirements.
- Participate in operational planning, readiness reviews, production meetings, pre-evolution briefings, and waterfront coordination meetings.
- Identify operational risks or conflicts that could affect safety, schedule, quality, vessel availability, or customer requirements.
5. OPERATIONS PLANNING & RESOURCE COORDINATION
- Participate in short- and long-range planning for shipyard docking and waterfront activities.
- Coordinate personnel, equipment, drydock capacity, pier space, tug services, line handlers, and other resources required to support vessel operations.
- Review vessel schedules, docking requirements, production priorities, emergent work, and resource requirements.
- Identify schedule and resource conflicts and recommend solutions.
- Provide Operations leadership with timely information regarding:
- Docking and vessel movement requirements
- Schedule risks
- Resource limitations
- Waterfront conflicts
- Equipment requirements
- Safety concerns
- Emergent operational issues
- Assist Operations leadership in establishing priorities when multiple projects compete for waterfront or drydock resources.
6. EMERGENT WORK
- Serve designated short-duration, waterfront, high-priority, or emergent projects as assigned.
- Coordinate multiple departments, contractors, personnel, and resources to accomplish project objectives.
- Assist in developing work plans, schedules, manpower requirements, equipment requirements, and operational controls.
- Monitor progress and resolve operational conflicts.
- Maintain communication with Project Management and senior leadership regarding schedule, cost, manpower, safety, and resource impacts.
- Ensure assigned work is safely integrated into ongoing shipyard operations.
7. SAFETY, HSE & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
- Demonstrate visible leadership and accountability for safety during docking, waterfront, and vessel movement operations.
- Ensure operations are conducted in accordance with HPSI procedures, HSE requirements, applicable OSHA maritime standards, environmental requirements, customer requirements, and applicable government requirements.
- Conduct or participate in inspections of drydock, waterfront, pier, and vessel-support operations.
- Identify unsafe conditions and ensure appropriate corrective actions are initiated.
- Exercise stop-work authority when an imminent hazard or unacceptable operational risk exists.
- Coordinate with HSE and Fire & Emergency Services for high-risk operations.
- Ensure activities involving hot work, confined spaces, hazardous materials, lifting and rigging, fall hazards, and other high-risk work are properly coordinated with the responsible departments.
- Participate in incident investigations, corrective actions, lessons learned, and operational reviews as appropriate.
8. EMERGENCY RESPONSE
- Serve as a key Operations representative during emergencies affecting vessels, drydocks, piers, or waterfront facilities.
- Support operational response to vessel fires, flooding, severe weather, power outages, equipment failures, environmental releases, serious injuries, and other waterfront emergencies.
- Coordinate with HSE, Fire & Emergency Services, Security, Emergency Management, vessel representatives, government representatives, and external emergency agencies as appropriate.
- Participate in emergency preparedness exercises involving vessels, drydocks, and waterfront facilities.
- Assist with restoration of safe operations following emergencies.
9. LEADERSHIP & PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT
- Provide leadership and technical direction to waterfront personnel, shipwrights, dock crews, assigned supervisors, and contractors.
- Establish expectations for safety, operational discipline, quality, accountability, and professional conduct.
- Assist in establishing training and qualification requirements for personnel involved in docking and vessel movement activities.
- Mentor personnel in docking practices and waterfront operations.
- Support manpower planning and resource allocation.
- Promote effective communication between Operations, Production, Engineering, Planning, HSE, Project Management, and waterfront personnel.
- Help develop organizational capability and succession depth for future Navy/NAVSEA docking operations.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate should possess:
· Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible shipyard, dry dock, or marine operations experience.
· Minimum of five (5) years of direct NAVSEA/U.S. Navy ship docking and undocking experience in a Dockmaster, Assistant Dockmaster, or equivalent responsible docking position.
· The required five (5) years of NAVSEA docking experience must include direct involvement in the planning, preparation, execution, and/or supervision of docking and undocking evolutions conducted in accordance with applicable NAVSEA requirements and procedures.
· Demonstrated experience with docking plans, blocking arrangements, vessel stability and loading considerations, dry dock systems and operations, and coordination of personnel involved in docking evolutions.
· Current or previous NAVSEA Dockmaster qualification/certification is preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Drydock operations
- Docking plans
- Blocking and cribbing
- Shoring
- Vessel positioning
- Vessel movements
- Line handling
- Tug operations
- Waterfront operations
- Demonstrated leadership experience during complex or high-risk maritime operations.
- Ability to read and interpret vessel drawings, docking plans, specifications, technical documentation, and operational procedures.
- Experience coordinating multiple departments, contractors, marine-service providers, equipment, and personnel.
- Strong understanding of industrial and maritime safety requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to make sound operational decisions during changing or time-critical conditions.
HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference will be given to candidates possessing one or more of the following:
- Previous experience as a Dockmaster, Assistant Dockmaster, Docking Officer, Docking Supervisor, Ship Superintendent, Shipwright Supervisor, or comparable senior shipyard waterfront position.
- Previous U.S. Navy shipyard, private-sector Navy ship repair, or NAVSEA-related experience.
- Experience working under NAVSEA docking requirements or Navy docking procedures.
- Previous NAVSEA-recognized Dockmaster, Docking Officer, or equivalent qualification or demonstrated experience working within a NAVSEA-qualified docking organization.
- Experience supporting U.S. Navy shipbuilding, maintenance, modernization, overhaul, or repair.
- Familiarity with Navy technical requirements, Standard Items, technical manuals, specifications, and shipyard procedures.
- Experience participating in Navy/NAVSEA inspections, audits, assessments, readiness reviews, or qualification processes.
- Experience developing docking procedures, qualification programs, training programs, or shipyard waterfront operating standards.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Docking & Undocking
- Drydock Operations
- Docking Planning
- Blocking, Cribbing & Shoring
- Vessel Movement
- Waterfront Operations
- Pier & Berthing Management
- Marine Services Coordination
- Operational Risk Management
- Shipyard Operations
- Safety Leadership
- Emergency Response
- Production & Resource Planning
- Contractor Management
- Workforce Leadership
- Technical Problem Solving
- Cross-Department Coordination
- Government & Customer Relations
- Navy/NAVSEA Readiness
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Decision making/problem solving
- Adaptability and organizational skills and understanding
- Integrity
- Conflict resolution
- Strategic thinking
- Stress management
- Willingness and ability to work as a team member
AUTHORITY & ACCOUNTABILITY
The Dockmaster & Waterfront Operations Superintendent has significant operational authority and accountability for the safe planning and execution of vessel movements, docking, undocking, berthing, drydock operations, and associated waterfront activities within the responsibilities assigned by HPSI.
The position is expected to make independent operational decisions within established HPSI policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, approved docking plans, and customer requirements.
The Dockmaster has the authority and responsibility to stop, delay, or recommend modification of an operation when unsafe conditions, inadequate resources, procedural deviations, equipment deficiencies, or unacceptable operational risks are identified.
Significant operational concerns shall be promptly elevated to Operations leadership and other appropriate HPSI or customer representatives.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The position routinely interacts with:
- Executive and Operations Leadership
- Project Management
- Production
- Engineering
- Planning
- HSE
- Fire & Emergency Services
- Security
- Environmental
- Quality Assurance
- Shipwrights and Waterfront Personnel
- Vessel Owners and Operators
- U.S. Navy and Government Representatives
- Ship's Force
- Tug, Pilot, and Marine Service Providers
- Contractors and Subcontractors
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed throughout Hanwha Philly Shipyard, including drydocks, piers, vessels, waterfront areas, construction areas, shops, and other heavy industrial work locations. The position may be exposed to noise, heat, cold, rain, wind, dust, fumes, welding and cutting operations, chemicals, heavy equipment, cranes, rigging operations, and other industrial hazards.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. A range of motion sufficient to perform general lifting, carrying, bending, stooping, climbing, working at heights, extended walking or standing, and working around vessels and heavy industrial equipment.
POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK
This is an on-site, full-time, safety-sensitive position. Work outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency call-in, may be required to support docking and undocking evolutions, vessel movements, emergent work, and other critical shipyard operations.
SUCCESS IN THIS POSITION
Success in this position requires the ability to:
- Safely plan and execute complex docking and undocking operations.
- Maintain disciplined and efficient drydock and waterfront operations.
- Anticipate and manage operational risks.
- Coordinate multiple departments, contractors, and marine-service providers.
- Effectively manage drydock, pier, and waterfront resources.
- Develop and mentor personnel involved in docking operations.
- Make sound decisions during rapidly changing conditions.
- Maintain strong working relationships with vessel owners, customers, government representatives, and shipyard departments.
- Strengthen HPSI's docking procedures, organizational capability, and technical expertise.
- Provide the experience and leadership necessary to progressively develop HPSI's docking program toward future U.S. Navy/NAVSEA qualification and operational requirements.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time or without notice.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard is committed to equal opportunity for all applicants. The recruitment, selection, employment, and training of employees during employment shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, gender or age-except that the applicant must meet the minimum age requirement. Hanwha Philly Shipyard does not, and will not, discriminate because of the disability of such an individual.
