Vice Captain

Summary: The Vice Captain is the Captain’s deputy and second in command, HOD for the deck departments which includes security. The Vice Captain works closely with the Captain to ensure that all safety and security procedures are followed, and compliance with the company's Safety Management System, international maritime regulations, and national and local laws. The Vice Captain is in charge of ballast water management and stability operations including Freshwater management and shall ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Vice Captain is in charge of the inspection and maintenance of the Ballast water, and Fresh water tanks. The Vice Captain is the Ship Security Officer who maintains compliance with the Ship Security Plan and company security protocols and policies with the assistance of the Head of Security and the security team. The Vice Captain is in charge of the deck maintenance, cleanliness, and upkeep with the assistance of the Bosuns and the deck team. The Vice Captain oversees all passenger operations, ensures efficient guest operation, and prioritizes the highest levels of guest satisfaction. The Vice Captain supervises the ship's officers and crew; handling matters of misconduct and discipline. The Vice Captain is responsible for budget management, inventory control, and crew supervision, providing training and tracking performance. The Vice Captain also ensures security, emergency preparedness, and efficient maintenance of critical equipment. Desired Skill and capabilities: People The Vice Captain leads and motivates teams across departments, fostering collaboration and clear communication to ensure operations efficiency and resolve conflicts. Empowers the crew through training and development, particularly in safety and operational procedures. The Vice Captain also promotes inclusivity by respecting diverse backgrounds, ensuring a harmonious and respectful environment for both crew and passengers. Demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills when interacting with guests, crew, and stakeholders. Profit Manages the Deck and Security Department budgets, making informed decisions on purchasing, spare parts, and services. By balancing cost control with operational and safety standards, the Vice Captain ensures that the ship operates efficiently while contributing to the company’s financial goals. Responsible for ensuring the efficient use of resources like freshwater, ballast, and waste systems, which contributes to cost control and operational efficiency. By maintaining the ship’s structure and equipment, they help avoid costly repairs and delays, ultimately supporting the vessel’s profitability. Operational Oversight The Vice Captain manages daily Deck Department operations, ensuring the ship’s structure, equipment, and safety systems are maintained and that voyage planning and watchkeeping are properly managed. Ensures the ship’s stability, oversees watertight integrity, and supervises emergency preparedness, including crew drills and training. Quality and Compliance: The Vice Captain ensures compliance with regulations, company procedures, and sanitation standards, coordinating audits and addressing non-conformities. The Vice Captain coordinates and assists all external parties with audits, inspections, and surveys. The Vice Captain ensures vessel readiness and compliance with the requirements. Statutory certificates management. Ensures all ship certificates are valid and that surveys are conducted in a timely manner to meet external and internal requirements. The Vice Captain plays a key role in ensuring operational compliance across all departments, supporting the overall quality management system. Strategic Planning and Innovation: The Vice Captain is involved in strategic planning by ensuring the efficient operation of the ship and contributing to long-term operational goals and improvements. The Vice Captain supports innovation by recommending improvements in systems, processes, and crew training to enhance safety, efficiency, and compliance with evolving industry standards. Yacht Integration: Ensures smooth coordination between yacht operations and the ship’s overall management, facilitating collaboration across departments for seamless functioning. Oversees the alignment of equipment, systems, and crew processes, ensuring that operational procedures meet both the yacht's needs and the ship’s standards. Education: Unlimited Master Mariners license for a foreign-going vessel. Valid training and certification in accordance with STCW, flag, and other relevant maritime certifications as per the Company’s certification guidelines. Additional training in leadership, management, or luxury hospitality is advantageous. Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in the cruise industry, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role. Proven experience in luxury hospitality, yacht, or luxury cruise line operations is highly preferred. Demonstrated record of accomplishment of successful leadership, strategic planning, and operational excellence. Must be fully versed in operational systems and technology. Travel: The Vice Captain must be available for extensive travel, spending long periods at sea. Flexibility for working during peak seasons, holidays, and extended rotations onboard the yacht. Occasional travel for training, meetings, or to attend relevant conferences. Position Outline: General Outcomes The Vice Captain/Chief Officer is Captain’s deputy and second-in-command. Vice Captain/Chief Officer should understudy the Captain in all aspects of responsibilities. Vice Captain/Chief Officer must keep Captain fully informed about any concerns regarding their responsibilities. The Safety Officer shall be the Vice Captain’s deputy. The Vice Captain shall assist the Captain in all service matters and keep him informed of significant events and trends pertaining to the welfare of the ship, guests, and crewmembers. Assist the Captain in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the yacht, ensuring smooth, safe, and efficient functioning of all onboard systems. Navigation Assist the Captain in maneuvers and capable of carrying out independent maneuvers when demanded. Identifying navigational and personnel risks during port calls. On call for emergency response and navigation hazards as directed by the Captain. On-call for all security and stability-related emergencies and response as required by the OOW or Chief Security. Ensures that all ship's stability calculations and verifications are made for the intended voyage and trains the subordinate deck officers in performing these functions. Commercial: The Vice Captain/Chief Officer is responsible for all practical issues regarding loading of the vessel, including guests and cargo. For Guests: This includes maintaining gangways, ensuring proper gangways are available, and creating a loading plan considering pier configuration and tide conditions. For Cargo: This includes ensuring proper loading platforms, water toys, and equipment are available. The Vice Captain, together with the Hotel Controller/Storekeeper, will be the points of contact for the Stevedore Company’s supervisor and, when needed, coordinate the loading with onboard departments. Responsible for establishing a safe and secure tender service for passengers and crew as needed. Responsible for contractors who come on board and may be working on deck-related areas. Overall responsible for the ship’s loading condition and shall cooperate closely with the Safety Officer and Navigation Officer in this respect. Safety & Security: Oversees all aspects of safety and security issues for the ship, its passengers, and crew, including investigating accidents, incidents, and non-conformities in conjunction with the Safety Officer and Ship’s Doctor, and ensuring timely and accurate completion of required reports. Communication with the Litigation & Claims Department is essential to facilitate a complete response, with urgency varying based on the severity of the incident. Ensures excellent cooperation among the Deck Officers to deliver the best safety, maintenance and training to the crew. Responsible for ensuring the vessel can be made seaworthy promptly when weather conditions or other situations require it, including securing hatches and stowing/securing objects. Carries out preparations on deck for arrival into ports or congested waters. Ensures all stores loaded are properly stowed and the ship is secured for sea by the time of departure, considering the possibility of heavy weather. Division Heads report to the Vice Captain for their areas and must advise of any oversized items to allow alternative storage arrangements. Ensures all openings that could permit water ingress into the hull are effectively closed. Carries out the duties of Ship Security Officer as per the Ship Security Plan. Ensures vessel staff conduct stowaway and drug searches as required. Ensures the correct implementation of "crew rounds" (crew cabins safety inspections) and in-port manning Emergency Response: Shall have a full understanding of the SMS, including their responsibilities within the Safety Organization as outlined in the Emergency Plans and Muster List/Crew Station Bill. Under emergencies, demonstrates effective command of the response, through critical thinking and decisive leadership. Compliance with the actions and notifications required by the Company’s Safety Management Systems. Effective coordination with the shoreside 24/7 Monitoring center and Emergency Response team. Assisting the Captain at the Command Center during emergencies. In-charge of stability and required actions during an emergency under the authority of the Captain. Maintenance: Ensure full awareness and up-to-date knowledge of all aspects of bridge operations and keep the Captain informed of maintenance, operational, and personnel issues related to the Bridge and Deck Department. Assisted by deck officers, ensuring compliance with the deck planned maintenance program and maintaining accurate records. Oversee the maintenance of life-saving and firefighting appliances and provide guidance to the Safety officer if needed. Oversee the Environmental and regulatory compliance and provide guidance to the Environmental officer. Ensure the identification and maintenance of critical equipment on deck. Supervise the maintenance of the hull, decks, accommodations, and tanks/void spaces. Oversee the maintenance, cleanliness, and condition of all Ballast Water tanks and Fresh Water tanks, including those integral to the ship’s hull, in coordination with the Deck Maintenance Officer as per Plan Maintenance system and its procedures. Regularly monitor the hull for fouling and immediately inform the Office in case of excessive fouling. Ensure the condition, operation, maintenance, and availability of deck equipment. Oversee the upkeep and maintenance of all deck stores. Ensure proper maintenance of work safety equipment on deck. Sanitation & Public Health: Overall responsibility for USPH matters related to the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP). Serves as the VSP shipboard Designated Manager, with clear responsibilities assigned to the Chief Engineer, Hotel Manager, F&B Manager/Maitre’D, and Doctor for implementing the VSP onboard. Ensures all duties and responsibilities are performed in accordance with USPH VSP guidelines. Oversees compliance with the Outbreak Prevention Response Plan (OPRP), frequently checking for adherence and supporting the Ship’s Doctor(s) and Hotel Manager in enforcing isolation orders for resistive guests/crew. Oversees Infection Prevention control procedures in liaison with the Doctor, ensuring Company health and sanitation standards are implemented and maintained. Ensures cleanliness, care, and maintenance of the hull, superstructure, rig, outer decks, windows, cargo gear, mooring equipment, gangways, and ladders. Supervises daily cleaning of weather decks, railings, ladders, windows, and swimming pools/jacuzzi in collaboration with the Chief Housekeeper and Hotel Engineer. Vice Captain is the head of deck departments and is responsible for: Ensuring compliance with safety and environmental protection procedures by deck and shore personnel. Ensuring the Captain’s instructions are correctly implemented through close liaison with department heads, encouraging the exchange of ideas and suggestions for improvements, and promoting team spirit throughout the ship. The Vice Captain/Chief Officer shall be available for consultation with crew members. Reporting misconduct and taking appropriate action or making recommendations to the Captain according to the Company’s policy. The Vice Captain shall, together with the Executive Committee members, enforce the Company dress code and personal grooming policy. Keeping the Captain informed about ongoing crew issues. Allocating daily work to the deck crew. Preparing appraisal reports for the deck and security crew. Advising the Captain on the performance of Deck Officers, both routinely and for appraisal reports. Training: Provides Nautical Officers with opportunities for developing skills and leadership. Ensures that the Safety Officer, as their deputy, is fully aware of all aspects of the yacht’s operation so that they are able to assume responsibility of Vice Captain immediately when required. Provide guidance to the Environmental and Safety Officer. Provide guidance and mentoring to the Safety Officer, Environmental officer, and all deck officers. Vice Captain is the designated ballast water management officer and is responsible for: Ensuring compliance with the Ballast Water Management plan, including reporting as required by the plan. Supervising the bridge team in managing the trim, list, general stability, bending moments, and shear forces. Ensuring that a stability calculation is prepared by the Vice Captain before every port departure, and that the ship is in proper trim and list condition as described in the Policy and Procedures manual and in accordance with the stability booklet. Ensuring the most optimized and efficient stability conditions are maintained as advised by performance-optimizing tools and shore monitoring systems. Prepare a plan and guide the OOW for the distribution and consumption of fresh water and bunkers for stability requirements Ensuring that ballasting and de-ballasting operations are conducted as per the approved Ballast Water Management plan. Ensuring optimum ballast distribution at all times, keeping stresses and stability within limits to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Plan and ensure the vessel had adequate fresh water and potable water during the cruise. Bunker fresh water from the shore if required. Operation and maintenance of swimming pools and Jacuzzis. Maintenance of the freshwater tanks including sanitizing as per the VSP and Company’s SMS. Ensure records are maintained of ballast operations. Administration & Recordkeeping: Responsible for the deck stores and the management of the Deck budget. Inventory control and ordering of deck stores are supported by the Bosun and Storekeeper. Reviews and approving deck requisitions. Tracks and continuously monitors all ship deck operating costs, ensuring the operation is within agreed cost parameters. Responsible for cost containment through the proper use, handling, and maintenance of records, reports, supplies, and equipment. Conducts workstation spot checks to ensure items are correctly stored to minimize deterioration and waste. Monitors and manages various assigned workstation functions. Monitors the assignment of duties and responsibilities to staff, observing and evaluating staff and work procedures to ensure quality standards and service are met. Makes recommendations regarding personnel actions, such as new hire requests and discharges, to ensure adequate and continuous staffing. Inspects workstations, work areas, and equipment to ensure efficient service and conformance to standards. Responsible for developing a team spirit amongst key reporting department heads, interacting with each to ensure continuous communication between direct reports. Mentors, develops, and provides on-the-job training to staff to strengthen their current performance and prepare them for future advancement. Overview of deck PMS. Liaison with shoreside for non-compliance. In addition to the common goals listed in PAM ‘Key Behavioural Indicators and Performance Goals’: No commercial losses, delays, or off hires. No expired or overdue life-saving and firefighting appliances. No overdue maintenance/testing of critical equipment in areas of responsibility. No official complaints from third parties (ports, etc.). No major breaches of security. No inter-departmental conflict. No spares below the required levels.