1st Officer Navigation for Orient Express Sailing Yachts

V.Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Orient Express Sailing Yachts invites applications for 1st Officer Navigation. The role involves bridge watchkeeping, sail operation, voyage planning, and route optimization based on weather data. You will ensure charts and publications are current and support risk assessments with the Master.

Embarkation is March 2027. Contract: 2 months on/off. Preference for STCW-certified candidates with company-specific training per form C601d.

Qualifications

• STCW Basic Safety Training and ship-specific certificates.
• Company certification and training requirements per form C601d.
• Experience aligned with Company Recruitment & Promotion standards per form C601d.

Responsibilities

• Bridge watchkeeping on watch: 0400–0800 and 1600–2000 hrs.
• Sail operator and voyage planning with weather-based route optimization.
• Maintain navigational charts and publications up to date; correct as required.
• Mooring supervision and tender operations as instructed by the Master.
• GMDSS communications and safety system maintenance and testing.

Skills

Bridge watchkeeping

Navigation planning

GMDSS operations

Charts & publications

Voyage risk assessment

Sail operations

Education

STCW Certification (as amended)

Company training per form C601d

Tools

GMDSS equipment

Chart folio system

Job description

1st Officer Navigation for Orient Express Sailing Yachts

Department: Deck

Employment Type: Contract

Location: Shipboard

Description

Department: Deck

Job Title: First Navigation Officer

Reporting to: Master/Staff Captain

Qualification:

• IMO STCW Convention (as amended)
• Company certification and training requirements per form C601d

Experience:

• As per Company Recruitment & Promotion Experience Requirements per form C601d

Embarkation: March 2027

Contract: 2 months on/off

Description and Main Purpose of Job:

• Bridge watch keeping Officer (OOW) on watch: from 0400 to 0800 hrs/ from 1600 to 2000 hrs
• Sail Operator
• Voyage planning & weather-based route optimization

Key Responsibilities

• Main Duties and Responsibilities:
• Inventory control: - the control of: stock level records and stores requisitions for deck department stores external services supplied to the Deck Department
• Navigation planning & execution: - the preparation, in consultation with the Master, of detailed schedules for future itineraries and advising him of any unduly high speed or impractical arrival times that become apparent - liaison with the assigned Marine Planning and Port Operations ashore and assisting the Master for risk assessing the voyages and ports as per section “Itinerary, Voyage and Port Risk Assessment” - ensuring that the navigational charts required for the itinerary and for planning are carried on board - the preparation prior to each voyage, for Master’s approval of a planned approach for each arrival / departure / closing land using all the information at his disposal
• Note: The assigned Officer is to have the various sources of navigational information to hand - the preparation of alternative plans should the former be frustrated - laying down course lines, from berth to berth where possible, for Master’s approval, on all charts to be used for the forth coming voyage, giving safe clearance margins from all dangers - in case of extensive changes to the planned itinerary, re-assessing and approving these with the Marine Planning and Port Operations Department ashore - informing the Master of navigational progress during each voyage and / cruise including speed and other relevant matters - monitoring the operational condition of all navigation instruments, instigating corrective action when necessary
• Charts & publications: - ensuring that the navigational charts carried on board are the latest available - correcting the charts up to the latest appropriate Notice to Mariners and recording the correction of each navigational chart as required by the chart folio system - ensuring that cancelled charts are clearly marked as such and removed from the bridge - ensuring that the publications required for the itinerary, by the Flag / Port State or by the Company are carried on board and are the latest available - correcting the above publications up to the latest appropriate Notice to Mariners available
• Bridge Watchkeeping: - keeping bridge watches as required and identified by the Master in accordance with section Bridge Watchkeeping
• Note: The composition of each watch is to be adequate and appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions: - in normal operating conditions the composition of the watches will be at minimum 1 certified Deck Officer and 1 Able seaman - the Master will set the watch composition in conditions other than normal e.g. restricted visibility, ice zone, high traffic density, manoeuvring, etc. - the completion of rounds of the watch (as might be specified in the Masters Standing Orders), including those areas that are necessary for ensuring the safety, security and good order of the vessel, her crew and passengers
• Mooring stations: - attending mooring stations as instructed by the Staff Captain - supervising crew assigned to mooring stations and ensuring that mooring operations are conducted in accordance with the advice in the Code of Safe Working Practice
• Tender operations: - assisting in tendering operations as required by the Staff Captain
• Communications: - GMDSS communication in case of emergency - GMDSS and radio traffic operations - general maintenance of the GMDSS equipment, ship's communication systems and networks - inventory control of the GMDSS stores and spare - the control of services to the GMDSS equipment - accounting requirements for radio communications - obtaining information re weather conditions: before the departure of the ship at least every 12 hours when the ship is at sea- ensuring that emergency radio batteries and any other rechargeable batteries for communications equipment (including aldis lamps) are in good condition and fully charged - ensuring any emergency associated radio/GMDSS equipment (i.e. SARTs, EPIRBs etc.) is regularly tested - monitoring the Antennas of the GMDSS equipment are in good condition - ensuring that GMDSS record keeping routines are in compliance with Statutory Regulations and Master’s instructions
• Note: The Officer(s) in charge of communications and communication equipment has a direct reporting responsibility to the Master, particularly in respect of statutory requirements for confidentiality of communications - general maintenance of the bridge equipment (with the assistance of other personnel from the electrical department, if needed)
• Permit To Work System: - the operation of the permit to work system
• Drills and Trainings: Participates in all assigned training and drill duties as per his role (ISM) In charge of GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress & Safety System) instructions to officers and cadets, including SAR instructions; - Explain the use of on-board navigation and radio-communication equipment to officers, especially new joiners.
• Specific or Occasional tasks: as asked by Captain or Staff Captain as reasonably as practicable
• Health, Safety and Environment Duties and Responsibilities: All employees have a duty under Company Policies and VMS requirements to: Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or do not do; Co-operate with your employer on health and safety matters; Correctly use work items provided by your employer, including personal protective equipment, in accordance with training or instructions; and Not to interfere with or misuse anything provided for your health and safety or welfare Abide by the Environmental Protection rules and regulations and to actively participate in REDUCING, REUSING and RECYCLING schemes in place All employees shall participate actively in ALL HSEQ activities and promote safe practices as an integrated management approach to business.