Chief Engineer - Towage Ops (Live Aboard, 2/2 Rotation)

Svitzer; Poole; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension matched up to 10%

Life Insurance (4x pensionable salary)

Private Medical Insurance

Uniform and PPE provided

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Svitzer is seeking a Chief Engineer to join the Victory and lead high‑power tug propulsion across UK ports and coastal waters. You will be hands‑on, accountable, and responsible for keeping the vessel operational in a safety‑critical environment with two‑week onboard rotations.

We expect strong fault‑finding, maintenance and problem‑solving skills, harbour towage or small‑vessel engineering experience, and a professional mindset committed to safe, reliable engineering on modern vessels.

Qualifications

• STCW III/3 Chief Engineer qualification with <6000kW propulsion
• ENG1 medical and STCW certification required
• Strong fault-finding, maintenance and problem-solving skills
• Harbour towage or small-vessel engineering experience preferred
• Professional mindset with pride in safe, reliable engineering
• Legal right to live and work in the UK
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Willingness to live and work onboard during two-week rotation

Responsibilities

• Maintaining and operating high-power tug machinery in a live, demanding operational environment
• Diagnosing faults and fixing problems under pressure, keeping the vessel safe and operationally ready
• Owning the condition, safety and readiness of your engine room
• Supporting the Master and crew to keep the vessel operational at all times
• Working as part of a small, professional crew where trust, competence and teamwork matter
• Managing planned maintenance, spares, stores and engineering records to the required standard
• Working flexibly across vessel duties when required, while completing ongoing training and development
• Take pride in your vessel, its machinery and your work

Skills

Fault finding

Maintenance

Problem solving

Harbour towage experience

Teamwork

Onboard alive/live-aboard

Full UK driving licence

Education

STCW III/3 Chief Engineer & <6000kW

ENG1 medical and STCW certification

Job description

Svitzer is seeking a Chief Engineer to join the Victory and lead high‑power tug propulsion across UK ports and coastal waters. You will be hands‑on, accountable, and responsible for keeping the vessel operational in a safety‑critical environment with two‑week onboard rotations.

We expect strong fault‑finding, maintenance and problem‑solving skills, harbour towage or small‑vessel engineering experience, and a professional mindset committed to safe, reliable engineering on modern vessels.