Deckhand - Float Pool

Svitzer; Felixstowe; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

2 week rotations

Pension matched up to 10%

Life cover (4x pensionable salary)

Private medical insurance

7 days leave after 3 years

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Svitzer UK is recruiting a Deckhand to join our Float Pool, working across our UK operations. You’ll be part of a close-knit tug crew, supporting the Master and officers to ensure safe, efficient operations, with hands-on deck and engine-room tasks and a focus on vessel standards.

Benefits include a permanent, time-for-time contract, pension matched up to 10%, life cover, private medical insurance, and structured training and development as you progress in towage careers.

Qualifications

• Valid ENG1 medical and STCW Basic Safety Training.

Responsibilities

• Working as part of a close-knit tug crew in busy, high-pressure environments.
• Supporting the Master and officers to ensure safe, efficient operations.
• Taking ownership of deck operations, safety routines and vessel standards.
• Carrying out planned maintenance and keeping the vessel clean, safe and ready.
• Getting involved in both deck and engine-room tasks when required.
• Committing to ongoing training and professional development.

Skills

Able Seaman Cert

Deckhand Cert

Navigational Watch

UK Driving Licence

ENG1 Medical

STCW Basic Safety

Communication Skills

Strong Work Ethic

Education

Able Seaman Certification

Efficient Deckhand Certification

Navigational Watch Rating Certificate

ENG1 Medical

STCW Basic Safety Training

Job description

Not Everyone Is Cut Out for Tug Work - That’s Exactly the Point.

Svitzer is looking for a Deckhand to join our Float Pool, working across our UK operations.

This is not a passive role. Tug work demands reliability, awareness, teamwork and pride in doing things properly. You’ll live onboard, work hard during your time on, and be a key part of a crew where everyone pulls their weight and standards matter.

If you want hands‑on maritime work on powerful vessels, in real operations—not just ticking boxes—this could be the right step for you.

This Is What The Job Really Looks Like

• Working as part of a close-knit tug crew in busy, high-pressure environments
• Supporting the Master and officers to ensure safe, efficient operations
• Taking ownership of deck operations, safety routines and vessel standards
• Carrying out planned maintenance and keeping the vessel clean, safe and ready
• Getting involved in both deck and engine-room tasks when required
• Committing to ongoing training and professional development
• If you take pride in your vessel, your crew, and your work, you’ll fit in well here.

Why Svitzer?

• 2 week rotations – clear structure and real time off
• Modern vessels, strong safety culture, and high operational standards
• A global company with local teams that look after their people
• Training, development and long-term career opportunities

We don’t promise an easy job. We promise a worthwhile one.

What You Get

• Competitive salary of £37,117.84 per annum
• Permanent, time for time contract
• Pension matched up to 10%
• Life Cover (4x pensionable salary) and Single Private Medical Insurance
• 7 days leave after 3 years’ service
• Employee Assistance Programme

What You Bring

• Able Seaman Certification or Efficient Deckhand Certification with a Navigational Watch Rating Certificate
• Harbour or terminal towage experience preferred, but not essential
• Valid ENG1 medical and STCW Basic Safety Training (minimum six months’ validity on all certificates)
• Full UK Driving Licence
• The legal right to live and work in the UK
• A strong work ethic, good communication skills, and a professional attitude
• Willing to work captive onboard during two-week rotation

Ready to Get Started?

If you want to build real experience, earn trust, and progress in professional towage, this could be the move that defines your next step.

Building a Diverse Workplace

In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that members from some under‑represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!