Master - Felixstowe

Svitzer Americas; Felixstowe; On-site; GBP 63,650 - 77,794; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension matched up to 10%

Life Cover (4x pensionable salary)

Single Private Medical Insurance

7 days leave after 3 years of service

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

A global tugboat operator is seeking an experienced Tug Master for their Felixstowe operations. This role demands strong leadership and ship-handling skills for the safe operation of the tug and crew management. A competitive salary of £70,722.46 per annum is offered alongside benefits including pension and medical insurance. Candidates should possess relevant certifications and local knowledge of the area. This position requires accountability and hands-on involvement with close cooperation with port authorities.

Qualifications

• Minimum six months on all certifications required.
• Ideally living locally to the Port of Felixstowe.
• UK Driving Licence & Own Car is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for the safe, efficient operation of the tug.
• Handle assisted ships in confined waters safely.
• Lead and develop your crew, ensuring a culture of trust.
• Maintain vessel readiness, documentation, and operational reporting.
• Work closely with Port Managers and Harbour Pilots.

Skills

Harbour or terminal towage experience

Strong communication skills

Solid administrative skills

Experience with ASD and/or Voith propulsion systems

Education

Master <500GT Certificate of Competency

Valid ENG1 and STCW certification

Job description

Master - Felixstowe page is loaded## Master - Felixstowelocations: Felixstowe Operations - Harbourtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 2 Days Agojob requisition id: JR3318**Lead From the Wheelhouse.**Svitzer is looking for an experienced Tug Master to join our Felixstowe operation.This is not a ceremonial command. It’s a hands-on role at the sharp end of towage, where judgement, leadership, and ship-handling skill are tested every day.If you take pride in running a safe, well-prepared tug, leading a crew that trusts your decisions, and working in close cooperation with pilots and port authorities, you’ll understand exactly what this role demands.If that sounds like your kind of command, read on.**What the Role Really Involves**As Tug Master, you are accountable for the safe, efficient operation of your tug—every movement, every evolution, every decision.That means:* Handling assisted ships safely and decisively in confined waters* Setting the safety standard on board and making sure it’s lived, not laminated* Leading and developing your crew, creating a culture of trust and professionalism* Maintaining vessel readiness, documentation, and operational reporting* Working closely with Port Managers, Harbour Pilots, and port stakeholders* Taking ownership of your vessel—because that’s what command actually meansThis is practical seamanship, real responsibility, and leadership that counts.Because tug command should mean something.* 1 week rotations – focused work, then proper time away* Modern, well-maintained fleet – no shortcuts, no compromises* A company that backs its Masters – trust, support, and clear standards* Global leader in towage with local teams that know their ports inside outWe don’t sell an easy job.We offer a professional one.**What You Get*** Competitive salary of £70,722.46 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*** Master <500GT Certificate of Competency (minimum)* Valid ENG1 and STCW certification (minimum of six months on all certifications)* Harbour or terminal towage experience – essential* Experience with ASD and/or Voith propulsion systems* Strong communication skills and confidence working with multiple stakeholders* Solid administrative skills and comfort with computer-based systems* Ideally living locally to the Port of Felixstowe* UK Driving Licence & Own Car to be able to access the port* The right to live and work in the UKThis role isn’t about title.It’s about earned authority, calm leadership under pressure, and doing tug work properly.If you’re ready to command with responsibility—not just rank—this could be the right 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 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!**How to Apply**To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply Now' button and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.Svitzer is a people company. Offering uninterrupted marine solutions requires not only the best equipment but also the best people. Our ambition is to attract and continuously develop the industry’s best craftsmen. Both at sea and on land - worldwide, wherever our customers do business. We are driven by skilled, professional and dedicated people and we work together as one company to provide safe, reliable and efficient services to our customers. We support and develop our people’s skills and capabilities and we care for the development of both teams and individuals. To best serve our customers, we strive to ensure the right people and the best teams for the job, every time and we believe diversity is a strength.