Technical Superintendent – Dry Dock

Thames Skills Academy; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance x 4 salary

BUPA Private Medical

Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme

Job summary

Thames Skills Academy seeks a pragmatic Technical Superintendent - Dry Dock to act as the Company’s technical representative for dry dockings. You will work with Vessel Superintendents and Planning to develop docking specifications, ensure safe, on-time delivery and maintain quality standards.

The role requires strong experience in dry docking, vessel management and ISM compliance, with a focus on continuous improvement, planning, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Practical engineer with vessel management experience in a technical superintendent, refit, dry dock or shipyard context.
• Experience with dry docking, refit delivery, vessel repair packages and technical oversight of contracted works.
• Statutory and Classification coordination including surveys and certification work.
• Understanding of vessel maintenance planning and forward docking programmes.
• High speed vessel propulsion systems and aluminium vessels knowledge preferred.
• ISO 9001/14001 familiarity and quality assurance skills.
• ISM compliance and IMO High Speed Craft Code familiarity; safety-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end docking from scope development through planning, execution and close-out.
• Develop docking specs and repair packages with Vessel Superintendents.
• Prepare docking scopes for planning, procurement, resourcing and execution.
• Act as technical representative during dry dock periods.
• Monitor progress, quality and safety; sign off work packages.
• Coordinate surveys, inspections and certification work during dockings.
• Review technical findings and changes with Vessel Superintendents.
• Provide technical input to refits, upgrades and modifications.
• Support audits, investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Practical engineer

Vessel management

Dry docking

Project management

ISM/IMO HS Code knowledge

Quality assurance

Planning & scheduling

Cross-functional liaison

Job description

This is a crucial role within the Engineering Leadership Team that will require working flexible hours. The Technical Superintendent - Dry Dock acts as the Company’s technical representative for all vessel dry dockings, supporting Vessel Superintendents in developing detailed docking specifications and work scopes, working with the Planning Team to ensure docking activities are scheduled and prepared in advance, and overseeing delivery within the dry dock facility to ensure work is completed safely and to the required quality standards.

The role is the technical owner and "customer representative" for dry dock delivery.

• Practical engineer with technical vessel management experience, preferably gained in a technical superintendent, refit, dry dock or shipyard project environment.
• Demonstrable experience of dry docking, refit delivery, vessel repair packages and technical oversight of contracted works.
• Experience with management of Statutory and Classification requirements, including coordination of class surveys, statutory inspections and certification work.
• Strong understanding of vessel maintenance planning and the preparation of forward programmes for docking, defect rectification and planned maintenance activities.
• Experience in high speed vessel propulsion systems and high speed aluminium vessels preferred.
• Fabrication, structural repair and marine welding knowledge desirable.
• Strong quality assurance, workmanship review and technical sign-off skills.
• Project management experience of bespoke vessel modifications, upgrades and repair scopes.
• Familiarisation with the management of ISM compliance and the IMO High Speed Craft Code.
• Relevant experience of working in high pressure environments whilst maintaining high levels of safety, quality and maintenance practice.
• A strong track record in building good working relationships across diverse business areas, production teams, planning teams, contractors and technical functions.
• Previous experience and knowledge working to ISO 9001 and 14001 standards.

Requirements

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure you comply with all Health and Safety regulations and safe working practice as required by current legislation and the Company’s Health and Safety Policy and practices.
• Lead the end-to-end docking process from initial scope development through planning, execution, technical acceptance and post-docking close-out.
• Work with Vessel Superintendents to develop detailed docking specifications, repair packages and technical work scopes that clearly define the required standard of completion.
• Ensure docking scopes are prepared, reviewed, approved and issued in sufficient time to support effective planning, procurement, resourcing and execution.
• Work closely with the Planning Team to maintain a forward programme of docking activities and ensure the dry dock is provided with a continuous flow of planned work.
• Act as the Company’s technical representative throughout dry dock periods, treating the dry dock facility as a service provider and representing the Company as the customer for agreed scopes of work.
• Monitor progress, workmanship and quality throughout docking activities, challenging poor performance and ensuring corrective action is taken where required.
• Coordinate surveys, statutory inspections and certification work during docking periods, ensuring survey requirements are captured within the docking plan and closed out correctly.
• Review and manage technical findings and change requests during dockings, consulting with the responsible Vessel Superintendent before any scope changes are agreed.
• Verify completed work meets specification requirements and formally sign off completed work packages on behalf of the company.
• Accept contractor work on behalf of the company once the required technical, safety and quality standards have been met.
• Conduct post-docking reviews, capture lessons learned and identify continuous improvement opportunities for future docking periods.
• Reduce reliance on external expertise by developing internal technical knowledge, standards, inspection expectations and repeatable docking processes.
• Provide technical expert support for engineers, Vessel Superintendents, planners and production teams where dry docking, vessel repair or refit knowledge is required.
• Provide technical input to refits, enhancements, upgrades and modifications, ensuring documentation is created for engineers and production teams to follow.
• Support the Engineering Planning and Technical Operations Manager, Vessel Superintendents and wider senior engineering team in defining, implementing and reviewing technical improvements to the fleet and engineering facilities.
• Monitor docking defects, structural findings and recurring technical issues for trends, implementing long-term solutions to enhance fleet reliability and docking efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with applicable maritime regulations, including MCA legislation, Port of London Authority requirements, International Safety Management Code requirements and relevant Classification Society rules.
• Ensure the department is ready for any audits at any time, including but not limited to the annual DOC audit, ensuring consistent, year-round compliance.
• Support investigations into incidents, defects and non-conformances; assist the Quality Manager in identifying root causes and driving corrective and preventive actions to close issues out within the SMS.
• Internally support hull and machinery insurance claims from incident through to technical evidence gathering, repair verification and invoicing where required.
• Provide temporary cover for Dry Dock Manager responsibilities when required; under normal circumstances the Technical Superintendent - Dry Dock and Dry Dock Manager roles remain separate, with this role focused on technical ownership and customer representation rather than day-to-day dock operations.
• Provide cover for vessel superintendents when on leave.
• Develop and deliver training to staff on quality standards, safety awareness, docking standards and operational best practice.
• Identify barriers to change and find ways to create solutions to enable change to take place.
• Continuously seek ways to improve personal performance, business processes, environmental standards and overall business performance with a focus on safety, quality, docking efficiency and customer experience.
• Undertake any other relevant duties or reasonable request as requested by the Engineering Planning and Technical Operations Manager and any member of the senior management team.

Benefits

• Life Assurance x 4 salary
• BUPA Private Medical
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme company matching contribution up to 8% and then 10% ER contribution with an 8% EE contribution