Vessel Agent - Ports & Shipping

Manpower UK; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Manpower UK is recruiting for a Vessel Agent to join an established organisation operating within the ports, shipping and logistics sector in Southampton. You'll coordinate vessel activity, communicate with multiple stakeholders and help ensure operations run safely, efficiently and on schedule.

The role requires strong organisation and communication skills; previous vessel experience isn't essential. Training will be provided and there are opportunities to develop within the maritime industry.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to prioritise multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Confidence working in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Strong customer-service skills.
• Confidence dealing with a range of customers and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating vessel arrivals, departures and port activity.
• Monitoring vessel movements and responding to schedule changes.
• Liaising with vessel crews, port authorities and operational teams.
• Coordinating berthing requirements, pilots, towage and mooring arrangements.
• Monitoring cargo operations and communicating delays or changes.
• Coordinating crew changes and assisting visitors to and from vessels.
• Arranging operational requirements including fuel, stores, spare parts and drinking water.
• Supporting customs clearance and import/export processes.
• Completing vessel documentation and maintaining operational records.
• Communicating with customers and internal departments during vessel operations.
• Acting as local point of contact during vessel stays and responding to issues.
• Ensuring port, customs, immigration and regulatory requirements are followed.

Skills

Excellent organisation

Time-management

Strong written and verbal comms

Attention to detail

Proactive problem-solving

Customer-service skills

Microsoft Office

Flexible working hours

Full UK driving licence

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Vessel Agent - Ports & Shipping

Location: Southampton
Salary: £32,000 - £35,500 per annum DOE
Hours: 40 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

Manpower is recruiting for an Vessel Agent to join an established organisation operating within the ports, shipping and logistics sector in Southampton.
This is a varied, fast-paced operational role where you'll coordinate vessel activity, communicate with multiple stakeholders and help ensure operations run safely, efficiently and on schedule.
Previous shipping or vessel experience is not essential. We're equally interested in candidates from logistics, transport, freight, operations or other fast-paced environments who have strong organisation and communication skills and are looking to develop within the maritime industry.

What will you be doing?

You’ll act as a key point of contact throughout vessel operations, coordinating requirements before arrival, while vessels are in port and through to departure.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating vessel arrivals, departures and port activity.
• Monitoring vessel movements and responding to changes in schedules.
• Liaising with vessel crews, port authorities and operational teams.
• Coordinating berthing requirements, pilots, towage and mooring arrangements.
• Monitoring cargo operations and communicating any delays or changes.
• Coordinating crew changes and assisting visitors to and from vessels.
• Arranging operational requirements including fuel, stores, spare parts and drinking water.
• Supporting customs clearance and import/export processes.
• Completing vessel documentation and maintaining accurate operational records.
• Communicating with customers and internal departments throughout vessel operations.
• Acting as a local point of contact during vessel stays, including responding to operational issues.
• Ensuring relevant port, customs, immigration and regulatory requirements are followed.

Working Pattern

The team works broadly across a three-week operational cycle:
Week 1 - Deep-Sea Operations
You’ll support deep-sea vessel activity, normally across Monday to Sunday, including holding the operational phone as part of the team's on-call rotation.
Week 2 - Office / Administration
You’ll have an office-based week focusing on administration, system updates and associated operational work. A lieu day from the previous week may be taken with prior agreement and subject to team cover.
Week 3 - Short-Sea Operations
You’ll support short-sea vessel activity and take part in the rotating on-call phone cover.
The contracted working week is 40 hours, with an hour lunch break.
Due to the nature of port operations, flexibility is essential. There may be variable start and finish times as well as occasional weekend, public holiday and out-of-hours requirements.
Overnight calls are uncommon and are generally related to vessel changes, delays or emergencies.

What are we looking for?

You do not need to already be a Vessel Agent to be considered.
We're looking for someone with strong transferable operational skills who can keep things organised when plans and priorities change.
You'll need:

• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• The ability to prioritise multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Confidence working in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Strong customer-service skills.
• Confidence dealing with a range of customers and stakeholders.
• The ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Good Microsoft Office skills.
• Flexibility around working hours when operationally required.
• A full clean UK driving licence.

Experience

Experience within any of the following could be particularly transferable:
Logistics | Transport | Shipping | Freight | Ports | Warehousing | Supply Chain | Import/Export | Customs | Operations Coordination | Customer Service
Previous vessel agency or maritime experience would be advantageous, as would knowledge of customs clearance and import/export procedures, but this isn't essential.

Candidates looking to move into the ports and maritime industry are encouraged to apply.

Training & Development

You’ll receive training, introductions and access to key contacts to help you understand the operation and develop within the position.
You’ll also gain exposure to wider port and operational activities, giving you the opportunity to build your knowledge of the shipping and maritime industry and develop relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

If you're an organised, proactive person who enjoys coordinating busy operations, solving problems and working in an environment where no two days are quite the same, we'd love to hear from you.