Marine Assurance Superintendent – Deputy DPA/CSO

Algihaz Marine; India; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

A maritime safety and regulatory compliance company in India seeks a Marine Assurance Superintendent to oversee the Safety Management System (SMS) and ensure regulatory compliance across its fleet. The ideal candidate will act as the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO), managing audits, incident investigations, and compliance monitoring. Strong expertise in vessel operations, safety management, and stakeholder engagement is required. This position offers a strategic role within the maritime industry's regulatory framework.

Responsibilities

• Act as Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO).
• Provide operational assurance through onboard visits and inspections.
• Maintain statutory and Classification Society compliance across the fleet.
• Manage marine security risks through oversight of Ship Security Plans.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring timely close‑out of issues.
• Lead and manage marine incidents and non-conformities effectively.
• Develop and implement SMS documentation for new vessels.
• Provide marine assurance input during asset acquisitions.

Skills

Vessel statutory certification knowledge

Safety Management Systems (SMS) expertise

Marine safety and security assurance

Audit and inspection competence

Incident investigation skills

Operational risk assessment

Stakeholder interface skills

Leadership skills

Marine operational awareness

Education

Master License STCW Regulation II/2

BSc (Hons) Nautical Science

DPA/ CSO Qualification

Lead Auditor

Internal Auditor – ISM / ISO 9001 / ISO 14001

Job description

Reporting to

Head of Marine & Technical Management

Education & Training

• Master License STCW Regulation II/2
• BSc (Hons) Nautical Science
• DPA/ CSO Qualification
• Lead Auditor
• Internal Auditor – ISM / ISO 9001 / ISO 14001

Experience

• Demonstrable understanding as Deputy Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO), with practical application of the ISM and ISPS Codes, including audits, incident management, and regulatory interface.
• Strong understanding of vessel operations, gained through prior service as Vessel Master or Chief Officer, or through substantial experience in a senior HSEQ or Marine Assurance management role with direct oversight of shipboard operations.
• Proven experience managing Flag State and Classification Society compliance across a diverse range of vessel types (e.g. offshore construction vessels, DP vessels, barges, cargo vessels), including statutory certification, surveys, audits, and close‑out of non‑conformities.
• Hands‑on experience with marine assurance activities, including internal and external audits, inspections, risk assessments, incident investigation, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Ability to interface effectively with senior management, Flag States, Class Societies, and clients, providing assurance on marine safety, security, and regulatory compliance throughout operations, mobilisations, and vessel acquisitions.

Skill / Attributes

• Comprehensive knowledge of vessel statutory certification, including Flag State and Classification Society requirements (SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line, ISM, ISPS, MLC) across multiple vessel types.
• Expert understanding and management of Safety Management Systems (SMS), including development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement in accordance with the ISM Code.
• Marine safety and security assurance expertise, covering ISM and ISPS compliance, emergency preparedness, drills and exercises, security risk assessments, and incident response.
• Audit and inspection competence, including planning and conducting internal audits, supporting external audits (Flag, Class, Client), managing non‑conformities, and verifying effective close‑out.
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis, with the ability to identify systemic failures, implement corrective and preventive actions, and embed lessons learned across the fleet.
• Operational risk assessment and management, including HAZID/HAZOP participation, task‑based risk assessments, and assurance of safe operational practices.
• Strong stakeholder interface and regulatory engagement, working effectively with Flag States, Class Societies, port authorities, clients, and senior management.
• Leadership, authority, and communication skills, with the ability to challenge unsafe practices, elevate concerns to top management, and influence safety culture across ship and shore teams.
• Marine operational awareness, underpinned by experience as a Vessel Master, Chief Officer, or senior HSEQ/Marine Assurance professional, ensuring practical, operations‑focused decision‑making.

Description of Function

Responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining the Company Safety Management System (SMS) in compliance with the ISM and ISPS Codes, ensuring statutory and class compliance across the fleet. The role provides independent marine assurance over vessel operations and assets, including audits, inspections, and incident management, and ensures regulatory compliance during vessel mobilisations and asset acquisitions. Acts as the focal point between ship and shore, with authority to elevate safety and compliance matters directly to top management.

Main Responsibilities

• Act as Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO), maintaining direct access to top management and ensuring the effective implementation and continuous improvement of the Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the ISM and ISPS Codes.
• Work directly with the Company’s vessels and marine assets, providing operational assurance through onboard visits, inspections, and engagement with Masters, senior officers, and shore management.
• Establish, maintain, and monitor statutory, Flag State, and Classification Society compliance across the fleet, ensuring all certification, surveys, audits, and approvals are valid and effectively managed.
• Monitor and manage marine security risks and concerns, including oversight of Ship Security Plans, security levels, drills and exercises, and coordination with Flag States, Class Societies, PFSOs, and coastal authorities.
• Plan, conduct, and support internal and external audits and inspections, including Flag, Class, client, and third‑party audits, ensuring timely close‑out of non‑conformities and continuous improvement.
• Support shipyard periods and yard audits, including newbuilds, reactivations, dry dockings, and modifications, ensuring compliance with statutory, class, and company requirements.
• Lead and manage marine incidents, near misses, and non‑conformities, including investigation, root‑cause analysis, statutory reporting, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop, implement, and integrate SMS documentation for new vessels and asset acquisitions, ensuring vessels are fully compliant, audited, and operationally ready prior to mobilisation.
• Provide marine assurance input during asset acquisition and due diligence, including compliance gap assessments, readiness reviews, and risk evaluation to support safe entry into service.
• Support Project HSEQ teams by providing marine based assurance, including review of marine risk assessments, method statements, project‑specific procedures, marine operations plan, and interface management between vessels and project execution teams.

Authority

The Marine Assurance Superintendent (DPA / CSO) has the authority to monitor, challenge, and intervene in vessel and project operations where safety, security, or regulatory compliance is at risk. The role holds direct and unrestricted access to top management, with the authority to elevate, suspend, or recommend cessation of operations until risks are adequately controlled. The DPA / CSO is empowered to require corrective actions, verify close‑out, and ensure statutory, Flag State, and Classification Society compliance across all marine assets.

Responsibility

To Head of Marine & Technical Management, supporting vessel operations and HSEQ functions

Accountability

The Marine Assurance Superintendent (Deputy DPA / CSO) is accountable for the effectiveness and integrity of the Safety and Security Management Systems, and for ensuring ongoing compliance with the ISM and ISPS Codes, Flag State, and Classification Society requirements. The role is accountable for the management and investigation of marine incidents and security events, the implementation of corrective and preventive actions, and the accurate reporting and escalation of material risks to top management. The Deputy DPA / CSO is accountable for providing independent assurance that marine operations and assets are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.