Logistic & forwarding shipping Agent

SINOTRANS; West Coast Division; On-site; MYR 54,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

SINOTRANS is hiring a Shipping Boarding Agent in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The role focuses on preparing pre-arrival docs, coordinating port services, and ensuring regulatory compliance for vessel calls.

You will liaise with captains, port authorities, and crew, while managing documentation, cargo details, and operational communications in Malay and English. Mandarin skills are a plus.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies, Business Administration, or related fields preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays based on vessel schedules.

Responsibilities

• Ship preparation: preparing and ensuring accuracy of pre-arrival docs and visitor/vendor lists for vessels and terminals; coordinate sailing arrangements.
• Port services: arrange pilots, tugs, and motor launches to assist docking and cargo operations; liaise with crew and port officials.
• Authority coordination: interpret maritime, customs, immigration rules and assist with government clearances.
• Boarding duties: meet captains and officials, collect required docs, draft SoF for port calls.
• Owner services: assist with crew changes, travels, and in-port activities per principals' requests.
• Vendor management: seek methods to reduce costs and improve efficiency for ship operations.
• Language readiness: Malay and English fluency; Mandarin and reading/writing Chinese preferred for client communication.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Work under pressure

Willing to work irregular hours

Malay language

English language

Mandarin (preferred)

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies, Business Administration, or related fields preferred

Job description

Location: Kota Kinabalu

Vacancies: 1 positions available (Able to speak/write in Chinese will be given preference)

Why Join Us?

• Merit-based competition: Best performance, best opportunities
• Strong employee support: Career growth, excellent working culture, and considerate management
• Global training: Opportunities to train at our Brunei office or other SINOTRANS branches abroad
• Clear career path: Structured promotion and job advancement

Available Positions:

1. Shipping Boarding Agent

Responsibilities:

• Ship preparation: Preparing and ensuring the accuracy of pre-arrival documentation and visitor/vendor list for vessels and terminals, coordinating sailing arrangements, updating arrival details, gathering information to ensure the accuracy of daily cargo details, communicating daily updates to the captain, updating departure details, and sending departure messages and documents.
• port services: arranging for services like pilots, tugs, and motor launches to assist with docking; communicating with the ship's crew, the port, and other relevant parties to ensure a smooth arrival and cargo operation.
• Authority coordination: determining Maritime, Customs, immigration and general governmental rules and regulations and assisting with varying interpretations of government regulations as applied by terminals; arranging for government to board a ship and clear it for entry and/or departure.
• Boarding duties: fulfilling boarding tasks upon arrival and departure of assigned vessels, including meeting with captains and government officials concerning both crew and cargo, collecting all legally required documentation (such as cargo manifests and Bills of Lading), and gathering information on specific details concerning loading and unloading processes, which involves drafting the Statement of Facts (SoF) for each port call.
• Owner services: assisting with ships’ crew disembarkation, travel and transportation, and activities while in port as requested by the principals, who may also be assisted with obtaining the various services needed by vessels while in port, such as crew change, ship’s inspection, spare parts delivery, medical services or food deliveries.
• Vendor management: Seeking new methods to reduce operational costs and find efficiencies for ship’s operation.
• Education: High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies, Business Administration, or related fields preferred
• Certifications in shipping/logistics/port management are a plus
• Solid knowledge of maritime law, customs regulations, and environmental policies
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure and solve problems quickly
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays based on vessel schedules
• Must have strong proficiency in Malay and English, both spoken and written
• Candidates who can speak Mandarin and read/write Chinese will be given preference to effectively communicate with Mandarin-speaking clients.

Unlock job insights

Hirer responsiveness Salary match Number of applicants

Your application will include the following questions:

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Malaysia?
• What's your expected monthly basic salary?
• Which of the following Microsoft Office products are you experienced with?
• Which of the following languages are you fluent in?
• Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment background check?
• How much notice are you required to give your current employer?
• Are you available to work public holidays?
• How would you rate your Mandarin language skills?

Logistics, Freight & Delivery Services More than 10,000 employees

Sinotrans is the largest logistics companies in China, also providing support services including storage and terminal services, trucking and marine transportation. Sinotrans as the second-tier subsidiary and single logistics platform for China Merchants Group (CMG), Sinotrans Limited aims to build a world-class business platform with intelligent logistics services.

In China, our strong service network covering all of China's provinces and territories(more than 1000 branch), overseas network covering Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and other regions and districts(morea than 40 oversea branch). Whenever, wherever, Sinotrans will provide customers around the globe with high quality logistics services.Our employees exceed 37,000 ,Sinotrans owns 67 Global operateing network and distributed in 41 countries and regions

Due to our business needs in SABAH, we warmly welcome any person with aspirations to challenge this job to join our team.

Sinotrans is the largest logistics companies in China, also providing support services including storage and terminal services, trucking and marine transportation. Sinotrans as the second-tier subsidiary and single logistics platform for China Merchants Group (CMG), Sinotrans Limited aims to build a world-class business platform with intelligent logistics services.

In China, our strong service network covering all of China's provinces and territories(more than 1000 branch), overseas network covering Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and other regions and districts(morea than 40 oversea branch). Whenever, wherever, Sinotrans will provide customers around the globe with high quality logistics services.Our employees exceed 37,000 ,Sinotrans owns 67 Global operateing network and distributed in 41 countries and regions

Due to our business needs in SABAH, we warmly welcome any person with aspirations to challenge this job to join our team.

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