Boarding Agent

Biehl; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Biehl in Pasadena, TX seeks an experienced Boarding Agent to manage vessel movements and ensure compliance with paperwork for incoming and outgoing ships. You will coordinate pilots, tugs, lines, and bunkering while communicating updates to principals and terminals. Proficiency with port procedures and agency systems is essential.

The role requires flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays and to be on call 24/7 for emergencies. Prior agency experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required or preferred.
• Experience handling ships, tugs and accompanying paperwork preferred.
• Prior Agency experience is preferred for this role.
• Ability to perform basic math and understand port tariffs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate vessel movements with pilots, tugs, lines, and bunkering.
• Generate necessary government forms.
• Operate the agency OS to perform duties.
• Communicate daily updates with principals and terminals.
• Process PDAs, approve invoices, and generate accounting sheets.
• Coordinate owner’s requirements: waste, stores, spares, ship repair, crew needs, and supply delivery.
• Prepare and sign Bills of Lading with Principal and Port Manager approval.
• Prepare and sign Statement of Facts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Organizational skills

Quick learner

Effective written and verbal comms

On-call nights/weekends/holidays

Agency OS familiarity

Numerical skills / port expenses

Vessel/cargo knowledge

Familiar with local port areas

Education

High school diploma or GED

Experience with ships/tugs and accompanying paperwork

Prior Agency experience

Tools

Agency OS

Job description

Boarding Agent is responsible for fulfilling ship owner service requests, preparation of paperwork and compliance related to incoming and outgoing ships, as well as to order appropriate resources for and notify port authorities of ships’ arrivals and departures.

Location: Pasadena, TX

Key Responsibilities

• Orchestrate movements of vessels to include but not limited to pilots, tugs, lines, and bunkering.
• Generate necessary government forms.
• Use Agency operating system as appropriate to perform job duties.
• Communicate daily updates with principals and terminals
• Financial responsibilities include but not limited to:
  • o Calculate Preliminary Disbursement Accounts (PDAs)
  • o Approve invoices
  • o Generate accounting sheet
• Coordinate owner’s requirements, including waste provisions, stores, spares, ship repair/maintenance, needs for crew, supply delivery, etc.
• Prepare and sign Bills of Lading with Principal and Port Manager approval.
• Prepare and sign Statement of Facts
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Organizational skills
• Ability to learn quickly
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays and to be “on call” 24/7, in case of emergency
• Learn and use agency OS
• Simple math skills and basic statistics required to calculate port expenses and tariffs
• Familiar with various types of vessels/cargo
• Familiar with local port areas

Education/Experience

• High school diploma or GED preferred
• Prior experience with ships, tugs, etc. and accompanying paperwork requirements preferred
• Prior Agency experience

Physical Requirements

• Required to ascend and descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, and ramps; reach; stand; walk; talk; and hear
• Must exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 10 pounds frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects
• Close visual acuity is required to perform activities such as analyzing figures, viewing a computer terminal, extensive reading, visual inspection, and using measurement devices
• Worker is subject to environmental conditions both inside and outside, with no effective protection from weather, with sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout to be heard, and to physical hazards, such as moving parts, vehicles, electricity, heights, and large bodies of deep water