Chief Mate - Seaward Services - TSVRON

Hornblower Corp; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornblower Group’s City Experiences division seeks a Chief Mate for our deck team in Norfolk. You will supervise the Deck crew, oversee safe stowage and cargo handling, and serve as emergency response, training, and navigation watch leader aboard our vessels.

The role requires USCG licenses/certifications with STCW credentials, ability to obtain a SECRET clearance, and strong leadership, safety, and regulatory compliance skills to ensure vessel readiness in a fast-paced maritime environment.

Qualifications

• U.S. Coast Guard license/certificate requirements: STCW requirements such as Mate Between 500GT and 3000GT; OICNW; RFPNW; PSC; Medical care Provider; ADV FF; Basic Training; GMDSS Operator; ECDIS.
• High school diploma or equivalent; ability to acquire and maintain necessary clearances.

Responsibilities

• Supervise actions of the Deck department.
• Responsible for safe stowage of all equipment loaded aboard.
• Plan, load, stow, and discharge cargo and perform ship maintenance safely.
• Prepare and submit Deck department repair lists.
• Inspect repairs and ensure compliance with hull and equipment standards.
• Act as emergency response team lead and training officer for navigational safety.
• Maintain safety procedures, fire and lifesaving equipment, and security measures.
• Direct crew in weight-handling, anchor tackling, and small-boat operations.

Skills

Crew supervision

Safety management

Strong communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 7:00 AM

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems . Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfrontlogisticsand management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation,ticketingand website integration services for clients in the transportation,tourismand entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’sadditionalcorporate officesresidein San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visithornblowercorp.com.

Position Summary:

The Chief Mate supervises the actions of the Deck department. This role is responsible to the Master for the safe stowage of all equipment loaded aboard, specifically for proper planning, loading, stowage, and discharge of cargo and ship maintenance in a safe and stable condition. The Chief Mate prepares and submits Deck department repair lists, ensures all repairs to the hull superstructure and equipment are accomplished, and inspects repairs made by non-organic maintenance personnel. This position is the Person-in-charge of the emergency response team. The Chief Mate is also the training officer responsible for training all personnel in their duties for ship replenishment, emergencies, and execution of safe navigational practices. This role serves as the damage control officer responsible for the preparation of station bills, maintenance of fire detection systems, and maintenance of firefighting and lifesaving apparatus. Additionally, the Chief Mate is the security officer responsible for force protection, physical security of government property, and security awareness for classified documents and materials. The Chief Mate is the safety officer responsible for Deck department safety meetings, presenting progress reports of safety items and recommendations, maintaining a safety library, and advising personnel and department heads of current safety procedures and developments.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervise actions of the Deck department.
• Responsible to Master for safe stowage of all equipment loaded aboard.
• Responsible for proper planning, loading, stowage, and discharge of cargo and ship maintenance in a safe and stable condition.
• Prepare and submit Deck department repair list.
• Ensure all repairs to the hull superstructure and equipment are accomplished.
• Inspect repairs made by non-organic maintenance personnel.
• Person-in-charge of emergency response team.
• Training officer responsible for training of all personnel in their duties for ship replenishment, emergencies, and execution of safe navigational practices.
• Damage control officer responsible for preparation of station bills, maintenance of fire detection systems, and maintenance of firefighting and lifesaving apparatuses.
• Security officer responsible for force protection, physical security of government property, and security awareness for classified documents and materials.
• Safety officer responsible for Deck department safety meetings, presenting progress report of safety items and recommendations.
• Maintain safety library and advise personnel and department heads of current safety procedures and developments.
• Direct actions of crew in operations of vessels weight-handling equipment, anchor tackle, small boats.
• Assign duties associated with departmental "call-out" (e.g., painting, cleaning, greasing).
• Stand navigation watch as assigned per operational requirements.
• Be qualified/certified in crane operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• U.S. Coast Guard license/certificate requirements: STCW Requirements: Mate Between 500GT and 3000GT; OICNW; Able Seafarer-Deck; RFPNW; PSC; Medical care Provider; ADV FF; Basic Training; GMDSS Operator; ECDIS; VSO.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Must be able to acquire and maintain an active SECRET clearance.
• Must possess a valid United States Passport
• Must be able to acquire and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Must be able to acquire and maintain a Common Access Card (CAC)
• Must be computer literate in Microsoft Office and shipboard monitoring and maintenance software.
• Demonstrate appropriate management and administrative skills.
• Logically and independently plan, organize, and complete work assignments.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion to develop and execute innovative solutions to engineering problems
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing and maintain quality working relationships with other employees and the public during work.
• Ability to establish and execute complex oral and written instructions, apply available guidelines to various situations, and perform more than functions at a time in an environment subject to many distractions.
• Ability to plan and organize and to meet rigid schedules and demanding timelines.
• Must have technical and organizational skills.
• Possess a thorough understanding of all-pertinent regulations and laws
• Possess excellent analytical, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills
• Successfully submit and complete pre-employment background check.
• Submit to and pass alcohol and drug tests as mandated by the USCG including pre-employment, random, and post-accident testing.

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The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.