Fleet Port Captain: Safety, Operations & HELM Lead

Offshore Aviation Group; Piney Point (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Offshore Aviation Group seeks a Port Captain to oversee safe, efficient, and compliant operations across the OAG fleet. Reporting to the Director of Marine Operations, you liaise between shore management and vessel Masters to support crew performance and voyage readiness.

You will lead HELM adoption, coordinate maintenance with engineering, and supervise regulatory compliance, inspections, and incident follow-up. This role requires strong leadership and hands-on operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily fleet operations, vessel readiness, and execution of assigned missions in accordance with company procedures and contract requirements.
• Coordinate vessel movements, port calls, fueling, pilotage, and shoreside support with Masters and relevant service providers.
• Review voyage plans, weather routing, and operational risks with Masters; communicate changes affecting vessel safety or schedules.
• Maintain visibility of vessel status, operating limitations, and support needs; resolve routine issues and elevate significant concerns to management.
• Work with regulatory and security personnel to ensure compliance with applicable USCG, flag-state, class, IMO, ISM/ISPS, and port requirements.
• Conduct vessel visits and onboard inspections; verify implementation of the Safety Management System, required drills, and safe operating practices.
• Review incidents, near misses, and deficiencies; coordinate investigations and track assigned corrective actions through verified closure.
• Support inspection and audit preparation, communicate findings to responsible personnel, and follow up on outstanding deficiencies.
• Coordinate staffing, crew rotations, relief arrangements, and travel changes with Masters and the maritime support team.
• Verify crew certification, training, and onboarding readiness with responsible personnel before assignment or deployment.
• Mentor Masters and officers on navigation, seamanship, safety, leadership, and company operating standards.
• Support performance evaluations and crew welfare; ensure rotation handovers capture operational issues, maintenance status, and outstanding actions.
• Lead vessel adoption and consistent HELM use, setting implementation timelines, user responsibilities, and reporting expectations.
• Coordinate system setup, maintenance schedules, inspection checklists, and reporting workflows with engineering and regulatory personnel.
• Monitor timely entry and accuracy of defects, work orders, inspections, and completion records; follow up on missing or incomplete information.
• Provide user guidance and coordinate training or vendor support to resolve issues affecting vessel participation and data quality.
• Monitor fleet adherence to preventative maintenance schedules in HELM and review upcoming work, overdue tasks, and recurring equipment deficiencies.
• Work with Masters, Chief Engineers, and Port Engineers to set priorities, assign responsible owners, and set achievable completion dates.
• Confirm maintenance completion is supported by appropriate records and, where required, engineering review; track deferred work and unresolved blockers.
• Escalate overdue or critical maintenance affecting safety, compliance, or operational readiness, and coordinate recovery plans with engineering and management.
• Serve as the operational liaison between vessel crews and engineering leads, communicating defects, mission requirements, and vessel availability.
• Coordinate planned maintenance, unscheduled repairs, and shipyard periods with operating schedules, crew availability, and port logistics.
• Participate in regular engineering reviews to track repair progress, parts and contractor needs, operational impacts, and outstanding decisions.
• Coordinate return to service with the Master and engineering team; engineering leads are responsible for technical scopes, repair methods, and technical acceptance.
• Ensure operational records, voyage reports, port documentation, and compliance logs are accurate, current, and available for review.
• Provide management with fleet readiness summaries covering crew status, HELM use, maintenance completion, open defects, and corrective actions.
• Identify owners, deadlines, and required decisions for unresolved issues; recommend improvements based on vessel performance, fuel consumption, and recurring failures.

Job description

Offshore Aviation Group seeks a Port Captain to oversee safe, efficient, and compliant operations across the OAG fleet. Reporting to the Director of Marine Operations, you liaise between shore management and vessel Masters to support crew performance and voyage readiness.

You will lead HELM adoption, coordinate maintenance with engineering, and supervise regulatory compliance, inspections, and incident follow-up. This role requires strong leadership and hands-on operational excellence.