Tug Mate -Linehaul

Vulcan Materials Company; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Materials Company seeks a Linehaul Tug Mate to support the captain in safe, efficient tug operations across long barge tows. You’ll assist navigation, supervise deck operations, and uphold safety protocols in a physically demanding, team-based role.

The position requires strong leadership, effective communication, and the ability to adapt to varying conditions while maintaining high safety standards. A 14-day hitch and 12-hour shifts are part of the schedule.

Qualifications

• Must possess STCW licenses and GMDSS certifications.
• Merchant Mariner Credential is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with navigation and maintain vessel course.
• Handle tow lines, rigging, and docking activities.
• Oversee deck operations, line handling, and mooring.
• Ensure safety of crew, vessel, and operations; conduct drills and maintain logs.
• Perform preventative maintenance on vessel and systems.
• Maintain clear communication with Captain and crew.
• Build tows using lines to prepare barges for loading and transport.
• Assist crew with deck rigging and docking tasks.
• Conduct regular vessel interior/exterior inspections for safety.

Skills

navigation

seamanship

leadership

safety protocols

communication

Education

STCW licenses

GMDSS certifications

Merchant Mariner Credential

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

A Linehaul Tug Mate assists the captain in the safe and efficient operation of a tugboat engaged in linehaul towing, which involves transporting barges over long distances. This role includes assisting with navigation, overseeing deck operations, and ensuring adherence to safety protocols. It's a physically demanding job that requires teamwork, adaptability, and strong leadership skills.

Job Summary

A Linehaul Tug Mate assists the captain in the safe and efficient operation of a tugboat engaged in linehaul towing, which involves transporting barges over long distances. This role includes assisting with navigation, overseeing deck operations, and ensuring adherence to safety protocols. It's a physically demanding job that requires teamwork, adaptability, and strong leadership skills.

Essential Functions

• Helping the Captain with navigation, including using navigation equipment and maintaining the vessel's course.
• Making and breaking tow lines, handling rigging during tow building, locking, and docking activities
• Overseeing and participating in deck operations, including line handling, mooring, and general maintenance of the deck equipment.
• Ensuring the safety of the crew, vessel, and towing operations. This includes conducting safety drills, inspections, and maintaining logs and reports.
• Performing scheduled preventative maintenance, such as cleaning, scraping, painting, and changing fluids and filters on the vessel.
• Maintaining clear and effective communication with the Captain, crew, and shore personnel.
• Build tows using cables and lines to assist others on the vessel in preparing barges for the loading, transporting, and discharging aggregate barges.
• Assist coworkers with handling and assembling deck lines, rigging during tow building, and locking and docking activities.
• Perform scheduled preventative maintenance, including cleaning, scraping, painting, and changing all oil and filters throughout the vessel.

Critical Competencies

• Health, Safety and Environmental Management - Implements and uphold policies and practices that ensure workplace safety, promote employee well-being, and minimize environmental impact. This includes regulatory compliance, risk assessment & mitigation, workplace safety culture, incident response & prevention, sustainability & environmental stewardship and training & engagement.
• Decision Making - Makes informed, effective, and timely decisions by evaluating available information, considering potential outcomes, and choosing the best course of action; analyzes options, weighs risks and benefits, and uses sound judgment to reach decisions that align with organizational goals and values.
• Employee Engagement - Ability to cultivate a positive work environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and actively contribute to the organization, essentially encompassing behaviors that foster a sense of purpose, autonomy, growth, impact, and connection within the workforce.
• Communicates Effectively - Communicates in ways that provide clarity of message, projects a credible and confident image to a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders and audiences and maximizes impact.
• Conflict Resolution - Ability to effectively address, manage, and resolve conflicts within a team or organization; identifies the source of the conflict, understands the perspectives of all parties involved, and facilitates a solution that is fair, constructive, and aligned with organizational goals; maintains a positive working environment, prevents disputes from escalating, and promotes collaboration among team members.

Education

• Must possess necessary maritime licenses and certifications, such as those required by the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) and GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System).
• A valid Merchant Mariner Credential is required.

Experience

• Typically requires several years of experience in maritime operations, with a significant portion spent as a mate or in a similar leadership role.
• Must have previous experience of the successful completion of Vulcan’s training program. Training aboard the inner harbor tugs is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strong understanding of navigation, seamanship, vessel safety protocols, and maintenance procedures.
• Must have knowledge of general principles and practices regarding marine safety and operations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills are essential, along with the ability to adapt to challenging situations and work effectively in a team.
• Act in full compliance with company rules and policies as well as U.S.C.G mandates.
• Must demonstrate the ability to solve problems regarding mechanical, crew, and weather issues.
• Must have the ability to manage the vessel and crew in regard to upkeep and safety.

Other Requirements

• Travel on vessel over long periods of time.
• Adjusting to changing assignments, weather conditions, and operational demands.
• Oversee all crew member responsibilities and training. Manage and schedule deckhand daily and weekly duties. Coordinate vessel maintenance to be performed on board by the crew.
• Perform daily inspections and maintenance of the vessel's interior and exterior to ensure safe working conditions.

Salary Range

The daily rate for this role is between $650.00 - $750.00 daily. This range is not inclusive of our discretionary bonus or equity package. When determining a candidate’s compensation, we consider a number of factors, including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data. Pay will be bi-weekly and this position will be subject to a 14-day hitch with 12 hours on and 12 hours off rotation.

JD Disclaimer

Vulcan Materials Company is an equal opportunity employer.