What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Port Engineer - West Coast position at American Cruise Lines?
Assistant Port Engineer
The Assistant Port Engineer is responsible for determining the priorities for the vessels and creating a clear action plan to deliver on those priorities in ensuring the vessels are operated and maintained in accordance with regulatory requirements, company standards, and customer expectations. The Assistant Port Engineer is responsible for diagnosing problems and facilitating the timely, efficient, and coordinated completion of repairs to any machinery or mechanical equipment on board American Cruise Lines' vessels and any ancillary equipment used to support those efforts. The Assistant Port Engineer must be familiar with all vessel machinery, equipment and systems. This individual is responsible for following established safety practices while performing assigned duties to protect self, workers, and the public from personal injury and to prevent damage to American Cruise Lines' property and the environment. This position reports directly to the Port Engineer.
Our company’s values are Optimism, Commitment, Patriotism, and Merit. We live these values every day and we look for people who share them as we Share America’s Story on the Finest American Ships.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Works with the Port Engineer and the Director of Engineering to establish off season repair and associated project management.
- Works with the Port Engineer to schedule and oversee dry-dock events.
- Responsible for the safe repair of all engines, auxiliary machinery and related systems on American Cruise Lines' motor vessels and related facilities.
- Contributes to the safe operation of vessels and equipment.
- Responds decisively and effectively to emergency situations.
- Maintains familiarity with individual vessel characteristics.
- Coordinates after hour repairs to vessels and related equipment.
- Support the onboard engineers in conducting repairs to the vessels when there is a mechanical failure.
- Oversee engineers and fleet technicians on the East Coast.
- Oversees and executes annual and monthly preventative maintenance plans; directs seasonal facilities’ support activities, including offseason servicing of equipment, systems, and infrastructure.
- Uses computer maintenance programs to monitor progress of and manage work orders.
- Seek to balance quality and cost in all purchases required by the department; follow all American Cruise Lines' guidelines for purchase approvals, as well as scope development and solicitation of bids, and manages vendor relationships. according to American Cruise Lines' guidelines.
- Ensures vessel fleet availability and reliability.
- Visit each ship at least twice a month. One of these visits shall include a full ship condition inspection.
- Prepare specifications and work orders for maintenance and repair items necessary to maintain the vessel and bring them into regulatory compliance.
- Ensure the Planned Maintenance Program is maintained and followed by all personnel to include on-board engineers.
- Maintains responsibility for record keeping; including machinery history, parts inventory and reporting data to the Port Engineer.
- Responsible for assisting with the maintenance of vessel engines, auxiliary machinery and related systems when needed.
- Helps diagnose malfunctions and provides recommendations for course of action to the Port Engineer.
- Attends ship maintenance, repair, and assessment events to answer real-time questions surrounding logistics, maintenance scope, funding shortfalls, budgetary constraints and mission impacts.
- Performs all duties and responsibilities in a timely and effective manner in accordance with established company policies to achieve the overall objectives of this position.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Leadership ability.
- The ability to diagnose machinery malfunctions and recommend a course of corrective action.
- Ability to read and understand blueprints and machinery systems' technical manuals.
- The ability to work on various computer programs including Microsoft word, Excel and HelmConnect.
- Ability to read and understand repair manuals.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
Typical Work Environments:
- This position includes a high level of travel to Fleet Concentration Support areas.
- Frequent underway time for sea trials, testing, inspections, ship checks, and other events as needed.
- Attend ship deployments including port-to-port transfers, sea trials, mid-deployment ship checks and sister ship visits.
- Maintenance shop, Paint shop, various buildings, and storage areas
- Vessel engine room, bow thruster space and various void spaces throughout vessel
Licenses, Registrations, and/or Certifications:
- Valid driver’s license.
- Valid TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Card).
Required Education and Experience:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- High school diploma or equivalent or equivalent related experience.
Additional Requirements:
- Subject to a background investigation.
- Subject to a pre-employment physical.
- The ability to frequently traverse stairs, fixed ladders and ladder-wells while walking ships on a daily basis.
- Wherewithal to spend several consecutive days at sea while underway as needed.
- Capable of sitting for long periods of time, standing, walking, crouching and kneeling.
- Reaching, handling, using equipment, keyboards and mobile devices.
- Lifting boxes (files and supplies) up to 20 lbs.
- Must be located in the Pacific Northwest region.
- This position requires 50-75% of travel to ships.
Why Join American Cruise Lines?
At American Cruise Lines, our people are the driving force behind our success. As the nation’s leader in U.S. river cruising, we’re experiencing rapid growth — and we're investing in top talent to grow with us. When you join our team, you’ll find a dynamic work environment that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence, with real opportunities to build your career and make an impact.
