Dispatcher

Job Title: Dispatcher

FLSA Status: Salaried, Non-Exempt

Department: Dispatch

Location: Sabine Pilot Office

Port Arthur, TX

Reports To: Lead Dispatcher

Starting Salary: $61,000.00

Summary

Sabine Pilot Dispatchers are the ship/vessel traffic controllers for the Sabine-Neches Waterway. They coordinate traffic on the Sabine/Neches waterways using predetermined guidelines and rules to maximize safety and efficiency for all parties. Starting salary for this position is $61,000.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Follow company policies and procedures
• The dispatcher is in constant communication via phone, email, chat and text with various entities is key... including Pilots, pilot boats, agents, tug companies, linemen groups, terminals/docks, US Coast Guard/VTS, and car service drivers.?
• Communications with all parties utilizing telephone, computers for texting/chatting and emailing. VHF radio is used for conversing with Pilots, vessels and Pilot Boats. Sabine Pilots’ website keeps all operational information posted and up to date with current traffic information based on the input by the dispatcher into our main dispatch computer software. Most entities monitor the site for various information pertinent to each of their needs. Keeping the information updated is important to our customers.?
• - PILOTS: Calling pilots on the phone to assign them to their assigned job when they are next on turn. Setting up transportation for them, with a driver if needed, for said assignment.?
• - PILOT BOATS: Contact with the boats is via VHF radio, but sometimes phone calls as well. The boat crews relay confirmations from the various new arriving vessels and all the details and information dispatch needs to determine how we set up traffic times. Dispatch informs the boat crews of the intended time of vessel boarding to start a vessel in and coordinate with them.?
• - AGENTS: Dispatchers get most of the vessel information directly from the many shipping agencies via phone and email. Dispatchers take arrival, shifting, and sailing orders directly from the agents on most vessel movements.
• - TUG COMPANIES: Most vessel movements require the assistance of harbor tugs. Coordinating our vessel traffic with them is very important. Dispatchers remain in contact with them throughout the day and night.?
• - LINEMEN GROUPS: Most vessel movements, other than anchorage destinations, require some form on mooring/line handling. Dispatchers remain in contact with the line-handling contractors to coordinate.?
• - TERMINALS/DOCKS: Dispatchers call the terminals for information on the vessels either at their facilities or those that plan to come into the docks. Occasionally, the terminals will call dispatch to coordinate vessel movements.?
• - USCG/VTS: VTS and Sabine Pilot Dispatch communicate to coordinate and confirm vessels’ official US Government clearance into port. VTS and Dispatch work together to mitigate vessel traffic disruptions due to necessary channel closures, either planned, or unplanned emergencies.?
• - DRIVERS: Dispatchers set up numerous transportation scenarios by calling our available drivers to bring the pilots to and from various places when necessary to get pilots from an assignment/vessel movement.?
• - RECORD KEEPING- The duty dispatcher is responsible for maintaining the official written record of vessel and pilot activities within the Sabine Neches Waterway written out on our “green sheets”, in addition to the dispatch program, information.?
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not oversee staff.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Minimum of 3-5 work experience in transportation dispatcher or traffic coordinator position preferably in the maritime industry.
• Prior experience in scheduling and/or commercial transportation coordination.
• Experience operating in maritime industry preferred.
  
  

Required Skills/Abilities

• Above average computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and TEAMS.
• Ability to learn the Sabine Pilots’ proprietary scheduling/ traffic coordination software.
• Ability to learn numerous local vessel traffic rules, guidelines, and restrictions.
• Knowledge of communication protocols, and emergency procedures.
• Ability to make rapid, sound decisions under pressure and in dynamic conditions.
• Ability to maintain composure and control during day-to-day operations and emergency situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Sabine Pilots, diverse crews and shoreside personnel.
• Strong sense of accountability for maintaining accurate records and schedule coordination.
• Ability to follow company policies and procedures.
• Willingness and ability to work 12 hour shifts, nights, weekends, and rotational schedules, as required.
• Must have legible handwriting for written records.
  
  

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Primarily work is performed at the Sabine Pilot Dispatch office in Port Arthur, Texas working 12-hour shifts 4-days on and 4-days off, either nights or days with occasional overtime shifts on either night or day shift.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to sit or stand for 12-hours while on shift.
• Must be able to switch from Day shift to night shift periodically.
  
  

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.

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