Captain - Seasonal

CAPTAIN (Seasonal)

Location: Southeast Alaska Expedition Cruising

Homeports: Juneau/Sitka, Alaska

Schedule: Seasonal Position (Entire operating season, typically four to five months). Rigorous work schedule of 12–14 hour days, 7 days/week.

Reports To: Fleet Operations Manager

The Boat Company Mission

The Captain holds ultimate authority and responsibility for the vessel, ensuring the safety and well-being of guests and crew. The Captain sets the highest standard of personal and professional conduct, maintaining morale, regulatory compliance, and protecting Company property and mission.

Role Summary

The Captain is the Master of the vessel, responsible for all daily operations, safety protocols, regulatory reporting, financial oversight, and direct or indirect management of all onboard personnel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

I. Command, Navigation, and Safety Authority

• Absolute Authority: Responsible for the daily operation of the vessel, including navigation, docking, anchoring, and maneuvering.


• Safety & Emergency: Mandatorily conduct all emergency drills (e.g., fire, abandon ship) and enter written reports of such drills into the ship’s logbook.


• Vessel Readiness: Maintain and display all necessary USCG licenses and documentation as required by law and TBC policy.


• Firearms Custody: Responsible for the safekeeping and proper inventory of all Company firearms. At season close, submit an inventory and maintenance budget for all firearms to the Operations office.

II. Regulatory Compliance and Reporting

• Timely Reporting: Solely responsible for the timely and proper issuance/reporting of all required federal and state documents, including, but not limited to:
  
  
  
  • NVMC Notices of Arrival.
  
  
  • USCG Form 2692 Marine Accident and Injury reports.
  
  
  • Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fishing logbook reports and related documentation.
  
  
  
  


• Resource Use Compliance: Responsible for knowing and understanding all Federal and State resource use regulations and restrictions, and ensuring all related record keeping (e.g., Forest Service Actual Use Forms).


• Encounter Log: Maintain and periodically transmit an "Encounter Log" detailing charter vessels encountered while at anchor, including guest numbers and activities.

III. Financial Oversight and Administration

• Budget Management: Responsible for tracking all vessel purchasing done by the crew during the season, maintaining expenses within budgeted amounts established by the Operations office.


• Receipt Submission: Forward all expense receipts and submit a monthly financial accounting report summarizing checking and petty cash activity to the comptroller.

IV. Personnel and Crew Management

• Crew Oversight: Oversee all crewmembers, either directly or through department heads (First Mate, Head Chef, Head Steward). Ensure every crewmember has an adequate daily assignment.


• Workload Coordination: Monitor the work schedules of all crewmembers and coordinate with department heads to adjust workloads, ensuring everyone receives adequate and comparable off-duty and rest time.


• Training: Provide, or assign to an experienced crewmember, hands-on training and orientation to new crewmembers. Must offer hands-on training to the First Mate to ensure command-ready competence.


• Performance Management: Produce brief written performance evaluations for all crewmembers in accordance with TBC Employee Handbook guidelines.


• End-of-Season Release: Review and approve all departmental inventory reports (submitted by the First Mate) before and after each season.

V. Guest Interaction and Tip Management

• Guest Activities: Oversee all guest planning and activities, establishing a radio watch to ensure overall safety, organization, and communication are maintained at all times.


• Tip Protocol (Mandatory): Solely responsible for accepting tips from guests. Must keep an accurate log of tip income and distribution, attest to its accuracy in writing, and submit a tip income and distribution report to the Company comptroller after each trip.

Minimum Requirements and Physical Demands

Required Qualifications:

• USCG License: Must possess a valid U.S. Coast Guard Master license appropriate for the tonnage and route of the assigned vessel (Alaska itinerary).


• Communication: Must have hearing, vision (including color and depth perception), and vocal abilities that allow for effective communication via VHF radio and safe navigation day and night, in close quarters.


• Experience: Extensive experience in maritime command, personnel management, and regulatory compliance, particularly with small passenger vessels. Experience in Southeast Alaska's inside passage is recommended and strongly preferred. 

General Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

• Schedule & Duration: Must sign on for the entire operating season, maintaining a rigorous schedule of 12–14 hour workdays.


• Physical Exertion: Must be able to assist in all cargo handling operations, lift 75 pounds unassisted, and carry it up to 150 feet. Must be capable of lifting or pulling ship assist lines, shackles, and chain.


• Mobility & Safety: Must be capable of boarding and exiting the vessel and skiffs without assistance in all weather conditions, navigating steep stairs/vertical ladders, and performing all duties listed in the vessel Station Bill.


• Health Disclosure: Must be capable of working and living on board the vessel for the full duration without having access to hospital services or complex medical treatment, relying only on first aid or local area clinics.