Commercial Operator - Tanker Focus

As Union Maritime’s (UML) fleet continues to grow, within an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, with evolving client demands, there is a necessity to strengthen our specialist Commercial Operations team in a newly established global location, Houston, USA.  

This is an exciting opportunity to be the first Commercial Operator for Union Maritime in the USA; a proud milestone in the company’s history.

 The Commercial Operations team handles our tanker, chemical and dry bulk fleet globally.

UML also has a substantial newbuild programme underway, which consists of chemical and product tankers, in addition to dry bulk vessels, equipped with state-of-the-art wind-assisted propulsion technology, in addition to forward-thinking dual fuel configurations.

Core Role Function

 Our Commercial Operations team currently has offices in London (HQ), Lagos, Chennai and Singapore. Moreover, UML also has offices in Athens, Mumbai and Tokyo, making this an opportunity to join a truly global team.   

 To oversee the commercial operations for our owned fleet of tankers, both across spot and period charter structures. There may be the occasional requirement to assist with time zone coverage on our dry bulk vessels, when they are in the USA.

 As the first team member, there will be a strong expectation for the right candidate to drive uptake of our company systems and ways of working, to ensure a uniform global standard.    

·         Coordinate timely provision of voyage orders, agency appointments

·         Manage and ensure compliance with charter party terms

·         Review tank cleaning plans (in coordination with our Marine Operations team), along with following up with the vessel to oversee progress and verification of cleaning standards

·         Coordinate bunker planning in the most cost and time efficient manner

·         Review stowplans to ensure we are optimising our cargo intakes where applicable, whilst assisting the Chartering Department for time critical pre-fixture tasks

·         Ensure that, where applicable, we obtain letters of indemnity from our Counterparts if there are any deviations from the charter party terms

·         Maintain and file all data relevant to voyages in various systems

·         Disclose information internally as company escalation protocols to support a transparent and closely aligned global team spirit

·         Take on ad hoc tasks where necessary to support specific business needs or growth-related projects for the Commercial Operations Department

·         Raising timely freight and hire invoices using the voyage management system (Q88 VMS)

·         Assisting the claims department with on voyage claims, including but not limited to interim port calls, shifting costs, speed up costs and world scale rebillable items

·         Oversee that vessel EUA positions are manged; and generally, maintain awareness of carbon regulations which bear a major impact on global shipping

·         Be physically present five days a week in our Houston office  

·         Be available outside of regular office hours as required by the demands of the role, as would be expected in any commercial shipping role

·         Possess an ability to function autonomously without direct supervision of line manager for routine or standard operational requirements following induction period

·         A proven track record handling the shore-based operations for tankers (min 3 years’ experience as a guideline);

·         Commercial awareness and an ability to demonstrate this when carrying our core responsibilities and guide decision making, both internally and externally

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with a positive mindset

·         Attention to detail, meticulousness and numeracy skills are fundamental

·         A team player, to fit within our diverse and global department, and work easily with

·         Excellent time management skills to efficiently navigate the demands of the role

·         Proficient with using the Microsoft suite: Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint (Power BI skills are advantageous)

·         Experience using VESON IMOS is advantageous

·         Awareness that the job can require after-hours and/or weekend attention; availability to manage critical out of hours issues is fundamental  

·         Capable to work as a proactive self-starter, with a resilient mindset to challenges and adversity

·         UML offers competitive benefits, inclusive of salary and annual discretionary bonus. Further details will be provided on request.