Crab Engineer-Deckhand

Coastal Alaska Premier Seafoods, a subsidiary of Coastal Villages Region Fund, is currently seeking applications for engineer/deckhands aboard our Crab Catcher vessels.  The primary responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to assisting in maintaining the vessels engines, power systems, deck machinery, hydraulic, electrical, piping, plumbing and refrigeration systems.  This position also performs the duties of a deckhand. This position may also be responsible for shipyard work, loading and unloading supplies on the vessel, cleaning vessel and equipment, and performing other duties as assigned. This position is not sedentary. Applicants will be required to provide current USCG License with endorsements and other merchant mariner documentation. This position requires one year experience as an Assistant Engineer of a fishing boat in the Bearing Sea, and three years’ experience or more as a deckhand on a crab vessel. 

Specific Duties Include:

• Assists in maintaining the functionality and safety of the vessel’s engines, power systems, deck machinery, electrical, hydraulic, piping, plumbing, refrigeration and sanitary systems
• Successfully passing Basic & Advanced Firefighting, 24 Hour HAZWOPER, Drills and other courses as per company policy and regulatory requirements.
• Sort crab by species and size, color and sex ensuring superior product is brought to market, and all regulatory guidelines are adhered to at all times.
• Maintain a safe and clean working and living environment.
• Discard cull (inferior or defective) items and foreign matter.
• Assist in offloads of product, and load and unload supplies. May be required to pass crane operator certification
• Manually and by operating machines move live seafood from place to place.
• Must be able to work and move safely on an uneven, slippery and moving surface around machinery and crab pots weighing 850-1150 pounds.
• Must be able to work 12-16 hour shifts, in adverse weather conditions, and up to 24 hour shifts as required by fishing and market conditions.
• Must attend and successfully pass all safety drills, training, and education required by regulatory agencies and CVRF.
• Must be able to manipulate heavy crab pots, equipment and to move large amounts of crab.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position reports directly to the Captain of the Vessel

Starting wage: Crewshare– Status: Non-Exempt – Seasonal

Coastal Villages Region Fund has a zero tolerance Drug and Alcohol Policy.

 Coastal Villages Region Fund has a zero tolerance Drug and Alcohol Policy. Selected applicants will be required to successfully pass a post-offer background, drug test and reference check. Applicants must be willing and able to be away from home for extended periods of time, and must be willing to live and work in a cramped environment, and work as a team member at all times. In addition, good communication skills, self motivation, and a positive attitude are important to ensure a high quality product and the safety of all crew members.

Note: This is a safety sensitive position, and impairment by any amount of drugs or alcohol may result in undue harm to self or others.

Knowledge & Skill Requirement: 

• Must possess and maintain proper license and all necessary endorsements as required by the U.S. Coast Guard and other regulatory agencies.
• One year of experience as an Assistant Engineer of a fishing boat in the Bearing Sea
• Three years of experience as a deckhand on a crab vessel.
• Knowledgeable in oil spill response and recovery per regulations.
• Knowledgeable in proper handling and disposal or hazardous materials.
• Ability to demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills. 

 Physical Demands:

• Must meet U.S. Coast Guard licensing standards regarding physical condition, hearing, and eyesight minimums.
• Ability to pass pre-employment and unannounced random drug tests.
• Must be capable of boarding and exiting a vessel without physical assistance by climbing up and down a gangplank or using a Jacob’s ladder.
• Must climb or descend one or more sets of steep stairs, or vertical ladders inside and outside the vessel in all weather conditions as extreme as 30 degrees below zero.
• Must be able to lift heavy items repeatedly over long periods of time.
• Must be punctual, organized, and able to work under stressful conditions. 
• Must possess proper license and necessary endorsement as required by the U.S. Coast Guard
• Crew members must be capable of working consecutive, long and variable work shifts for extended periods of time. Shifts typically range from 12 to 24 hours per day with periodic breaks depending on work demands, production requirements, availability of fish, and travel schedules.
• The work is strenuous and sometimes hazardous due to exposure to operating machinery, mechanical parts, fumes, chemicals, pressurized fluids, vibration and with the vessel operating under all types of weather conditions including extreme cold. This means standing, walking and maintaining balance in rain, snow, ice, wind, rough seas or other types of weather.
• Both hands must be capable of grabbing, holding or gripping rope, rails, equipment and vessel structures for long periods of time. Forceful grasping along with repetitive finger and hand use is frequent.
• Applicant must also be able to occasionally sit, kneel, crouch and crawl. Applicants must be able to climb up and down, safely ascend and descend ladders, work in small and confined spaces, and pass all safety test requirements.
• Applicants must be able to frequently lift 11-20 pounds from the floor to the waist and above the shoulders and occasionally lift 51-100 pounds in the same manner. Applicants must be able to occasionally push, pull and carry 21-50 pounds and on a limited basis, 100 pounds.
• Specific vision requirements for this position may require the applicant to determine shades, colors and shadows. The crew member will need to have distance and depth perception abilities.
• Applicants will be required to gain medical clearance for use of a tight fitting respirator.

Basic Mental Functions:

• Applicants must be able to perform basic math; add, subtract numbers between 1-100; multiply and divide by 10's and 100's. Applicant must also be able to understand, read, speak and write in English
• Applicant must possess the ability to apply these basic functions to American currency, weight, distance and volumes
• Applicant needs the ability to perform these basic functions in stressful, noisy environments and in the adverse weather conditions as mentioned above.

Upon receiving a conditional offer, selected applicants may be required to have physical examinations. The results of those tests may require a Licensed Health Care Professional and selected applicant to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be structured to allow for safe performance of the job described above while in a remote and hazardous location.