Port Captain

Title: Port Captain

Position: Full-time/Salaried Exempt

Reports To: Vice President of Operations

Division: Gulf-Inland

Location: Laporte, TX

About Marquette:

Headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky and founded in 1978, Marquette is a leading provider of inland marine transportation services. Our Company operates over 130 towboats on the Mississippi River System, Gulf-Intracoastal Waterway, and near-shore coastwise market. In. The Company has additional offices in St Rose, LA, Lockport, LA and La Porte, TX. With over 1,500 vessel and shore-based employees, Marquette is the largest provider of independent towing services within the inland waterways. We are the only fully integrated fleet in the industry that can do what we do.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate vessel managers and their teams.
• Act as the primary liaison between vessel management and shore-based personnel.
• Maintain strong working relationships with vessel employees, internal teams, and external customers.
• Ensure vessel compliance with government regulations and company policies.
• Monitor waterway conditions and provide necessary information to support navigational decisions.
• Administer company policies, including managing disciplinary actions, up to and including termination.
• Represent the company in discussions with the U.S. Coast Guard and other regulatory agencies regarding navigation and vessel operations.
• Maintain positive public relations with local, state, and federal agencies.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to enhance operational safety and efficiency.
• Collaborate with internal departments such as Sales & logistics, Engineering, Financial Planning & Analysis, Purchasing, Crewing, Human Resources, and Claims.
• Stay current with industry trends by attending workshops, reviewing publications, building professional networks, and participating in industry groups.
• Conduct performance evaluations of staff members.

Qualifications:

• Minimum high school diploma required.
• Master Towing Vessel's license preferred but not required.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• Must have or be able to obtain TWIC card.
• 5-10 years of experience in vessel operations; tanker/barge experience preferred.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to perform complex tasks with moderate supervision.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to travel up to 40% to vessel locations.
• Willingness to work weekends and evenings as needed.
• Knowledge of modern navigation software.
• Expertise in regulatory requirements and vessel inspections.
• Proven experience in supervising large teams, training employees, and fostering communication and development.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a history of resolving complex issues.