2nd Mate – UnCruise Adventures

At UnCruise Adventures, we work together to support and build a brand that provides an enriching adventure travel experience that inspires an appreciation of local cultures and the natural world. This means we kayak among icebergs, travel to hidden waterfalls, snorkel with sea lions, dive with manta rays and share air with whales. Our destinations include Alaska, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Costa Rica & Panama, Belize, Galapagos, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, and Pacific Northwest. Every team member plays a major role in bringing the adventure to life. When you join our team, you become an important part of our uniqueness.

• Inspiring, yes. A dedicated bunch, too. You'll quickly realize it’s not just about the task at hand—you're family. And as an ethical company—it's not all talk, we walk the walk.
• Discover life on board. Work in adventure travel and find your career outdoors.

Job Overview

2nd Mate 

WHO WE ARE 

At UnCruise Adventures, we work together to support and build a brand that provides an enriching adventure travel experience that inspires an appreciation of local cultures and the natural world.  This means we kayak among icebergs, travel to hidden waterfalls, snorkel with sea lions, dive with manta rays and share air with whales. Our destinations include Alaska, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Costa Rica & Panama, Belize, Galapagos, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, and Pacific Northwest. Every team member plays a major role in bringing the adventure to life. When you join our team, you become an important part of our uniqueness.​ 

JOB SUMMARY   

The 2nd Mate is responsible for maintaining the bridge navigational and communications equipment as well as assisting with the vessel’s piloting, navigation, safety and small boat operations.  The 2nd Mate reports to the Captain and will assist the Master in communicating and enforcing all company policies and procedures. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES   

The 2nd Mate is considered the Navigation Officer. They are primarily responsible for safe route planning, maintaining charts and publications, and the caretaking of the bridge and bridge equipment.  

Watch Duty: 

• Perform bridge navigation and deck watch during specified periods.  Determines geographical position of the ship, using all available means such as GPS, radar ranges, visual observations, depth sounders, etc. 
• Make necessary entries in navigation and radio logs. 
• Handle the vessel, as directed by the Captain, in docking, anchoring, piloting, en route, in close quarters and open sea conditions. 
• Navigate vessel to ensure avoidance of marine hazards such as reefs, outlying shoals, shallow waters, etc. using aids to navigation such as lights, lighthouses, and buoys. 
• While on watch the 2nd Mate is the Officer of the Watch, and should direct the deck staff as needed. 

Safety and Security: 

• Participate in on board safety training, meetings and drills, as directed by the Captain, including fire, abandon ship, man overboard, flooding and medical emergencies. 
• Participate in shore side training as required by the company.   
• Relieve and/or perform gangway watch as directed by the duty schedule. 

• Maintain familiarity with all duties under the company Safety Management System including Emergency Response Activities. 

Small Boat Operations: 

• Drive inflatable boats as necessary. 
• Assist with loading guests, staff, and crew in and out of inflatable boats. 

Administrative: 

• Maintain navigation bridge supply inventories and requisitions. 
• Perform chart and publication corrections and maintain vessel’s chart inventory. 
• Post daily sunrise/sunset times and tide and current information. 

• Create Voyage Plan waypoint spreadsheet for Captain’s review and approval. Enter voyage itinerary waypoints into GPS. 
• Maintain hard copies of all external and shipboard training for each employee onboard.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience as Mate operating a passenger vessel, including navigation and bridge watch responsibilities, maintaining navigation/communications equipment, and performing chart corrections. 

• Excellent crisis management skills: ability to act quickly with confidence while exercising sound judgment. 
• Professional demeanor. 
• Strong time management skills: able to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines. 
• Communicate effectively to present information one-on-one and small group situations.  
• Able to perform voyage planning and navigational calculations. 

Required Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: 

• Valid Passport  
• CPR / First Aid / AED  
• Radar Observer Unlimited  

• Medical Certificate  
• Drug/Alcohol Test Specimen Collector (Company provided) 
• USCG 100T Master or Mate License (1)   
• Valid TWIC (2)  
• FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit (2)  

• USCG 500GRT or up to 3000GT Master Licenses, Near Coastal or Second Mate Unlimited (3) 
• St. Kitts Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) (company provided) (3)   
• St. Kitts Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) (company provided) (3)   
• II/1 Officers in Charge of Navigational Watch (500T) (3)   
• ARPA Endorsement (3)   

• ECDIS Endorsement (3)  
• STCW Basic Training (4)   
• STCW Crowd Management (Company provided if needed for Voyager) (4)   
• STCW Crisis Management (Company provided if needed by Voyager) (4)   
• VPDSD (Company provided if needed for Voyager) (4)   

• Bridge Resource Management (4)  
• MARSEC Card (Company provided) (5)  

1. Near Coastal License required for all Alaska and Safari Explorer Hawaii itineraries. 
2. Required for all vessels, except Safari Voyager  
3. Required for Safari Voyager  
4. Required for Safari Voyager; preferred on other vessels  
5. Required on Safari Explorer Hawaii itinerary   

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT 

• Covid-19 - Our crew and guests are fully vaccinated prior to boarding the vessels. Masks and testing are also required.   
• Length of Work Shift- Physically able to work 12 hours per day, 7 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Rotations off the vessel are usually 2-3 weeks. 
• Mobility- Frequent bending, reaching, twisting, kneeling, crawling, and pushing/pulling.  Must ascend and descend stairs and ladders, sometimes while carrying tools or objects. Able to stand or sit for long periods of time. 
• Handling/Strength- Able to handle, lift, and lower objects totaling 50 pounds between the ground/deck level to a height of about 4 to 6 feet, and able to repeat these movements.  Able to carry these objects up to 100 feet continuously for 20 minutes. 
• Environmental Conditions- Able to work in all weather conditions, around loud noise, in small spaces, and fit through a 28-inch wide hatch. 

WORK SCHEDULE   

The 2nd Mate works 12 hours per day of varied hours; two 4-hour watches per day plus 4 hours of administrative or small boat activities. However, each workday may vary depending on overall needs of the vessel and/or vessel personnel. This position is likely to require overnight and/or night shift hours. 

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT   

This job description is intended only to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee in this position.  It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills or abilities required or persons so classified or assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

It is the policy of UnCruise Adventures not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, marital status, citizenship, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, ancestry, national origin, or veteran status in its educational programs, activities, or employment as required by law.