Special Technical Projects Manager - NYC Ferry

Hornblower Group Inc.•New York, NY

About The Position

The Senior Technical Project Manager will serve as the primary technical authority and owner's representative for the NYC Ferry Tier IV vessel conversion project, which involves upgrading five (5) K-Class Tier 3 passenger vessels to meet EPA Tier IV emissions standards. This role requires a unique combination of marine engineering expertise, design review proficiency, and construction management experience. The position holder will act as the critical bridge between design consultants, shipyard contractors, regulatory authorities, and operational stakeholders, with a primary mandate to prevent costly change orders through rigorous technical review and to ensure successful project delivery on schedule and within budget. This individual will wear multiple hats throughout the project lifecycle, serving as both a technical design reviewer who validates engineering deliverables and identifies potential constructability issues, and as an on-site construction manager who ensures quality execution and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will possess the technical depth to catch design errors before they reach the shipyard, the practical experience to foresee construction challenges, and the project management skills to coordinate multiple concurrent vessel conversions while maintaining NYC Ferry operational requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline
Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred, particularly in Marine, Mechanical, or Naval Architecture disciplines
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management credentials preferred
Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in marine vessel construction, conversion, or repair project management
Demonstrated experience managing vessel conversion or major refit projects valued at $5M+ from design through delivery
Proven experience serving as owner's representative on shipyard construction projects, including oversight of contractor performance and quality control
Direct experience reviewing marine vessel design documents, including general arrangements, construction drawings, and systems schematics
Experience with U.S. Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels (Subchapter K, T, or H) strongly preferred
Experience with marine diesel propulsion systems, emissions control systems, or vessel mechanical/electrical systems modifications
Background in shipyard operations, vessel construction methods, or marine engineering design preferred
Deep understanding of marine vessel design principles, including naval architecture, structural design, stability calculations, and vessel classification requirements
Strong knowledge of marine propulsion systems, including diesel engines, engine cooling systems (keel coolers and raw water cooling), fuel systems, exhaust systems, and emissions control technologies
Familiarity with EPA emissions regulations (Tier III and Tier IV standards) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology for marine applications
Understanding of marine electrical systems, including AC/DC systems, battery charging, and electrical distribution on inspected vessels
Knowledge of U.S. Coast Guard regulations applicable to small passenger vessels, including design approval processes, construction oversight requirements, and certification procedures
Proficiency in reading and interpreting marine construction drawings, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), electrical schematics, and technical specifications
Familiarity with shipyard construction practices, including steel fabrication, piping installation, electrical installation, and vessel outfitting
Understanding of contract administration, change order management, and construction claims prevention strategies
Position requires extensive travel to shipyard facilities during construction phases, estimated at 40-60% travel when vessels are under conversion (shipyards may be located anywhere within two days' transit of Brooklyn Navy Yard, from Massachusetts to Virginia)
Must be able to conduct regular site inspections in active shipyard environments, including navigating vessel construction areas, climbing ladders, accessing engine rooms and confined spaces, and traversing scaffolding and staging
Required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during shipyard visits, including hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, and other equipment as required by shipyard safety policies
Ability to work extended hours as needed during critical project phases such as engine installations, sea trials, and vessel deliveries
Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions during vessel inspections and sea trials
Office-based work when not conducting site visits, with flexibility for remote work during design review phases
Must be willing and able to participate in vessel sea trials, which may require spending full days at sea in New York Harbor and surrounding waters

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, or related engineering discipline
Active U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer (Motor) license or higher
Experience with high-speed aluminum passenger catamaran vessels or similar multi-hull passenger vessels
Previous experience with Baudouin engines or similar medium-speed marine diesel engines
Background working with Incat Crowther designs or other high-speed catamaran naval architects
Experience with NYC Ferry operations, Brooklyn Navy Yard facilities, or New York Harbor vessel operations
Previous role as shipyard project manager, construction manager, or marine surveyor providing unique perspective on both design and construction phases
Experience managing multiple concurrent vessel projects in a production or series conversion environment

Responsibilities

Lead comprehensive technical reviews of all vessel design packages, including general arrangements, construction plans, structural modifications, propulsion systems, exhaust systems, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) systems, electrical systems, cooling systems, and piping systems to identify gaps, conflicts, errors, and omissions before construction begins
Review and validate vessel design deliverables from Incat Crowther (naval architect), E4 Power (exhaust system designer), and other technical consultants to ensure completeness, accuracy, constructability, and compliance with specifications
Conduct detailed constructability reviews to identify design elements that may be difficult, impossible, or excessively costly to build, flagging these issues for resolution during the design phase rather than during construction
Coordinate technical reviews between multiple engineering disciplines to ensure proper integration of the Tier IV propulsion system, cooling system modifications (keel cooler vs. raw water cooling analysis), exhaust and SCR systems, urea storage and delivery systems, and electrical modifications
Proactively identify incomplete specifications, missing details, ambiguous instructions, or contradictory information in design documents that could lead to contractor Requests for Information (RFIs), delays, or change orders during construction
Maintain detailed design review logs documenting all technical questions, consultant responses, design changes, and outstanding issues, ensuring traceability and accountability throughout the design process
Review Baudouin engine specifications, SCR system components, and OEM requirements to ensure compatibility with vessel design and proper integration with cooling, exhaust, fuel, and electrical systems
Develop comprehensive bid packages that provide shipyards with complete, accurate, and unambiguous information necessary to submit responsive cost proposals, technical approaches, and realistic schedules
Define technical specifications, work scopes, quality standards, inspection protocols, testing requirements, and deliverable expectations for shipyard conversion work
Clearly delineate owner-furnished equipment (engines, design packages, regulatory approvals) from shipyard-furnished labor and materials to prevent scope gaps and ensure accurate pricing
Support shipyard evaluation process by reviewing technical proposals, assessing shipyard qualifications, capabilities, and past performance, and providing technical input to selection recommendations
Respond to technical RFIs from prospective shipyards during the bidding process, providing clarifications while maintaining fair competition among bidders
Serve as the primary owner's representative throughout vessel construction, acting as the technical authority on behalf of NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and HNY Ferry II, LLC
Conduct regular on-site inspections at the selected shipyard to monitor construction progress, verify work quality, ensure compliance with approved drawings and specifications, and document construction activities
Review and approve (or reject) shipyard submittals, shop drawings, material certifications, and equipment cut sheets for conformance with design intent and project specifications
Witness and document critical construction milestones, including engine removal, structural modifications, engine installation, SCR system installation, exhaust system installation, electrical integration, system testing, and sea trials
Evaluate all shipyard change order requests for validity, technical merit, cost reasonableness, and impact on schedule, providing recommendations to EDC for approval or rejection
Manage the RFI process during construction, ensuring shipyard questions are answered promptly and that all clarifications are properly documented and communicated to relevant parties
Oversee vessel commissioning activities, including engine testing, systems integration testing, emissions testing, performance validation, and sea trials to ensure vessels meet all Tier IV requirements and operational specifications
Develop and manage vessel punch lists, tracking deficiencies through resolution and ensuring all warranty items are properly documented and addressed before vessel acceptance
Coordinate with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Center for review and approval of design documents, including general arrangements, stability books, electrical systems, and other regulatory submittals
Ensure all vessel modifications comply with applicable U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter K regulations, EPA Tier IV emissions standards, and other federal, state, and local requirements
Facilitate regulatory inspections during construction and commissioning, coordinating with USCG inspectors, EPA representatives, and other authorities as required
Review and approve stability calculations, lightship check procedures, and final stability books to ensure vessels meet regulatory requirements for passenger safety
Serve as the primary technical interface between naval architects (Incat Crowther), exhaust system designers (E4 Power), engine suppliers (Hornblower Marine Propulsion/Baudouin), shipyards, third-party consultants, and EDC
Coordinate technical decisions across multiple disciplines to ensure integrated solutions that meet operational, regulatory, and budgetary requirements
Work closely with NYC Ferry operations and engineering teams to understand operational constraints, maintenance requirements, and fleet integration considerations
Provide technical presentations and status reports to EDC leadership, addressing project risks, design decisions, construction progress, and cost/schedule impacts
Facilitate resolution of technical disputes between project parties, maintaining collaborative working relationships while protecting owner interests
Maintain comprehensive project documentation including design review records, meeting minutes, inspection reports, construction photographs, test results, change order logs, and correspondence files
Monitor construction progress against approved schedules, identifying delays or acceleration opportunities and recommending corrective actions to maintain project milestones
Track project costs against budget, validating shipyard invoices and payment applications before recommending approval for payment
Participate in bi-weekly project status meetings with EDC, providing updates on design progress, construction activities, risk mitigation efforts, and upcoming milestones
Prepare monthly construction progress reports documenting work completed, quality observations, schedule status, budget performance, and key issues requiring attention or decision