Vessel Manager

Marquette Transportation Company, LLC•Paducah, KY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Marquette is a leading provider of inland marine transportation services, operating over 130 towboats and controlling over 1,000 dry cargo barges. Headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky, and founded in 1978, the company has additional offices in St. Rose, LA, Lockport, LA, and La Porte, TX. With over 1,800 vessel and shore-based employees, Marquette is the largest provider of independent towing services within the inland waterways and is the only fully integrated fleet in the industry. This role involves managing the day-to-day operations of an assigned fleet of towboats, ensuring alignment with company core principles, and serving as the primary liaison between vessel personnel and shore-side management. The Vessel Manager will maintain strong working relationships with vessel employees, ensure proper crewing, and oversee compliance with regulations and company policies. Responsibilities also include responding to emergencies, conducting vessel inspections, administering company policies, representing the company with regulatory agencies, investigating incidents, developing improvement policies, managing vessel budgets, and supporting the Safety Management System.

Requirements

Demonstrated leadership and personnel management experience required.
Marine industry experience required.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to travel approximately 40% to vessel locations as required.
Valid driver’s license with a good driving record required.
Willingness to participate in an on-call rotation, including evenings and weekends.
Proficiency with modern navigation and vessel management software.
Strong understanding of maritime regulations, compliance requirements, and vessel inspection standards.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operations of an assigned fleet of 10–12 line-haul towboats (5,000–10,000 HP), ensuring alignment with Company Core Principles.
Serve as primary liaison between vessel personnel and shore-side management.
Maintain strong working relationships with vessel employees and support crew engagement.
Ensure vessels are staffed with fully qualified Masters, Pilots, Chiefs, and crew.
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and company policies.
Monitor river conditions and provide information to support safe navigation decisions.
Respond to vessel emergencies, minimizing downtime through effective onsite leadership.
Conduct regular vessel inspections to ensure operational readiness and equipment standards.
Administer company policies, including discipline and performance evaluations.
Represent the Company in dealings with the U.S. Coast Guard and other regulatory agencies.
Investigate incidents and injuries and ensure proper reporting.
Develop and implement policies to improve safety, efficiency, and operations.
Ensure vessels operate within budget.
Support the Safety Management System and continuous improvement initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.