Overview

Southampton | Permanent | Salary dependent on experience

Are you an experienced Vessel Agent looking for a hands-on role where you’ll be right at the heart of port operations?

We’re recruiting for an experienced Vessel Agent to join a busy Vessel Services team in Southampton. You’ll take responsibility for vessel calls from arrival planning through to departure, working closely with Masters, crew, port authorities and operational teams to make sure everything runs safely and smoothly.

This is a varied, fast-moving position suited to someone who already understands vessel agency or husbandry work and enjoys solving problems, dealing with people and keeping things moving.

About the Role:

As Vessel Agent, you’ll be the key local contact for vessels calling at the port.

You’ll coordinate everything from berthing, pilots and towage through to customs clearance, crew changes, stores and vessel requirements. You’ll also monitor vessel movements and keep everyone updated throughout each call.
Because shipping doesn’t operate to standard office hours, you’ll need to be comfortable working flexibly, including some evenings, weekends and unsociable hours when vessels require support.

What You’ll Be Doing:

  • Coordinating vessel arrivals, port stays and departures
  • Monitoring vessel movements and keeping relevant teams informed
  • Arranging berths, pilots, towage and mooring services
  • Liaising with Vessel Masters, port authorities and operational teams
  • Handling arrival and departure information for crew and passengers
  • Arranging crew changes and supporting visitors to and from vessels
  • Organising stores, fuel, spare parts, drinking water and other vessel requirements
  • Completing customs clearances for import and export cargo
  • Preparing and checking the documentation required for vessel calls
  • Monitoring cargo operations and reporting any delays
  • Completing port cost information and checking relevant invoices
  • Acting as the local point of contact when problems or emergencies arise
  • Supporting additional vessel and cargo agency work as required

What Our Client Is Looking For:

  • Previous experience within Vessel Agency or ship husbandry
  • Good knowledge of customs clearance and import/export procedures
  • Understanding of UK Immigration requirements for seafarers
  • Knowledge of HMRC procedures relating to ships’ spares
  • Strong organisation and time-management skills
  • The ability to stay calm and organised when working to tight deadlines
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Clear and confident communication skills
  • A practical approach to solving problems
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
  • Fluent English
  • A full, clean UK driving licence
  • Flexibility to work outside normal office hours when vessel schedules require it

What’s on Offer

  • Permanent position
  • Varied, hands-on role within vessel and port operations
  • Opportunity to work directly with vessels, Masters, port authorities and operational teams
  • A role with plenty of responsibility and day-to-day variety
  • Training where required for the position

If you already have vessel agency or husbandry experience and enjoy a role where no two vessel calls are quite the same, we’d like to hear from you.

Apply today to find out more about this Vessel Agent opportunity in Southampton.