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Captain
Operating Areas: Southeast Alaska, Salish Sea, Mexico, and vessel repositioning routes.
Schedule: Seasonal, including pre- and post-season responsibilities
Compensation: $400-$425 daily rate, DOE.
Benefits and Support: Company-arranged travel and travel stipend provided in connection with reporting and return travel. Meals and lodging provided while aboard the vessel. Opportunity for extended seasonal employment with defined rotation periods. Work aboard nationally significant historic vessels in remote and exceptional operating areas. High-autonomy command role with direct access to ownership.
Position Overview
The Captain is the senior operational authority aboard our historic wooden expedition vessel, responsible for safe navigation, crew leadership, regulatory compliance, and contributing to a high-quality guest experience.
This is a command role rooted in stewardship, good judgment, and continuity. The Captain works closely with the owner and crew to operate, maintain, and care for a legacy vessel across a full season.
The role centers on the care and operation of our historic vessels. M/V Catalyst is powered by the one-of-a-kind 1932 Washington-Estep diesel engine. M/V Westward is powered by the last of its kind 1924 Atlas Imperial diesel engine.
This position operates within a small-crew environment where shared responsibility for vessel cleanliness and support tasks, including crew and guest spaces, restrooms, and galley assistance, is required.
The Captain supports the generational continuity of the vessel and its maritime heritage by operating with the awareness that the vessel, systems, and knowledge are maintained not just for the current season, crew and guests, but for those who will follow. They’re not ours. It’s Just Our Turn.
Vessel Command & Safety
Exercise command of the vessel, with authority over navigation, weather decisions, pace of operations, and onboard safety consistent with applicable law and conditions.
Maintain compliance with applicable USCG regulations, maritime law, and safety standards as they apply to vessel operations.
Oversee emergency preparedness, drills, and real-time response to incidents.
Support a safety culture grounded in attentiveness, communication, and sound judgment.
Shared Stewardship of People, Vessel, Natural Environment, and Operation
Carry shared responsibility for supporting the health, safety, and wellbeing of guests, crew, the cruising grounds and visited areas, and the company.
Make operational decisions that seek to balance immediate conditions with longer-term impacts.
Contribute to a respectful and professional onboard environment.
Support the roles of all other crew members as it relates to the vessel and operational experience.
Respond to health and safety concerns for crew and guests.
Safeguard company interests through sound judgment and communication.
Recognize that leadership decisions may have cascading effects.
Crew Leadership & Operations
Provide leadership, supervision, and support to a cross-functional crew.
Support the roles of all other crew members as it relates to the employee experience.
Establish expectations for professionalism and teamwork.
Coordinate daily operations and trip rhythm within established routes.
Offer mentorship and operational leadership.
Regulatory Compliance & Agency Reporting
Serve as the primary onboard point of responsibility for coordinating compliance with operating permits.
Oversee tracking of permitted use days and activities.
Prepare or oversee required agency reports in alignment with the owner.
Act as the onboard point of contact for agency interactions.
Engineering Coordination & Vessel Stewardship
Work in partnership with the Owner and engineering staff and participate in yard period planning and labor as necessary.
Support preventive maintenance practices.
Participate in pre- and post-season activities.
Maintain system awareness to support informed decisions.
Guest Experience & Program Delivery
Guide trip delivery in alignment with company values.
Support the roles of all other crew members as it relates to the guest experience.
Guests often view the Captain as a primary authority aboard the vessel and look to this role for leadership, confidence, and perspective.. Engage heavily with guests, sharing your experience and providing interpretive interaction with the vessel, navigational charts, the natural environment, and learnings found in the ship’s resource library.
Balance itinerary goals with conditions and capacity.
Qualifications & Experience
Minimum 200ton USCG Near Coastal Master’s license.
Experience captaining small passenger vessels.
Engineering experience and/or ability to troubleshoot ships systems in real time.
Proven crew leadership experience.
Experience with legacy or traditional vessels strongly preferred, including appreciation for the temperament, limitations, and evolving needs of historic craft.
Strong decision-making skills.
General Job Interest?
If you don’t see an open job that fits your experience posted here, but you like what we do and want to make us aware of your existence and experience. Send a resume or CV to [email protected], and hit the blue button.