Ship Manager (Heavy Lift)

Role Purpose (Why do we need this role)

The Owner's Representative for Heavy Lift Vessels represents the owner's interests for third-party managed heavy lift vessels. The role ensures vessels are safely operated, correctly maintained, cost effectively managed, and commercially fit to support Swire Shipping's breakbulk and heavy lift business. Swire Shipping is both owner and operator/charterer of the vessels.

This role requires strong technical understanding and ownership of heavy lift vessel performance, particularly vessels with high-capacity cargo cranes, typically two cranes of 150MT or above, and 2-stroke or 4-stroke main engines. The role is the key interface between Swire Shipping, third-party ship managers, charterers/operations, class, flag and insurance/legal teams.

Role Accountabilities (What is this role responsible for delivering)

1. Vessel Ownership and Ship Manager Oversight

• Act as Owner's Representative for assigned heavy lift vessels managed by third-party ship management companies.
• Ensure vessels are safely operated, correctly maintained, kept within budget and fit for operational and commercial needs.
• Monitor agreed KPIs for vessel and manager performance, including safety, reliability, maintenance, cost, crewing, class, drydock performance and operational readiness.
• Meet ship managers regularly, normally monthly, to review vessel condition, performance, KPIs, defects, budgets, crewing and planned maintenance.
• Maintain open communication between Swire Shipping and ship managers so lessons learnt, technical knowledge and best practices are shared.
• Escalate any matters to Swire Shipping's Fleet Manager

2. Heavy Lift Technical and Operational Capability

• Provide technical oversight specific to heavy lift vessels, including crane reliability, maintenance strategy, structural condition, lifting appliance certification, cargo gear readiness, cargo hold condition and hatch cover integrity.
• Ensure ship managers support breakbulk and heavy lift requirements, including cargo sensitivity, project cargo, port constraints, lifting plans, deck strength, lashing/securing and schedule reliability.
• Work closely with commercial, operations, marine assurance, cargo, QA and technical stakeholders to ensure vessels are suitable and prepared for heavy lift and breakbulk employment.
• Review technical risks affecting heavy lift operations, including crane downtime, hydraulic/electrical systems, cargo hold and hatch cover condition, ballast capability, stability, lifting gear and main engine reliability.
• Provide guidance to ship managers and internal stakeholders on carriage requirements for breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift cargoes.

3. Vessel Condition, Class and Compliance

• Monitor each vessel's class status and ensure ship managers plan and complete surveys in a timely manner.
• Ensure statutory, class, flag and lifting appliance requirements are properly understood, planned and executed by ship managers.
• Inspect each vessel officially at least every six months and submit a written condition report. Poor performers or vessels with repeat technical or crane issues should be inspected more often.
• Review vessel condition, focusing on propulsion, auxiliary machinery, cargo cranes, deck equipment, hatch covers, ballast systems, hull structure, cargo holds, lifting gear and heavy lift readiness.

4. Drydockings, Repairs and Technical Projects

• Attend drydockings and major repair periods to protect the owner's interests, review scope, monitor quality, control cost and approve major expenditure where authorized.
• Review and challenge drydock specifications, especially crane overhaul, steel repairs, cargo hold preparation, hatch cover work, engine overhauls, ballast systems and statutory surveys.
• Collaborate with ship managers and relevant internal stakeholders on upgrades, modifications or special projects required for heavy lift and breakbulk trading.
• Ensure lessons from drydockings, breakdowns, crane failures, cargo incidents and off-hire events are captured and shared with managers and internal teams.

5. Budget, Cost and Performance Management

• Review, challenge and monitor vessel operating budgets, drydock budgets and unbudgeted expenditure, ensuring owner's funds are spent responsibly and aligned with operational needs.
• Approve unbudgeted expenditure requests within delegated authority and maintain records for management review.
• Monitor vessel speed, consumption and technical performance, and require corrective action where performance is excessive or inefficient.
• Assess cost and operational impact of crane defects, machinery issues, off-hire, cargo/port delays and drydock overruns.
• Support initiatives that improve vessel reliability, fuel performance, maintenance effectiveness and commercial availability.

6. Crewing, Sea Staff and Manager Performance

• Monitor technical and operational performance of ship managers and provide guidance where agreed standards or KPIs are not met.
• Maintain practical sea staff performance records and provide feedback so strong performers are retained and underperformers developed or replaced where appropriate.
• Ensure vessels are crewed with personnel who understand heavy lift, breakbulk, project cargo and cargo crane operations.
• Promote strong onboard safety culture, technical discipline and operational ownership among senior officers and ship managers.

7. Commercial

• Ensure charterer, customer and internal commercial requirements are understood and conveyed to ship managers for action.
• Act as a technically credible partner to commercial and operations teams when assessing vessel suitability for heavy lift, project, breakbulk and special cargoes.
• Provide timely input on technical limitations, crane capability, cargo gear readiness, vessel performance, drydock timing, defect risk and operational constraints.
• Handle insurance and technical claims by collating costs, reports, invoices and supporting documentation for submission to the claims department.
• Support investigation and follow-up of machinery damage, crane failures, cargo gear incidents, cargo damage, off-hire, safety incidents and operational claims.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are followed through with ship managers and relevant stakeholders.

8. Reporting and Escalation

• Report regularly to the Fleet Manager on assigned vessels technical, crewing, QA, cargo-readiness and operational matters.
• Provide clear summaries of vessel performance, risks, costs, condition, drydock status, class matters, crane reliability and key issues.
• Escalate high-risk issues promptly, especially those affecting safety, heavy lift capability, commercial commitments, compliance, budget exposure or vessel availability.

9. Safety

• Take responsibility for personal safety and the safety of those around them by demonstrating safety leadership principles.
• Challenge and stop unsafe acts, unsafe behaviours or unsafe conditions.
• Comply with applicable Global and company Safety Standards, policies and operating procedures.
• Promote strong onboard and shore-based safety culture for heavy lift and breakbulk operations, focusing on lifting, working at height, suspended loads, cargo securing, machinery safety, permit-to-work and contractor management.

Key Qualifications & Skills (What knowledge will ensure success in the role)

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Class 1 Motor Certificate of Competency, or equivalent senior marine engineering qualification.
• Significant sea-going experience as Chief Engineer on international trading vessels.
• Shore-based experience as Ship Manager, Technical Superintendent, Fleet Manager, Owner's Representative, or similar technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated Chief Engineer experience on heavy lift, multipurpose, project cargo, or breakbulk vessels, preferably equipped with two heavy lift cranes of 150 tonnes or above.
• Strong knowledge of cargo crane systems, lifting appliances, structural integrity, hydraulic and electrical systems, certification requirements, and heavy lift operational risks.
• Practical experience with heavy lift vessel drydockings, crane overhauls, cargo hold preparation, deck strength assessments, hatch cover maintenance, and project/breakbulk cargo operations.
• Sound understanding of the breakbulk and heavy lift sector, including customer requirements, project cargo sensitivity, schedule reliability, cargo readiness, and the commercial impact of technical downtime.
• Experience with both two-stroke and four-stroke main engine configurations is preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of marine engineering systems, ship management, planned maintenance, machinery reliability, defect management, condition-based maintenance, class rules, and flag state requirements.
• Experience managing ship repairs, drydockings, newbuildings, and vessel modification projects.
• Ability to review and evaluate budgets, drydock specifications, technical proposals, repair quotations, and unplanned expenditure requests.
• Ability to assess vessel condition and translate technical findings into practical operational, commercial, and risk-based recommendations.
• Familiarity with vessel performance monitoring systems, including speed, fuel consumption, and overall performance management.

Professional Skills

• Strong governance, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with ship managers, vessel officers, class societies, flag administrations, insurers, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Sound judgement in balancing safety, commercial priorities, cost control, and long-term asset integrity.
• Ability to challenge constructively, influence stakeholders, and drive corrective actions where vessel condition, ship manager performance, or heavy lift readiness falls below expectations.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, or influence technical teams and external ship management partners.