First Mate Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Posted Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 7:00 AM

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems . Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfrontlogisticsand management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation,ticketingand website integration services for clients in the transportation,tourismand entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’sadditionalcorporate officesresidein San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visithornblowercorp.com.

The First Mate assists the Captain to safely moor, operate, and maintain company vessels. The First Mate assists passengers in loading and off-loading safely. The First Mate assists in all aspects of vessel operations and maintenance as directed by Captain.

• Stand bridge watch and assist in the safe navigating and maneuvering of the vessel.
• Take command if captain becomes incapacitated.
• Clean and maintain vessel.
• Assign deck crew tasks and provide direction.
• Supervise and perform routine shipboard maintenance as required.
• Solve problems that come up.
• Ability to run all onboard drills.
• Strong focus on customer service.
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of all common areas including but not limited to: Gangways, Pier Facilities, Ramps, Barges, and the entire vessel.
  Ability to sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
• Load or unload materials from vessels & Handle lines to moor vessel to pier.
• Vessel maintenance including, but not limited to aesthetics, plumbing, electrical, water (potable, raw, black, and gray) fire suppression, communications, and navigation systems.
• Stand look-out watch on bow, stern, or bridge wings to look for obstructions in ship's path or to locate navigational aids such as buoys.
• Operate and maintain ship equipment such as engines and generators, HVAC systems and bridge equipment.
• Willing to be involved in shipyard periods.
• Additional job duties as assigned.

• Must be able to lift furniture and other heavy items such as provisions up and down stairs.
• Transport Workers identification Credential or TWIC.
• CPR/First Aid Certificate.
• Strong focus on safety and teamwork.
• Strong customer service, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Maintain a high level of organization, detailed oriented and meet deadlines.
• Handle multiple tasks/projects at one time.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by job responsibility.
• Listen effectively, assess the situation, determine relevant issues, & suggest solutions.
• Have a working knowledge of computer skills, including but not limited to proficiency with Microsoft Office Suites.
• Must be able to effectively understand and convey written and verbal information to coworkers and guests.
• Maintain uniform and personal grooming in compliance with appearance standards.
• Will be required to be available for work nights, weekends and on all major holidays.

• Ability to work onboard a moving vessel in varying weather and sea conditions, including maintaining balance and stability while underway.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, frequently throughout a shift.
• Ability to navigate stairs, ladders, narrow passageways, and confined spaces commonly found onboard vessels.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull supplies, equipment, and inventory weighing up to 40 pounds independently.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, and perform repetitive motions as required in food service and hospitality operations.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively during normal operations, guest service situations, and emergency procedures.
• Ability to safely work in a fast-paced environment with exposure to moving equipment, wet surfaces, temperature variations, and moderate noise levels.
• Ability to visually inspect service areas, food presentation, cleanliness standards, and safety conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, crew members, and management in person and via radio or other communication devices.
• Successfully complete vessel-specific safety and emergency training.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended shifts as operational needs require.
• Work is performed primarily onboard a Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessel, with duties split between dining, service, storage, galley-adjacent, and administrative areas.
• Position requires regular movement throughout multiple decks and may involve occasional exposure to outdoor marine environments, including heat, humidity, rain, wind, and sunlight.
• Must be able to safely perform duties while the vessel is docked or underway.

The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.