Tugboat Engineer Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

8/7/2026 Hiring Update - UnCruise Adventures is seeking an experienced Captain to join our team beginning with the Fall 2026 shipyard period at Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle, with the opportunity to continue into the 2027 Alaska sailing season.

PERKS

• Heath care benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401k with employer match (qualifications required)
• Credential reimbursement (qualifications required)
• Travel provided to and from the vessel
• Rotation schedule

JOB SUMMARY 

The Captain in the key leader of the Vessel Leadership Team (VLT - a group of leaders assigned to lead all aspects of each vessel). The Captain directly oversees onboard managers, and indirectly manages crew, ensuring the safe and professional delivery of UnCruise Adventures' published cruise products. The Captain provides excellent and proven leadership, safety, and communications skills with all company employees, partners, vendors, and travel industry professionals. This position reports to the Director of Nautical Operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5 years experience as either Captain or 1st Mate on passenger-carrying vessels.
• Extensive experience in the operations of vessels in diverse waters such as Southeast Alaska, the Snake and Columbia Rivers, the Gulf of California, Mexico and Hawaii.
• Ability to perform voyage planning and navigational calculations.    
• Excellent crisis management skills: works well under pressure, and acts quickly and decisively using sound judgment.
• Supervisory experience in maritime environment required. Additional supervisory oversight of hotel operations strongly preferred.
• Proficient user of computer systems, with the ability to utilize MS software applications in a Windows environment.
• Able to troubleshoot, act quickly with confidence, and make sound decisions while exercising good judgment
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to effectively present sensitive information in one-on-one situations, and comfort with public speaking in group situations. 
• Excellent written English language skills, with the ability to prepare professional documents and reports in a timely manner.  
• Maintain professional demeanor at all time.

Required Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Valid Passport
• CPR / First Aid / AED 
• Drug/Alcohol Test Specimen Collector (Company provided)  
• Medical Certificate
• Radar Observer Unlimited 
• USCG 100GRT Master License - (Near Coastal License required for all Alaska and Safari Explorer Hawaii itineraries. Oceans license required for Safari Explorer Hawaii Repo)
• FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit 
• Valid TWIC
• Advanced Medical Training (e.g. Med Care Provider, WFR, EMT) *Preferred, not required. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: CREW MANAGEMENT/TRAINING

• Directly supervise Chief Engineer, 1st Mate, 2nd Mate, Hotel Manager, and Expedition Leader (reports may vary depending on route/vessel). Indirectly supervise all crew assigned to the vessel. 
• Respond in a timely manner to all concerns, complaints, and allegations, and conducts investigations as necessary. Notify shore-side managers of potentially escalating problems.
• Assist in the training and development of all direct reports. Also assist in the training of any new staff or relief Captain positions.
• Monitor and counsel work performance throughout the season and conduct written performance evaluations of the above crew members. Ensure that other managers and officers complete mid-season and end-of-season reviews of assigned staff.
• Coach, discipline, and/or terminate crew as necessary in a timely and appropriate manner, seek the guidance and support of shore-side managers in Seattle as needed. 
• Conduct weekly informational meetings with the staff, officers and crew.
• Maintain professional demeanor with guests, crew, staff, agents, officials, and the public.
• Through the Officers, oversee the management, operation, maintenance, and repair of the vessel.
• Participate in shore-side training as required by the company.  
• Participate in guest activities such as dining with guests and acts as UnCruise Adventures representative in communities/ports where vessel visits.
• Ensure delivery of Company programming directives including Next Adventure, shore excursions, onboard programs, presentations, and off-vessel excursions as defined in company training program.
• Distribute all information to and from officers, crew, staff, guests, and the Seattle office.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: SAFETY/NAVIGATION/COMPLIANCE/FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Perform bridge navigation during specified periods. Determine geographical position of the ship, using all available means such as GPS, radar ranges, visual observations, depth sounders, etc.
• Record necessary entries in navigation and radio logs.
• Handle the vessel in docking, anchoring, piloting, en route, in close quarters and open sea conditions.
• Ensure vessel compliance to company safety and pollution prevention policies and procedures and requests supervisory assistance/guidance when necessary.
• Navigate vessel to ensure avoidance of marine hazards such as reefs, outlying shoals, shallow waters, etc., using aids to navigation such as lights, lighthouses, and buoys.
• Drive inflatable boats as necessary.
• Oversee and assists with loading guests, staff, and crew in and out of inflatable boats.
• Oversee the security of the vessel both at sea and at dock; ensures gangway watch is posted at all times while at dock.
• Coordinate off-ship emergency medical aid. Assist the 1st Mate in administering first aid treatment and in documenting medical incident reports.
• Oversee safety briefings for guests and coordinates on-board instructive drills for guests, staff and crew.
• Conduct periodic inspections to ensure that crew and guests observe regulations pertaining to safe vessel operation
• Prepare the vessel for, and attend all U.S. Coast Guard annual dry-docks and other inspections as required.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory agency directives affecting vessel operations including U.S. Coast Guard, Center for Disease Control, public lands/waters agencies, and others. 
• Oversee all drug and alcohol testing as required by the U.S. Coast Guard and Company policy.
• Ensure compliance with the company Safety Management System including Emergency Response Activities.
• Oversee all reporting of vessel incidents (hull, crew, staff, and guest).
• Oversee all accounting reports, time cards, inventory, and requisitions. 

ONBOARD ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS / EMPLOYMENT COMPLIANCE

• Living Conditions - Crew live in close quarters with 4 to 8 people of all genders per room depending on the vessel. Having your own room is not an option due to limited berthing.
• Length of Work Shift - Physically able to work 12 hours per day, 7 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Rotations off the vessel are usually 2 to 3 weeks.
• Mobility - Frequent bending, reaching, twisting, kneeling, crawling, and pushing/pulling. Must ascend and descend stairs and ladders, sometimes while carrying tools or objects. Able to stand or sit for long periods of time.
• Handling & Strength - Able to handle, lift, and lower objects totaling 50 pounds between the ground/deck level to a height of about 4 to 6 feet, and able to repeat these movements. Able to carry these objects up to 100 feet continuously for 20 minutes.
• Environmental Conditions - Able to work in all weather conditions, around loud noise, in small spaces, and fit through a 28-inch wide hatch.
• DOT Drug Testing - In compliance with USCG regulations, must pass a pre-employment drug test and additional in-season testing per federal guidelines.
• Allergens - This position requires working with and/or being around raw and cooked shellfish, cleaning chemicals and other known allergens.
• Medical Review - A medical review is required. Must be medically fit to work onboard for safety and compliance.

BASE PAY

• Summer sailing season wage range is based on vessel placement: $415 - $487 / day
• Non-sailing shipyard work at 40 hours / week: $45.00 - $50.00 /hr depending on experience