Svitzer
Chief Engineer - Coastal Towage
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Not Everyone Is Cut Out to Be a Chief Engineer on Tugs - That’s Exactly the Point.
Svitzer is looking for a Chief Engineer to join the Victory, supporting towage operations across UK ports and coastal waters. This is a role that goes beyond routine harbour work—near coastal towage brings variety, challenge, and the expectation that you are switched on, confident and ready to take responsibility.
This is not a supervisory role from the sidelines. As Chief Engineer, you are hands-on, accountable, and ultimately responsible for keeping a powerful tug operational in a demanding, safety-critical environment where downtime is not an option.
If you want real ownership, technical challenge and responsibility in professional towage, this could be the right step for you.
This Is What the Job Really Looks Like
- Maintaining and operating high-power tug machinery in a live, demanding operational environment
- Diagnosing faults and fixing problems under pressure, keeping the vessel safe and operationally ready
- Owning the condition, safety and readiness of your engine room
- Supporting the Master and crew to keep the Victory operational at all times
- Working as part of a small, professional crew where trust, competence and teamwork matter
- Managing planned maintenance, spares, stores and engineering records to the required standard
- Working flexibly across vessel duties when required, while completing ongoing training and development
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
If you take pride in your vessel, your machinery and your work, you’ll fit in well here
Why Svitzer?
Because tug engineering should be done properly.
- 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off rotation – clear structure and real time off
- Living onboard during your working period – no daily commuting
- Modern, well-maintained vessels – no corner-cutting and no neglected machinery
- A company that expects high standards — and backs you to meet them
- Local technical support – close, capable and responsive
- Training, development and long-term career opportunities
We don’t promise an easy job. We promise one worthy of the title Chief Engineer.
What You Get
- Competitive salary of £68,440.88 per annum
- Permanent, time for time contract
- Pension matched up to 10%
- Life Cover (4x pensionable salary) and Single Private Medical Insurance
- Uniform and PPE provided
- Employee Assistance Programme
What You Bring
- Minimum STCW III/3 Chief Engineer <6000kW (III/2 Unlimited preferred)
- Valid ENG1 medical and STCW certification (minimum six months’ validity)
- Strong fault-finding, maintenance and problem-solving skills
- Harbour towage or small-vessel engineering experience preferred
- A professional mindset and pride in safe, reliable engineering
- The legal right to live and work in the UK
- Full UK Driving Licence
- Willingness to live and work onboard during your two-week rotation
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Ready to Get Started?
If you want real responsibility, technical challenge and the chance to make a difference in professional towage, this could be the move that defines your next step.
Building a Diverse Workplace
In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that members from some under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!
How to Apply
To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply Now' button and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location