Shipyard Project Manager

Canal Barge Company Job Description Shipyard Project Manager

We are seeking an experienced Marine Shipyard Project Manager to plan, coordinate, and execute multiple concurrent vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul, and capital improvement projects across our Gulf Inland fleet. The successful candidate will independently manage a portfolio of shipyard projects, balancing safety, regulatory compliance, vessel reliability, budgets, and schedules. This position works closely with Port Engineers, shipyards, vendors, vessel crews, Operations, and shoreside leadership. It requires strong marine technical judgment, financial accountability, and the ability to keep several complex projects moving without continuous on-site supervision at any single location.

Key Responsibilities

• A. Multi-Project Management Manage multiple major vessel maintenance, overhaul, and capital projects simultaneously across different shipyards and locations. Develop and maintain project scopes, schedules, budgets, milestones, risk registers, and completion plans for each assigned vessel. Prioritize competing project demands, coordinate resources and contractors, and identify conflicts or delays early. Maintain clear portfolio-wide visibility of progress, cost forecasts, schedule variances, open decisions, and risks; provide regular updates to Engineering leadership. Coordinate with shipyard and vendor personnel to ensure effective daily execution without requiring continuous on-site oversight.
• undefined B. Pre-Docking Planning & Procurement Participate planning meetings with vessel crews and vessel management team members to define the job scope ahead of each shipyard availability. Write detailed job scopes for major vendors and obtain estimates. Coordinate with shipyards to schedule dry docking and other vendor activities. Use planned and unplanned downtime to prepare for future outages, including scheduling inspections and pre-surveys. Enter known issues and repairs into the planned maintenance system (PMS). Work with the inventory control and procurement team to order and deliver materials and long-lead items and move spares to the locations where they are needed.
• undefined C. Project Execution & Technical Oversight Plan and execute shipyard availabilities, including Internal Structural Examinations (ISEs), Certificate of Inspection (COI) renewals, propulsion overhauls, vessel modifications, and other major repairs. Evaluate equipment conditions, vessel deficiencies, inspection findings, and proposed repairs to establish practical, technically sound scopes of work. Oversee vendor performance, machinery installations, structural and piping work, testing, commissioning, and project closeout. Ensure work complies with applicable safety, quality, USCG, and other regulatory requirements and is properly documented. Identify technical issues and determine when to resolve independently and when to elevate significant operational, compliance, or financial risks. Hold kickoff meetings with vendors and make sure every party has the current, detailed project list. Serve as the primary contact between the vessel operator and the shipyard. Make sure vessel crews understand their responsibilities during each project. When on site, meet daily with vendors to plan the day's work and lead daily safety huddles with vendors and crew. Perform regular quality inspections and make sure defects are corrected promptly. Coordinate and oversee sea trials, resolve any issues found, and confirm the vessel is fully operational before handover. Complete the vessel handover and update all project documentation accordingly.
• D. Budget, Vendor & Cost Management Develop cost estimates and manage approved capital and maintenance budgets for multiple concurrent projects. Obtain and evaluate competitive proposals; assess repair recommendations and change orders for necessity, scope, cost, and value. Track commitments, invoices, change orders, actual spending, and estimated cost to complete; communicate variances promptly. Validate contractor billing against approved work and supporting documentation. Control unnecessary expenditure without compromising safe, reliable, or compliant vessel operation.
• E. Communication, Reporting & Continuous Improvement Coordinate vessel availability and return-to-service plans with Operations and other stakeholders to minimize downtime. Provide concise, accurate project updates and maintain organized scopes, approvals, inspection records, invoices, and closeout packages. Lead post-project reviews and apply lessons learned to improve future execution, cost control, and project consistency.

Measurements of Success

• Asset availability: percentage of time vessels are operational and ready for service.
• Maintenance cost: variance between budgeted and actual project spending.
• Project completion: percentage of projects completed on time and within budget.
• Continuous improvement: number and impact of process improvements put in place.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience successfully managing multiple concurrent marine, shipyard, or industrial capital projects with direct accountability for budgets, schedules, contractors, and closeout.
• Substantial experience in marine maintenance, vessel repair, marine engineering, shipyard operations, or a comparable technical environment.
• Working knowledge of diesel propulsion, auxiliary machinery, piping, and related vessel systems.
• Ability to interpret drawings, technical specifications, inspection findings, and vendor proposals.
• Strong financial, organizational, communication, problem-solving, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to travel regularly to shipyards, vessels, and vendor locations as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Inland towboat or commercial marine shipyard project experience.
• Background as a Port Engineer, Chief Engineer, Shipyard Superintendent, Marine Project Manager, or similar role.
• Marine engineering degree, technical education, or equivalent practical experience.
• Familiarity with USCG Subchapter M, marine inspections, diesel engine overhauls, repowering, and major vessel modifications.
• Experience with computerized maintenance management and project reporting systems.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate takes ownership, makes well-supported decisions, challenges unnecessary costs, anticipates problems, and delivers multiple projects safely and effectively. Success requires both technical credibility and the discipline to control scope, schedule, and cost across an active project portfolio.

Canal Barge Company and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers - All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Canal Barge Company and Marquette Transportation Company are leaders in the marine transportation industry. Following investments by Redwood Holdings in Canal Barge and Marquette, the family of brands now includes Canal Barge Company, Marquette’s Gulf Inland, River, and Offshore divisions, Illinois Marine Towing, Canal Terminal Company, Canal Analytical and Environmental Services, and Pelican Marine. Together, these companies form an integrated network with one of the industry’s largest fleets, comprising nearly 150 vessels, more than 4,000 barges, over 100 deck barges, and 2,000 skilled mariners. Founded in 1933 and headquartered in New Orleans, Canal Barge Company is one of the largest privately‑owned marine transportation companies in the United States. Canal Barge has a proven track record of developing long‑term, mutually profitable partnerships with leading companies across the refining, petrochemical, power generation, oilfield services, construction, and materials industries. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky, Marquette Transportation Company is a leading provider of marine transportation services. Through its integrated towing network, Marquette operates across more than 6,000 miles of navigable waterways, including the Mississippi River System and its tributaries, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and the nearshore tugboat market.