Environmental Officer

Environmental Officer

The Environmental Officer leads the vessel’s environmental program, ensuring compliance with international, national, and local regulations as well as company policies and standards. This role serves as the shipboard subject matter expert on environmental management, provides guidance to crews and departments, and coordinates with shoreside environmental teams. The Environmental Officer interfaces with all departments and reports concerns or regulatory/SQM issues to the Director, Environmental Programs when needed. The position supports safety, public health, and environmental objectives and may participate in audits and training. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and company policies; monitor performance and maintain required records and documentation (e.g., MARPOL-related logs, waste records, water sampling logs, gas monitoring records, and facility-specific reports). 

• Manage environmental equipment, monitoring programs, and sampling activities; verify regular maintenance, calibration, and proper operation of systems such as wastewater treatment, potable water sampling, and recreational water systems. 

• Develop and implement environmental programs and procedures (OPP, IPM, Water Safety Plan for potable and recreational waters, Vessel Sanitation Program, etc.); coordinate with departments to ensure effective execution. 

• Lead or participate in safety drills and environmental training; support regulatory audits and respond to findings; liaise with governmental authorities as required. 

• Provide environmental compliance guidance to Chief Engineer and other department heads; escalate issues to the Director, Environmental Programs when appropriate. 

• Oversee waste management practices, including segregation, disposal, vendor coordination, and documentation; ensure safekeeping of records and reporting. 

• Contribute to the environmental budget and identify cost containment and efficiency opportunities. 

• Promote a culture of environmental stewardship and safety; support public health initiatives and crew education. 

• Maintain and organize environmental records, reports, and submissions; ensure accuracy and timeliness. 

Qualifications & Training 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science/Engineering, Marine Environmental Management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred). 

• Experience: 5+ years of environmental management experience in maritime operations; shipboard environmental compliance experience preferred. 

• Certifications: STCW Basic Safety Training, STCW Advanced Firefighting, SOLAS-related training, ISM/ISO and MARPOL knowledge; Train the Trainer certification is a plus. 

• Skills: Strong knowledge of environmental regulations (MARPOL, EPA/Coast Guard equivalents), excellent analytical and reporting abilities, and effective communication and collaboration skills; proficiency with data management and environmental monitoring software. 

• Internal Candidate Considerations: Demonstrated environmental program experience on board and comfort with shipboard budgets and reporting. 

Language Requirements 

• English reading and writing proficiency; clear spoken English; ability to communicate with crew and management. 

• Additional languages are advantageous but not required. 

Physical & Environmental Requirements 

• Physical: Regular standing and walking; occasional lifting up to 50 pounds; ability to work in confined spaces and perform safety tasks. 

• Vision: Normal or corrected vision; ability to read gauges, charts, and documentation. 

• Environmental: Work aboard a ship in varied environmental conditions; exposure to noise, fumes, and hazardous materials; mandatory use of PPE; may require shift work and on-call duty; ability to respond quickly to environmental incidents. 

Additional Notes:

• Candidates must be committed to safety and environmental standards.

• Work involves physical activity and exposure to challenging environments.