Offshore Operations Superintendent

Offshore Operations Superintendent (Submarine Cable) - UK or Denmark

Work schedule: 182 days per year, 8 week on / 8 week off rotation

Role Overview

The Offshore Operations Superintendent is responsible for supervising, coordinating and reporting on offshore subsea cable installation and repair operations. The role ensures the safe, efficient and timely delivery of marine operations in accordance with project objectives, technical requirements, contractual obligations and Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) standards.

The position supports the installation of subsea cable infrastructure and associated equipment using company-owned or third-party vessels, maintaining a strong focus on operational safety, asset integrity and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Management and Coordination

• Protect the integrity of submarine fibre-optic cable products throughout loading, installation and offshore operations.
• Review previous operational wash-up meeting minutes and assess vessel readiness, including the technical condition and operational readiness of cable-laying equipment.
• Monitor, coordinate and report daily operational progress, ensuring compliance with approved work plans, procedures, controls and methodologies.
• Act as the principal offshore interface between marine operations management, the Project Marine Manager, the vessel Master, client representatives and subcontractors.
• Respond to unforeseen offshore situations by identifying practical solutions, adjusting operational plans and maintaining safe and compliant working practices.
• Communicate operational issues, proposed solutions and corrective actions promptly to the Project Marine Manager.
• Organise and lead an operational wash-up meeting at the end of each assignment, documenting key findings and distributing the minutes to relevant stakeholders.

Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance

• Promote high HSE standards among personnel, vessel crews and subcontractors.
• Ensure compliance with contractual safety requirements through toolbox talks, risk assessments and safe working practices.
• Report incidents and near misses in accordance with applicable vessel procedures and internal reporting requirements.
• Ensure incidents involving personnel, contractors or offshore activities are recorded in daily operational reports.
• Keep the client representative informed of operational progress, vessel status and significant changes to planned activities.
• Escalate technical, operational or personnel issues involving cable jointing and testing teams to the Project Marine Manager.

Additional Responsibilities

Advanced Operations Management

• Validate vessel readiness by reviewing previous operational meeting minutes and preparing a technical assessment of cable-laying equipment.
• Support the onboard Survey Team Leader in verifying survey parameters and cable installation procedures.
• Provide technical support for complex subsea installation activities, including:
• Verification of branching unit deployment calculations.
• Assessment of cable rerouting options to mitigate risks to subsea infrastructure, including potential interference from fish aggregating devices (FADs).
• For oil and gas projects, application of geodesy, map projections and metrology to validate project parameters before operations commence.
• Validate operational and technical arrangements with the Offshore Operations Manager and vessel Master to ensure safe, technically sound and commercially effective execution.
• Contribute to resolving unforeseen operational challenges, adapting work plans and communicating agreed solutions to the Project Marine Manager.
• Coordinate simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) with client representatives and relevant offshore stakeholders.

Asset Integrity and Incident Management

• Monitor the integrity of submarine cables and associated assets throughout installation and maintenance activities.
• Identify and escalation issues involving onboard cable jointing and testing teams, including concerns arising during cable loading and unloading.
• Coordinate incident reporting with the Project Marine Manager and HSE department.
• Ensure required incident and near-miss reports are completed and submitted, including separate internal reports where required.
• Forward accident and near-miss reports to the appropriate occupational health or safety departments in accordance with vessel procedures.

Operational Authority and Decision-Making

The Superintendent has operational autonomy onboard to:

• Authorise minor changes to the agreed scope of work involving up to 24 hours of vessel time, subject to subsequent approval by the Project Marine Manager.
• Escalate decision exceeding this authority to the Project Marine Manager or, in their absence, the relevant Marine Management representative.
• Ensure offshore operations meet applicable safety, technical quality and contractual requirements.

The Superintendent has the same authority as Level 1, with additional responsibility to:

• Make urgent technical decisions in consultation with relevant technical specialists or the Project Marine Manager.
• Authorise minor scope changes involving up to 24 hours of vessel time, subject to subsequent approval.
• Escalate decisions outside the delegated authority to the Project Marine Manager or Marine Management.
• Maintain responsibility for safe operations, technical integrity and contractual compliance within the assigned scope.

Required Education and Training

Level 1

• Relevant experience in marine operations and/or the submarine cable installation industry.
• Working knowledge of offshore installation activities, operational procedures and QHSE standards.

Level 2

Candidates should hold one of the following qualifications or equivalent experience:

• Master Mariner.
• Chief Officer.
• Relevant higher education or professional qualification in the submarine cable installation industry.

Required Experience and Competencies

Level 1

• Minimum of five years of relevant offshore operations experience within the marine, subsea or cable installation environment.
• Strong documentation management and operational reporting skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Advanced computer literacy, including Microsoft Office proficiency and familiarity with Microsoft Project.

Level 2

• Maritime operational experience as a Captain, Chief Officer or Survey Team Leader within the submarine cable installation industry.
• Minimum of ten years of relevant offshore installation experience.
• Demonstrable seagoing experience.
• In-depth knowledge of offshore installation procedures and QHSE requirements.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, manage operational processes and resolve complex offshore challenges.
• Highly developed documentation management and reporting skills.
• Excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project.

Key Success Factors

Successful performance in this role requires:

• Strong offshore operational awareness and disciplined execution.
• Effective communication with vessel crews, clients, subcontractors and project teams.
• Sound technical judgement and practical problem-solving under pressure.
• A proactive approach to safety, incident prevention and asset integrity.
• Accurate reporting, documentation and escalation of operational issues.
• The ability to balance safety, technical quality, project schedules and commercial objectives.

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