Marine Technical Advisor at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)

Shell Trading is based in the Netherlands, UK, US, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Barbados, UAE and Russia. The Europe Trading teams are responsible for the trading of a wide range of cargoes and freight for Europe, North and West Africa where Dubai, Singapore and US team are frequently trading for Southern Africa.

Maritime Technical Advisor (MTA) in the Shell Trading will provides maritime expertise in respect of technical, operational and commercial performance whilst protecting the Shells reputation by ensuring that all maritime operations are conducted in accordance with the Group requirements for Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE). The MTA is a true business partner to the internal customers we serve, and at the same time safeguarding against maritime operational risks and ensuring the Shell standards are kept.

What’s the role?

The role of a MTA is primarily to provide specialist maritime support to the Shell South Africa HSSE Assurance Framework and to add value to the marine logistics activities of all operating businesses in South Africa including the waterfront activities of the own assets, Joint Ventures and third parties whilst managing and advising on all aspects of the ship/shore interface, including, commercial and risk management issues.
Another purpose of the MTA role is to monitor and assess the effectiveness of shipping and waterfront operations, advise on new maritime related regulations, projects, procedures (including handling for specialist cargoes) and to manage all aspects relating to marine matters appertaining to the safety, environment, commercial and third-party issues. The MTA is
Additionally, you will conduct 3rd party marine terminal and vessel inspectiona and will represent the maritime interest of Royal Dutch Shell at regulatory authorities, external bodies and within relevant industry associations, committees/working groups.
Furthermore, your will be the source of maritime expertise and has accountability to the business manager, freight operators, asset managers and commercial operational services for all maritime related advices.

More Specifically, Your Responsibility Will Include

• Advise in all elements of the HSSE Framework.
• Support businesses in developing standards and procedures for local shipping operations.
• Advise Learning & Development department on marine related training standards.
• Advise HSSE departments in relation to incidents investigations and marine related issues.
• Advise Assurance Managers regarding marine related audits.
• Advise on maritime aspects in projects to shipping, operations, new builds etc.
• Support Business Opportunity Managers and Business Excellence teams with maritime related elements.
• Advise and support Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor in understanding assurance against operational maritime transport legislations.
• Advise and support leadership on crisis and marine emergency response including organizing and implementing training and exercises to test the effectiveness of marine emergency plans.
• Sharing knowledge with internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements – What we need from you?
Required Professional Skills & Experiences

• Thorough knowledge and proven skills in shipping operations, ship/shore interface management and maritime transportation of hydrocarbons in bulk in seagoing vessels is required.
• Class I Certificate of Competency Deck or Engineer Officer with Dangerous Cargo endorsement Petroleum, Chemicals and Gas.
• Minimum 5 years of sea service aboard tankers of which at least 2 years in a senior position.
• Previous experience ashore within in an operational or commercial role is considered an advantage and exposure to a marine regulatory environment is a strongly preferred.
• Excellent experience with HSSE processes and management systems managing risk regarding shipping operations.
• Sound knowledge and the ability to apply international legislation (i.e. IMO, MARPOL, SOLAS, ISM) and Industry standards, codes and guidelines (i.e. ISGOTT, SIGTTO, IFGC, IGC) is key to this position.
• Competency with HSSE & Marine related trainings including accredited ship inspection schemes (Sire, CDI-M)
• Accredited Lead Auditor i.e. ISM and/or ISO is considered as an advantage.

Required Competencies

• Understand, Execute and Improve Maritime Security
• Understand Maritime Emergency Response and Crisis Management
• Understand, Execute and Improve Oil Spill Response Preparedness
• Investigate and Learn from Maritime HSSE Incidents
• Understand, Execute and Improve Maritime Assurance Processes
• Understand, Execute and Improve Maritime Operational Processes.
• Understand Maritime contact management and performance improvement

Required Personal Attributes

• Good communicator (both written and oral) in English is essential for this role.
• Self-motivated, mature professional with ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to analyze and develop proposals and solutions to a wide range of HSSE, technical and operational challenges.
• Ability to manage and integrate with others in different functions.
• Ability to remain rational, composed and professional under pressure is a distinct advantage in order to operate successfully in this role.
• Ability to work and integrate in a multicultural and diverse global team.