Harbour Master

Galway County Council is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Harbour Master. Candidates will be asked to select which panels they wish to apply for from the list below. The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel from which permanent and/or temporary positions may be filled.

When completing your application form you will be required to pick which panel from the list below that you wish to be considered for. You may choose to be considered for one or both Harbours.

➢ Inis Mór - While the Harbour Master’s main responsibility relates to Kilronan Harbour, he/she will also be responsible for overseeing the satisfactory operation of Kilronan Old Harbour and Cill Éinne Harbour.

➢ Inis Oírr - While the Harbour Master’s main responsibility relates to Inis Oírr Harbour, he/she will also have a role in ensuring the satisfactory operation of Céibh an Chóra and An Caladh Mór piers on Inis Meáin. Involvement of the Harbour Master in Inis Meáin activities will be limited, and the base of operations will be Inis Oírr at all times.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

CHARACTER: Each candidate must be of good character.

HEALTH: Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo at their own expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Local Authority. Upon taking up an appointment the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to candidates.

CITIZENSHIP: Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa

EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ETC: Each Candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) Candidates should have a standard of education that would enable him/her to efficiently perform their duties and must be capable of making satisfactory reports (including written reports) on matters pertaining to the duties of the post.

(b) Each candidate must have appropriate multi-functional experience relative to the post and in particular should have experience in a supervisory capacity in dealing with both skilled and unskilled workers.

(c) Candidates must have a good knowledge of Harbour management, sufficient to enable him/her to discharge efficiently the duties of the post. This should include knowledge of local navigation, tidal flows, weather forecasting, local fishing operation, slipway and marina operations.

(d) Candidates shall be computer literate with a working knowledge of e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, financial systems etc.

(e) Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms have:

• One years’ experience as a Harbour Master

Or

• A Skipper’s Full Certificate of Competency

Or

• Three years’ experience of operating a fishing or other marine vessel

Or

• Any other experience of an equivalent standard relevant to the post

(f) It is essential that candidates have a knowledge of the Irish language.

(g) Candidates must hold a clean, current, Class B Driving Licence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Inis Mór - Other Harbours: While the Harbour Master’s main responsibility relates to Kilronan Harbour, he/she will also be responsible for overseeing the satisfactory operation of Kilronan Old Harbour and Cill Éinne Harbour.

Inis Oírr - Other Harbours: While the Harbour Master’s main responsibility relates to Inis Oírr Harbour, he/she will also have a role in ensuring the satisfactory operation of Céibh an Chóra and An Caladh Mór piers on Inis Meáin. Involvement of the Harbour Master in Inis Meáin activities will be limited, and the base of operations will be Inis Oírr at all times.

DUTIES: The Harbour Master shall carry out his/her duties in an efficient and effective manner. The Harbour Master will be responsible for the operation and day-to-day management of their relevant Harbours as defined in the Harbour Bye Laws and will report to the designated Marine Infrastructure Engineer in Aras an Chontae.

This will involve the supervision of all activities within the harbours including, allocation of berths, safe access and egress to and from the berths, regulation of movement of vessels within the harbour. He/she will be required to enforce Harbour Bye-Laws and Regulations, collect all revenue, manage any harbour employees and ensure compliance with safety and other relevant legislation.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of duties associated with the role of Harbour Master:

• Enforcing harbour rules, bye-laws and regulations.

• Controlling and keeping records as appropriate of all shipping, goods and ferry boat passengers entering or leaving the port by sea.

• Control of boats, entering, berthing and departing from Harbour. Ensuring navigation in the harbour and approaches is carried out in a safe and orderly fashion.

• Optimising harbour facilities, allocating berths to accommodate all operations within the harbour. This includes determining and implementing the schedule of arrival and departure times of passenger vessels to/from the island.

• Collecting and lodging harbour rates, tolls, dues or levies.

• Accounting for all income in an approved manner to Galway County Council.

• Collecting statistics and local information as required.

• Keeping approved worksheets for Harbour Master and staff, if any, and furnishing of same to the County Council.

• Ensuring that harbour facilities are functioning properly and reporting promptly any defects.

• Reporting any accident within the designated harbour jurisdiction area and any instances of damage to part structures or installations.

• Supervising any staff under the Harbour Master’s control.

• Ensuring that the harbour area including passenger areas and toilet facilities are at all times maintained in a clean and tidy state.

• Controlling all road traffic within the harbour area.

• Controlling trading/touting within the harbour area.

• Operating harbour lights and maintaining navigation lights.

• Ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation within the harbour area.

• Ensuring compliance with litter and pollution legislation and other relevant legislation within the harbour area.

• Serving as Port Security Officer for their relevant piers & harbours. Appropriate training will be provided.

• Managing the reception and control of boat generated wastes in accordance with the Galway County Council Waste Reception Plan.

• Co-operating in totality with any construction works or any improvement works within the harbour area.

• Operating harbour launch, where applicable.

• Carrying out such additional duties, including duties relating to any of the County Council’s functions, as may be assigned by the Local Authority from time to time.

The post requires a flexible work approach, weekend and bank holiday attendance as well as providing additional support cover during busy/emergency periods. Knowledge of the leisure and fishing industries is an integral part of the job. Candidates will be required to work on their own initiative.

DESIRABLES: Ideally, candidates will have a proven track record in the marine industry. Subject to meeting the mandatory requirements, preference will be given to persons holding professional maritime qualifications that have been issued/revalidated in recent years.

DETAILS AND PARTICULARS

PROBATION Where a person is appointed to Galway County Council, the following provisions shall apply –

a) there shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation.

b) such period shall be one year, but the Chief Executive may, at his discretion, extend such period;

c) such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory.

d) the period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one weeks’ notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts.

e) there will be assessments during the probationary period.

REMUNERATION:

€914.82 - €1,077.37 per week

WORKING HOURS Hours of duty will be 39 hours/week over 7 days and will require attendance at the Harbour on any day of the week including Saturday and Sunday, Bank and Public Holidays as required. Such attendance on the harbours to be not less than 39 hours per week.

ANNUAL LEAVE: 25 Days per annum.

RESIDENCE: The successful candidate must reside permanently on the Island from the date of appointment.

GARDA VETTING: Garda vetting may be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for appointment.