Fleet Manager
Marine People
As a Fleet Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and commercially viable operation of a fleet in line with international standards and regulations. You will lead a high-performing team, manage client relationships, and drive continuous improvement to uphold our clients reputation for excellence.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the safe, reliable and efficient operation of assigned vessels, ensuring compliance with international, flag state and classification requirements
- Ensure high vessel availability and operational reliability, recognising the impact of technical failures on itineraries, guests, clients and commercial operations
- Manage maintenance strategies, dry-dockings, refurbishments and major technical projects, ensuring effective planning and execution
- Manage vessel budgets and OPEX/CAPEX, balancing technical requirements, reliability, compliance and commercial objectives
- Lead and coordinate vessel life-extension programmes, including long-term technical planning, asset condition, obsolescence, major upgrades and investment requirements
- Monitor existing and upcoming regulatory developments and translate their impact into practical fleet strategies, particularly regarding environmental compliance, decarbonisation, energy efficiency and future fuel requirements
- Ensure effective execution of inspections, audits and surveys and timely closure of findings
- Maintain strong relationships with ship owners, cruise operators, clients and key stakeholders, ensuring contractual obligations and expected service levels are delivered
- Coordinate closely with Marine, Technical, Crewing, Procurement, HSEQ and Hotel/Hospitality functions to ensure an integrated approach to vessel operations
- Lead and develop fleet team members and support the selection and development of senior shipboard officers
- Support effective response to operational incidents and technical disruptions that may impact the vessel, itinerary, guests, client or reputation
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, or equivalent maritime qualification
- Chief Engineer or Master Mariner qualification preferred
- Extensive experience as a Technical, Marine or LPSQ Superintendent with cruise or passenger vessels
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex vessel operations
- Experience working with ship owners, cruise operators or third-party clients is an advantage
Skills & Competencies
- Strong knowledge of vessel technical requirements, class, flag and international maritime regulations, with a good understanding of the specific operational demands of cruise and passenger vessels
- Strong understanding of the relationship between technical reliability, itinerary performance, guest operations and commercial performance
- Excellent project management and organisational skills, including the ability to manage complex dry-dockings, upgrades, and vessel projects
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, openly and confidently with clients, senior shipboard management, shore teams and external stakeholders, including in challenging situations
- Strong leadership and people-development capabilities, with the ability to create accountability within both shore and shipboard teams
- Good understanding of vessel life-cycle management, ageing assets, technical obsolescence and long-term CAPEX planning
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound operational decisions in a fast-paced, 24/7 passenger-vessel environment
- Commercial awareness and the ability to balance safety, compliance, vessel reliability, client expectations, and cost



