An introduction to the Shift Managers role: The NZ waterfront work environment: The shifts we work: Outline of Stevedoring Shift Managers role

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Molly Hodges
5 years ago
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An introduction to the Shift Managers role: The Shift Manager is responsible for overseeing and driving the loading and/or unloading of a vessel in a safe and productive manner.

1 An introduction to the Shift Managers role: The Shift Manager is responsible for overseeing and driving the loading and/or unloading of a vessel in a safe and productive manner. This is a hands-on role supervisory role that occurs at the coal face. A successful job is one that achieves maximum safety, maximum uplift of cargo, accuracy and productivity and the Shift Manager is the person that brings this all together. The Shift Manager is often referred to by the crew of the ship as the Foreman because they are directly in-charge of everything that takes place on the ship while it is in port and especially because this will be the person the crew go to for issues that occur on the vessel. Typically two Shift Managers work together on a vessel, one taking charge of the wharf and the more senior person taking care of the ship. The Shift Manager reports to the Operational Manager in the port. They are each given a mobile phone and a radio as well as other PPE that is required. There is a need for the Shift Manager to be contactable 24/7, especially when they are in charge of a vessel. The NZ waterfront work environment: The work environment can be unforgiving. The pace of the job is fast. The Shift Manager must be physically fit, have stamina and be able to make decisions on the go. They walk an exceptional number of km each day up and down the wharf, in and out of the holds and on and off the vessel as they keep watch over what is happening. They are climbing ladders, walking across cargo and clambering into restricted spaces. They work outdoors and are working in all weather conditions. It is a dusty environment which can affect asthmatic people quite badly. Shift Managers work in a hazardous environment which involves some ultra-heavy equipment and in areas where mobile plant is constantly on the go. The shifts we work: The Shift Manager works a 12 hour shift when on a vessel. There is no roster to what days are worked as all work is dependent on shipping. This means that there are periods where shipping is constantly arriving and other periods where there are gaps in shipping. The Operations Manager allocates Shift Managers to vessels making provision where possible for adequate time off for a suitable work/life balance. However, Shift Managers must be prepared for working weekends and public holidays and be ready to work at short notice if changes to shipping occur. The Shift Manager must also be prepared to work both day shift and night shift. The start times of these vary but a Shift Manager must be prepared to start work as early as 3.00am or work through the night and finish work at 7.00am.

Primary duties and responsibilities: Leading a team of skilled stevedores team size can vary but generally between 20-25 Safety this responsibility includes emergency response, first aid, hazard

2 Primary duties and responsibilities: Leading a team of skilled stevedores team size can vary but generally between Safety this responsibility includes emergency response, first aid, hazard management and enforcement of safe operating procedures. The supervisor conducts a pre-shift safety briefing Managing cargo flow this includes minimising downtime, delays and stoppages Maximising uplift this includes sound understanding of stowage techniques and estimation of space, volume What a Shift Manager must have: Dynamic leadership style ISO Limited Shift Managers always lead from the front. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty and are prepared to drive the job to achieve great outcomes for the customer. An effective communication style comfortable with all communication styles and methods including speaking to large groups (safety briefings) and reporting Good delegating skills much of the Shift Managers role is delegating. These skills need to be well refined Good people interaction the Shift Manager interacts with a wide group of people including Chief Officer and Captain, ships agent, principal s representative, and other contractors Computer skills the Shift Manager runs our cargo management system (ShipSys ) which is integrated with a bar-code scanning system to manage the movement of cargo on and off a vessel. Sense of urgency vessels are on strict timeframes when tied up at a port Professionalism ISO Limited provides superior quality work to the NZ waterfront Training and career path: Almost all training is on the job and the Shift Manager starts by working alongside senior people until they are able to begin managing the role on their own. The Shift Manager firstly gains competence on the wharf managing the flow of cargo. Between months the Shift Manager will begin to get experience managing the ship loading. This is the lead role and within 2 years they are expected to be skilled enough to take charge of the entire loading of a vessel. The natural career path is into an operational management role. This is dependent of course on opportunities within the organization. Currently all seven of our operational managers and three of our senior managers were once Shift Managers working regularly on ships and in fact if needs arise they still do! ISO Limited is constantly seeking new opportunities and our current range of services includes stevedoring, marshalling, transportation, cargo logistics and IT services in eight NZ ports. A bulk cargo vessel uplifting a load of logs. The Shift Managers oversees the whole operation from a mobile office parked at the stern of the vessel. This is your worksite.

3 Is this role something I really want to be doing? This is a demanding role so please consider things very carefully before proceeding. To help you with making a decision, especially if you are having to leave another career, we have put together 12 questions that might help: 1. Are you prepared to have an irregular pattern of work with no set roster? Shipping is haphazard and few plans can be made as to when and where you will be working next or for how long 2. Are you prepared to regularly work 12+ hour shifts? The operation runs 24 hours a day until the vessel is complete. 12 hour shifts are demanding physically on the body and mind 3. Are you prepared to regularly work weekends and public holidays? Working weekends is the norm and people who have regular commitments on weekends, or even on certain days, will not be able to cope with this role 4. Are you prepared to work nightshift? Working through the night overseeing the loading of ships isn t for everyone. Can you see yourself at 2.00am in the pouring rain supervising the loading of a ship or would you rather be in bed at that time? 5. Are you prepared to travel to other ports to work? Travel is all a part of the job. You could be away from home from an unknown period of time, generally between 2-5 days. 6. Are you prepared to work outdoors in all weather conditions? Rain, hail or shine we load vessels and the Shift Manager is right out in front of everyone else. If someone is going to get wet it is the Shift Manager! 7. Are you prepared to be challenged mentally? Simply coping with everything that happens on a ship is demanding mentally. Do you handle pressure well? If not this position is not for you. 8. Are you good with figures? We handle and process figures all day long, including date relating to cargo and these are all managed through a custom built cargo management database. You are at a keyboard and regularly crunching numbers. You had better like mathematics! 9. Are you prepared to take control of a large team of skilled people? The Shift Manager must be able to gain the respect of their team quickly. You need to be a dynamic team leader. Supervising people in this environment will test the very best supervisors. 10. Are you prepared to take responsibility for personnel in a hazardous environment? The buck stops with you. Safety is everything and this is a hazardous environment. You will need to stamp your authority on the job and ensure that everyone is complying with the rules at all times. 11. Are you prepared to drive an operation to achieve best outcomes? We want people with energy and most importantly people who are self-driven. You must want to achieve the best results all the time. Drive and energy will be your key attributes 12. Are you prepared to commit to this role for at least five years? Experience tells us that to gain the credibility in this industry a person needs to commit to front line shift work on ships solidly for at least five years. If you re not prepared to commit to the role for that long you will have gained nothing. If you answered no to any of these questions then this job is not for you. If however, you have genuinely answered yes to them all we d like to hear from you. More information: Check out our website for more details on ISO Limited and the shift supervisor s role.

4 Sawn timber being loaded Palm kernel discharge from a vessel Kraft Pulp being loaded off trucks Hooking up Typical layout of sawn timber stow on deck Fully loaded log ship ready to sail Logs about to be loaded on deck

5 Shift Manager spends a lot of time on deck loader delivering logs called up by the Shift Manager Bar code scanning logs in the rain Down in the hold a stevedore marks off a load of logs The Shift Managers office alongside the ship Stevedores loading logs from trucks in Gisborne Walking on slippery logs is a part of the job A Shift Manager overseeing the loading of Kraft Pulp

Position Description C3 Port Manager- Timaru

Position Description C3 Port Manager- Timaru Division Location Reports to Direct reports Indirect reports Main functional internal relationships Forestry/ Stevedoring & Logistics Timaru Southern Regional