Office of Marine and Aviation OperationsNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

About NOAANOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social and environmental needs.

“NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.

From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.

NOAA's roots date back to 1807, when the Nation’s first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters. 

NOAA’s mission touches the lives of every American and we are proud of our role in protecting life and property and conserving and protecting natural resources.”

-- Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator of NOAA and Under Secretary of Commerce

About NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and Marine Operations Center

OMAO’s Mission is to safely and efficiently operate NOAA ships and aircraft, incorporate emerging data acquisition technologies, and provide a specialized professional team responsive to NOAA programs.

OMAO operates a wide variety of specialized aircraft and ships to complete NOAA's environmental and scientific missions. OMAO is also responsible for the administration and implementation of the NOAA Diving Program, Small Boat Program and Aviation Safety Program, to ensure safe and efficient operations in NOAA-sponsored underwater activities and aviation and small boat operations.

NOAA's ship fleet provides hydrographic survey, oceanographic and atmospheric research, and fisheries research vessels to support NOAA's strategic plan elements and mission. The vessels are located in various locations around the United States. The ships are managed by the Marine Operations Center.

NOAA's aircraft and ship fleet is operated and managed by a combination of NOAA Corps Officers, wage marine and civilian employees. 

Ship Primary Missions Fisheries Research

Fisheries Stock Management Marine Mammal/Endangered Species Research

Nautical Charting Maintain and update nautical charting for the U.S. and its territories

Oceanographic & Atmospheric Research Global Research Coastal Environmental Monitoring and Research

NOAA's programs range from marine sanctuaries, environmental satellites, global climate change, and ocean exploration initiatives to climate, weather, and water services.

Ship home ports

Fishery Research Vessels

Henry B. Bigelow Delaware II

Oscar Dyson Miller Freeman

Fishery Research Vessels

Oregon II

Oscar Elton SettePisces

Hi’ialakai

Fishery Research Vessels

Gordon GunterBell Shimada

Nautical Charting Vessels

Fairweather

Ferdinand R. Hassler

(under construction)

Thomas Jefferson

Rainier

Oceanographic Research Vessels

Ronald H. Brown

Ka’imimoana

Environmental Assessment Vessels

Nancy Foster

McArthur II

Ocean Exploration Vessel

Okeanos Explorer

Advantages working aboard a NOAA vesselSafety is our top priority We are responsible for the largest fleet of research and

survey vessels operated by the Federal governmentWe provide job security, excellent pay and full benefits

as a government employeeWe offer exciting, socially and environmentally

worthwhile missionsOpportunity to enjoy various national and international

ports of callMilitary commissary and limited exchange privileges

are afforded to all active and retired wage marine employees and their dependents

E-mail/Satellite Communications

BenefitsCareer Advancement

Paid trainingPromotion potential

Government provided berthing and mealsLeave

Annual leaveShore leaveSick leave

Federal Employee Health BenefitsLife InsuranceThrift Savings PlanFederal Employees Retirement System

Wage Marine Minimum Requirements

United States CitizenMeet NOAA medical standards for shipboard

employmentPass Drug screeningAble to obtain and maintain security clearance

Certain positions require the U.S. Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Credential

Assignment informationCruises are 1 to 5 weeks at a timeShips are at sea an average of 215 days per

yearOpportunity to rotate ports and ships

Union StatusNOAA is supported by:

MMP – Deck LicensedMEBA – Engine LicensedSIU/NMU – Unlicensed Maritime Union

Union Membership is available but is not required asa government employee

Living Conditions

Quality Dining

Leisure Activities

Exercise roomBook and movie

libraryRecreational fishingCamping, hiking,

exploring when in portBarbeques and

cookouts on the fantail or on the beach

Things you can do when not on duty:

Positions Available and Descriptions of Work

by Department

Deck OfficersDeck officers represent the authority on board and are responsible for the economical and timely execution of the scientific missions, the safe operation of the ship,and the safety and well being of the crew and passengers. Occasionally, Mates are hired aboard NOAA vessels. NOAA Corps commissioned officers are normally assigned as Deck Officers.

Deck Officer Positions

Positions

Master

1st Officer

2nd Officer

3rd Officer

Applicants and employees must possess at a minimum, a valid U.S. Coast Guard license with an unlimited radar observer endorsement and GMDSS endorsements. The type of license varies with the gross tonnage of the vessel as well as the position.

One year of experience at the next lower level, or comparable experience, is required For Master, First Officer and Second Officer. No experience is required for Third Officer or Deck Midshipman. Experience for First Officer and Master aboard fisheries research vessel shall indicate a knowledge of commercial and research fishing practices. Experience for First Officer and Master aboard hydrographic survey and oceanographic research vessels shall indicate a knowledge of research or survey ship operations.

Deck DepartmentThe Deck Department is responsible for performing the following functions:

Maintaining ship exterior and interior spacesMaintaining and operating deck machinery and boats Mooring and anchoring the shipLoading, unloading and stowing supplies and equipmentStanding watches Performs mission-related activities, such as rigging, deployment, and retrieval of oceanographic and hydrographic systems including moorings, towed arrays, buoys, side-scan sonar sensors, CTD systems, nets, tows, and other sampling devices They may also build, rig, and maintain mission-related shore-side facilities such as electronic navigation towers, tide gauges, and visual stations

Deck Department PositionsRating Years of

Experience

Chief Boatswain 5

Boatswain Group Leader 3

Deck Utility an/Seaman Surveyor 2

Able Bodied Seaman 1

Ordinary Seaman/General Vessel Asst.

0

Experience includes such activities as small boat handling; ship maintenance/upkeep; line handling and warping during berthing and departing movement of vessels; and handling of deck equipment and supplies

AB endorsement (Unlimited/Limited/or Special) required for Able Seaman and above

Deck (Fisherman) DepartmentOn fisheries research vessels the Deck Department is also responsible for performing the following functions in addition to the duties described previously for the deck department:

Handling, deploying, and recovering a variety of standard and experimental fishing gear and associated scientific equipment; Constructing, assembling, maintaining, and repairing fishing gear; and Landing, disposition, and processing of the catch.

Deck (Fisherman)Department PositionsRating Years of

Experience

Chief Boatswain (Fisherman) 5

Lead Fisherman 3

Skilled Fisherman 2

Fisherman 1 (at least 6months experience must have been performing fishing activities)

Ordinary Fisherman 0

In addition to the experience described previously for the deck department, experience must include fishing gear handling, construction or assembly, and repair, including net mending, aboard either commercial fishing vessels or fishing research vessels.

AB endorsement (Unlimited/Limited/or Special) required for Fisherman and above

Engineering DepartmentThe Engineering Department is responsible for performing the following functions:

Operating all of the ship's engineering systems, such as propulsion, fuel, electric power, refrigeration, ventilation, air-conditioning, and sanitation Maintaining all engineering systems aboard ship and its boats; providing general engineering support for all departments and ship operations.Maintaining Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management (SAMM) preventive maintenance records.Maintaining inventories of equipment, tools, parts, and consumable supplies; Preparing fueling plan and conducting fueling operations in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and good marine practice.Complying with all applicable pollution abatement laws and regulations.

Engineering Department PositionsRating License/

Endorsement Requirement(s)

Years of Experience Needed

Chief Engineer Chief Engineer-Unlimited or Chief Engineer-Limited Oceans

1 Year as 1st Asst. Engineer

1st Asst. Engineer Chief Engineer -Limited Near Coastal, 1st or 2nd Assistant Engineer

1 Year as 2nd Asst. Engineer

2nd Asst. Engineer Assistant Engineer-Limited, 3rd Assistant Engineer, or Above

1 Year as 3rd Asst. Engineer

3rd Asst. Engineer 3rd Assistant Engineer or above

None

Junior Engineer Junior Engineer Endorsement

2Years as an Oiler or Above

Engine Utilityman Oiler Endorsement 1 Year as an Oiler or above

Oiler Oiler Endorsement 1 Year as Wiper or above

Wiper None None

All licenses must be endorsed for Motor Vessels Horsepower requirements may vary from ship to ship

Survey DepartmentThe Survey Department is responsible for performing the following functions:

Oceanographic, fishery and survey data acquisition and processing operationsTechnical assistance to program personnel Administering the safekeeping and transmittal of dataMaintaining oceanographic, fishery and survey instruments

Survey Department PositionsRating Years of

Experience

Chief Survey Technician 5

Senior Survey Technician 4

Survey Technician 3

Assistant Survey Technician

2

Junior Survey Technician 0

Experience includes such activities as operating and monitoring instruments, including annotating records and recording data; assisting in the staging and set-up during preparations for, and at the completion of oceanographic or fishery research; performing oceanographic or fisheries observations, measurements, and calculations; assisting in the preparations, installation, deployment and recovery of oceanographic or fishery research equipment and instruments; management of shipboard scientific computing systems; and processing oceanographic or fishery data.

Hydrographic Survey PositionsRating Years of

Experience

Hydrographic Chief Survey Technician 5

Hydrographic Senior Survey Technician 4

Hydrographic Survey Technician 3

Hydrographic Assistant Survey Technician

2

Hydrographic Junior Survey Technician 0

Experience includes such activities as operating and monitoring(fathometers, multibeam, singlebeam, or side-scan-sonar) instruments, including annotating records (fathometer, sound velocity or multibeam) and recording data using the above mentioned equipment; assisting in the staging and set-up during preparations for, and at the completion of oceanographic or survey operations (such as tide gauge, horizontal control or sound velocity); performing oceanographic and/or survey observations, measurements, and calculations (such as at tide gauges, horizontal control or sound velocity); assisting in the preparations, installation, deployment and recovery of oceanographic and/or survey equipment and instruments; processing oceanographic and/or survey data (from processing singlebeam, cleaning and filtering multibeam data, writing a Descriptive Report and creating field sheets using Geographic Information Systems).

Steward DepartmentThe Steward Department is responsible for performing the following functions:

Planning and preparing menus Ordering, preparing and serving foodMaintaining galleys, messes, storage areas, living areas, and other assigned interior spaces in an orderly and sanitary condition Providing clean linensMaintaining inventories of mess provisions and other supplies.

Steward Department PositionsRating Years of

Experience

Chief Steward 3 years of specialized experience *

Chief Cook 2 years of general

Second Cook 1 year of general

General experience includes such as serving food, cleaning galley messes, pantry, refrigerators, range ,and mess equipment

Specialized experience includes such activities as: general cooking and baking, food selection, preparation and serving (10 or more persons); dietetics; meal planning and scheduling; leading and training other employees in the preparation and serving of food; preparing required records and reports, etc.

*For the rating of Chief Steward, the experience must include planning menus, ordering andpurchasing food, inspecting and storing foodstuffs, maintaining inventories, preparing estimates for mess supplies, and the ability to supervise a group of employees.

Maintenance DepartmentThe Maintenance Department is responsible for performing the following functions:

Maintaining and repairing the ship’s engineering related electronic/mechanical systems to include generating and propulsion operational and monitoring systems; automated control, monitoring and indicating systems for ballast, fueling, fire and general alarm systems; dynamic positioning systems; steering systems; powered telephone systems; miscellaneous unattended alarm panels; and electronically controlled deck equipment such as winches and/or cranes; and other electronically controlled hydraulic systems.

Maintenance Department PositionRating Years of

Experience

Engineering Electronic Technician 1 year of specialized general

Experience should include the ability to perform maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting on complex engineering electronic and/or mechanical systems, such as Program Logic Controllers (PLC’s) and related wiring and electronics associated with diesel generators; automated switch boards and breakers; electric motor propulsion drives and transformers; dynamic positioning systems; steering systems; powered telephone systems; miscellaneous unattended alarm panels; and electronically controlled deck equipment such as winches and/or cranes; and other electronically controlled hydraulic systems.

Requires an entry-level endorsement(Wiper) on the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner’s Credential. Endorsement as Electrician and/or Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) of any unlicensed rating is preferred but not required.

For More InformationOn the Web: http://www.moc.noaa.gov/

– for more information about NOAA ships http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/vessel_employment/vesselemp_portal.html

– for information on license requirements and pay scheduleshttp://www.usajobs.gov/jobsearch/search/rssfeed/866648

- for NOAA job vacancies and to apply for a position

Telephone:(757) 441-3865

Email:MOC.Recruiting@noaa.gov