Port Captain - Marine Technical Advisor

At Motiva, our employees’ energy, passion, and dedication to excellence are what make us who we are and what allows us to generate energy that makes a house a home, gets us from point A to point B, and enables our health and wellbeing. We invest in every aspect of our employees’ lives because, at Motiva, our people matter.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the Americas. The company’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex in Port Arthur, TX, is comprised of North America’s largest refinery with a total throughput of 720,000 barrels per day, the largest base oil plant in the western hemisphere, and an integrated chemical plant. Under exclusive long-term brand licenses with Shell and Phillips 66 (for the 76® brand), Motiva’s commercial operations supply more than 12 billion gallons of fuel to customers annually. Motiva is wholly owned by Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies.

Position Overview:

Motiva is seeking a Port Captain – Marine Assurance Advisor to join our Marine Assurance team. This field-based role provides 24/7 operational oversight at Motiva’s equity terminals in Port Arthur and Port Neches, supporting safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible marine and terminal operations. The Port Captain plays a critical role in our marine assurance program, acting as the key liaison between Motiva and marine stakeholders – including vessel operators, terminal staff, and regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary marine point of contact for all Marine Equity Terminals operations at Motiva’s Port Arthur and Port Neches terminals. This includes overseeing vessel vetting, berth scheduling, mooring/unmooring, cargo transfer operations, and Ship-to-Ship (STS) and bunker supply activities to ensure safe and efficient turnaround.
• Provide 24/7 in-field marine operational support by maintaining a physical presence during critical operations, ensuring continuous monitoring and compliance with Motiva’s Marine Assurance standards, OCIMF guidelines, MARPOL, and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Coordinate closely with the Marine Assurance Team and report directly to the Marine Assurance Manager, promptly communicating operational issues, compliance concerns, and recommendations for improvement.
• Conduct comprehensive marine vetting for all ships, tugs, and barges calling at Motiva terminals using in-house platforms, including document review, physical onboard inspections, and risk assessments to ensure only qualified and compliant vessels are accepted.
• Support terminal and vessel audits both domestically and internationally. Prepare detailed audit reports with Marine Assurance Team, track findings, and ensure timely closure of corrective actions.
• Participate in marine incident investigations by gathering evidence, conducting root cause analysis, preparing investigation reports, and following up on corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
• Coordinate and manage Motiva’s Port Safety Advisor program with 3rd party onboard observers.
• Act as Motiva’s representative in local, regional, and national marine industry committees, working groups, and associations, fostering positive relationships with regulatory agencies, port authorities, and industry partners.
• Support chartering and logistics teams by providing technical reviews of vessel suitability, evaluating charter party terms, and advising on operational risks and best practices for safe cargo handling and transportation.
• Collaborate with HSSE (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) teams to develop, implement, and regularly test emergency response plans, including oil spill response, fire drills, and pollution prevention programs. Participate in post-drill debriefs and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Advise on dredging projects, marine infrastructure improvements, and terminal development by providing technical input on navigational safety, berth design, fendering, mooring arrangements, and operational impacts.
• Promote and embed a robust marine safety culture by leading safety meetings, conducting toolbox talks, sharing lessons learned, and ensuring best practices are consistently applied across all marine and terminal operations.
• Monitor and drive continuous improvement in terminal performance metrics, including vessel turnaround times, berth utilization, demurrage reduction, and operational readiness. Analyze trends and recommend process enhancements.
• Work together across the Marine Assurance Staff supporting each other’s roles both in the field and corporate office, during PTO coverage periods.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving industry standards, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements relevant