About Us

Polaris Marine Group is a trusted name in the Australian maritime sector, delivering high-quality marine services along the east coast. Our areas of expertise include:

Inshore and offshore towage

Marine construction and maintenance

Vessel and barge hire

Shipbuilding and repairs

Crew management

Harwood Marine (Polaris Marine Dockyards) is a key division within our group, operating a 3,000T slipway and a 440T travel lift. We support a wide range of services, including vessel maintenance, refits, new builds and marine salvage & disposal.

About the Role

We are looking for an experiencedMarine Team Leader for our busy shipyard in Harwood, NSW (near Yamba).

The role will take genuine ownership of vessel maintenance, crewing standards, and operational readiness. Working closely with Port Pilots to coordinate pilotage bookings and SHIPS system requirements, this role will be the primary point of contact for all tug-related activities.

The Marine Team Leader is a key operational leadership role, responsible for the day-to-day management and condition of the company’s tug fleet, coordination of marine crewing, and delivery of secure, efficient harbour operations. This role carries command responsibility as Tug Master and requires AMSA Master >45m (previously Master IV) certification.

Key Responsibilities

Tug Fleet Management & Vessel Maintenance

Take ownership of tug readiness by coordinating planned and ad hoc maintenance, repairs, surveys, safety equipment, compliance records, defects, inspections, fuel, consumables, and parts inventory.

Tug Master / Vessel Command

Command tug movements for harbour, slipway, ship assist, towing, berthing, unberthing, escort, workboat, tender, and support craft operations, making safe operational decisions based on weather, tidal, and environmental conditions.

Crewing Coordination





Coordinate marine crew rosters, availability, relief crewing, casual labour, contractors, qualifications, training records, AMSA certification compliance, toolbox talks, pre-start briefings, handovers, mentoring, and crew development.

Coordinate pilotage requirements by liaising with Port Pilots and port operations, managing bookings and SHIPS entries, confirming vessel and crew availability, and maintaining strong working relationships with pilot and port authority contacts.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

Lead safe, compliant marine operations by applying AMSA Marine Orders, NSCV, WHS legislation and the Company Safety Management System; overseeing flag state, class, ISM and ISPS requirements; completing JSAs, Take 5s and pre-task risk assessments; supporting emergency drills; reporting hazards, near misses and incidents; enforcing permit-to-work, isolation and confined space procedures; and stopping unsafe work where required.

Administration & Reporting

Maintain accurate vessel logs, maintenance records, crewing records, and operational documentation; complete docking and survey checklists; prepare and submit incident, hazard, and near-miss reports; support audits, AMSA inspections, and internal compliance reviews; and provide regular verbal and written updates to the Operations Manager on fleet condition, crewing status, and operational matters.

Qualifications and Licences

AMSA Master >45m (previously Master IV)

Current Driver Licence

White Card / Construction Induction





Current First Aid Certificate

MED 1 or equivalent

Rigging (Basic) High Risk Work Licence

Confined Space & Working at Heights certification

Shipyard or docking operations experience

Commercial Diver qualification (ADAS Part 1 or equivalent) - highly regarded.

Experience Required

Demonstrated experience in commercial marine or harbour operations.

Experience operating or assisting with tugs, workboats, or commercial vessels.

Experience coordinating crewing or vessel logistics, or a strong willingness to develop these skills.

Familiarity with AMSA survey requirements and vessel compliance obligations.

Experience working in high-risk industrial or marine environments.

Knowledge of SHIPS system or willingness to learn.

About You

Take genuine pride in the condition and presentation of vessels.

Self-motivated and proactive - identifies issues and resolves them without being directed.

Strong ownership mentality and drive to continuously improve.

Clear, confident communicator with crew, pilots, and management.

High level of situational awareness and sound operational judgement.

Organised and reliable - follows through on commitments.

Ambitious and keen to develop professionally, including pursuing higher qualifications.

Team-focused with the ability to lead, mentor, and build crew capability.

Adaptable in changing operational conditions.

Working Conditions

Work performed across shipyard, slipway, harbour, and vessel environments.

Shift work, overtime, weekends, and call-outs may be required.

Exposure to varying weather conditions and outdoor environments.

Physical tasks including line handling, vessel boarding, climbing, and lifting.

Mandatory use of appropriate PPE across all operational areas.

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📌 Marine Team Leader (Harwood)
🏢 Polaris Marine
📍 Harwood