Third Mate Unlimited R/V Atlantis

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is hiring a Third Mate Unlimited for the R/V Atlantis, with the position beginning 22 July 2026. The Third Mate is a watch officer in the Deck Department who reports to the Master and assists the Master and Chief Mate with shipboard duties. The role contributes to safe vessel operations and supports the scientific mission of WHOI research vessel program.

Day-to-day duties include standing assigned bridge watches, posting qualified lookouts to ensure properly maintained and efficient watches at sea, ensuring the quartermaster steers the correct course, and assisting with manoeuvring the ship under the Master general supervision to carry out scientific operations. The Third Mate supports maintenance of navigation equipment, publications, charts, and bridge information, and verifies that all charts and navigational publications needed are on board, maintained, and corrected. Additional duties include supporting the Master in providing navigational information for transit routes and entries to ports of call, and assisting with bridge electronics, alarm systems, lights, flags, and spare parts inventory.

Required qualifications include a Bachelor degree from an accredited sea service academy with two years of sea duty as a deck officer (or equivalent work experience); computer literacy with word-processing, inventory management, and electronic mail programs; and a high level of training as evidenced by a US Coast Guard licence. R/V Atlantis requires unlimited Second Mate, Ocean for the Second Mate role and Third Mate Unlimited, Ocean for this position. All WHOI Ships require a valid Radar Observer Certificate (Unlimited) and an FCC licence as GMDSS Operator.

All licensed officers must have all applicable training required by the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 95), possess a valid US Coast Guard Merchant Mariners Credential, Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC), and an unexpired Passport. Candidates must pass a Pre-employment DOT drug screen and hold an unexpired USCG Medical Certificate. The role involves sea deployments of three to five months continuously, cramped quarters, bad weather, and violent ship motion, with significant physical capacity requirements.

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Original posting: https://whoi.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WHOI-External/details/Third-Mate-Unlimited-R-V-Atlantis_JR100535