Our freighters range from 176’ to 240’ long. We deliver cargo from our terminal in Seattle to towns in Western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, like Sandpoint, Chignik, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, and Dutch Harbor.

Each vessel has a captain, chief engineer, mate, A.B., deckhand, and cook. The A.B. needs a Z-card from the Coast Guard. Deckhands, wipers, and cooks do not need Z-cards.

A.B.s, deckhands, and wipers all load cargo on and off the boats, act as lookout, and perform maintenance work such as painting and splicing rope. Wipers tend to work more in the engine room when the boat is traveling, but they work cargo as much as anyone else. Cooks do not work cargo. You must have cooking experience at sea to be a cook on our boats. For the A.B., deckhand, and wiper each work day is at least 12 hours long.

The work is rough. Most of our cargo is associated with commercial fishing, and the work is sometimes just as hard. The hardest part is lifting and stacking frozen boxes of fish that weigh from 50 to 100 lbs. This type of work lasts about a third of the trip.

These are full time jobs. You usually work three trips and then take a trip off. A trip is usually 20 to 30 days long. Between trips the crew generally gets 1 to 7 days off.

Our pay scale beginning 1/1/2007:

After a trial period employees are eligible for medical /dental plan and a 401k retirement plan. Applicants must pass a pre-employment drug screening and physical examination. Our operation is drug and alcohol free.

How to Apply

Call 206-216-4066 or write to: Port Captain, 4025 13th Ave. W., Seattle WA 98119, to receive an application. You can mail it back or leave it at our office. We’re located on the east side of the south end of the Ballard Bridge-- right next to Fisherman’s Terminal, but on the east side of the bridge.

If you are selected for employment you will be notified. If you have already applied, but wish to let the hiring staff know you are still interested, call 206-216-4064.

Employment Application Document Forms