Description
About the Company
At Sanford, we take pride in our rich seafood heritage, spanning over 100 years. Our commitment to the industry drives us, and we are excited about our future. Our vision focuses on establishing leadership in New Zealand seafood, which we achieve through a value-driven approach rooted in care, passion, integrity, and collaboration in everything we do.
About the Role
We invite you to join our deep-water fleet, which consists of 12 fishing vessels operating year-round from Cape Reinga to the Ross Sea. Our deep-sea vessels may remain at sea for up to 12 weeks, where we catch, process, and package seafood onboard, delivering the finest New Zealand seafood to tables worldwide.
As a Marine Engineer with Sanford, you will have the opportunity to work aboard one of our vessels, including scampi, trawlers, and longliners. In this role, you will be responsible for managing and maintaining the mechanical and electrical performance of the vessel's engineering systems. You will collaborate closely with the Skipper and the crew to ensure safe and efficient operations while contributing to the production of high-quality New Zealand seafood.
Our vessels operate from various ports, including Timaru and Tauranga, throughout New Zealand waters. We foster a strong, values-led culture where our people are our most valuable asset. This position is offered as an Independent Contractor role, with a rotation of 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off. Sanford will cover the cost of your travel to and from the vessel for each journey.
Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Ensure the optimal functioning of all marine engineering systems, including diesel-electric propulsion and electric trawl winches, through regular maintenance and repair.
- Troubleshoot, identify, and resolve technical issues promptly to maintain smooth operations during fishing voyages.
- Work proactively to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize the vessel's environmental impact.
- Maintain and enforce health and safety protocols, ensuring that all engineering systems are routinely inspected and compliant with maritime safety regulations.
About You
To be successful in this position, you should:
- Hold a Minimum MEC 5 or MEC 4 Certificate of Competency (or equivalent).
- Be proficient in marine engineering systems, with preferred experience in diesel-electric propulsion and trawl winch operations.
- Have demonstrated experience in maintaining and repairing marine vessels, including ammonia or refrigerant-based freezing systems.
- Possess a good understanding of New Zealand maritime and operational regulations, including MOSS, HSWA, Fisheries Act, and MPI food safety.
- Exhibit strong problem-solving skills and the ability to perform effectively in isolated and challenging sea-based environments.
About the Fleet
Sanford operates a diverse fleet of deep-water and scampi vessels, delivering premium seafood to international markets. Our deep-water fleet includes six vessels—San Waitaki, San Enterprise, San Discovery, San Granit, San Aspiring, and San Aotea II—that primarily operate in the Southern Ocean on voyages lasting up to six to eight weeks. These vessels target species such as hoki, orange roughy, squid, ling, and Antarctic toothfish. They are highly versatile, processing and freezing products onboard to export standards, including H&G, fillets, squid tubes, fishmeal, and fish oil.
Additionally, Sanford operates a scampi fleet consisting of seven smaller deep-sea trawlers—Albatross II, Drysdale, Venture K, San Tangaroa, San Aramand, San Tongariro, and San Koura Rangi. These vessels target scampi across New Zealand waters, freezing and packing products at sea before delivery to Bluff, Timaru, or direct export from Tauranga.
Please note that you must be eligible to work in New Zealand. Our recruitment process includes pre-engagement checks, including a criminal history check, drug and alcohol testing, and a medical assessment.
