State of Maryland

A Master, Hydrographic Boat is the full performance level of work responsible for the operations and navigation of a vessel employed principally in hydrographic surveying work on the waters and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.  Employees in this classification are responsible for the proper piloting of boats and for the supervision of the assigned crew.  Employees in this classification operate vessels responsible for surveying submerged bottoms for the purpose of determining and delineating specific areas and for staking out and otherwise marking boundaries of all classified bottoms.  Employees in this classification and their crews work very closely with the Engineers of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the placement and relocation of buoys and other markings.  Employees in this classification command and functionally supervise crew members assigned to each vessel.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Chief of the Engineering Division and exercise their responsibilities within the policies established for the department.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Pilots and navigates vessels in Maryland tidal waters;

Participates in hydrographic survey work by establishing and building engineering boundary markings;

Supervises hoisting and replacement of buoys;

Supervises ship’s crew;

Maintains and repairs engines, motors, hoisting mechanisms and other apparatus;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of through navigation and operation of diesel powered vessels;

Knowledge of rules and regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard;

Knowledge of the geography of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries;

Knowledge of various types of coast and geodetic survey land marks;

Knowledge of tides and winds;

Ability to operate a large vessel in inland waters under all types of climatic conditions;

Ability to plot courses and distances on coast charts;

Ability to perform mechanical, marine engineering, and repair carpentry.

Education:   None.

Experience: Ten years of experience in the operation and navigation of a vessel of at least fifty gross tons.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in ship operating classifications or ship operating specialty codes in the transportation/mobile equipment operation field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs

2. Some positions in this classification are assigned duties which will require the individual to be examined by a physician. After an offer of employment, applicants for such positions will be given a medical examination to certify the ability to perform the essential job functions.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit A, Labor and Trades classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.