Dredging supervisor

Description

A dredging supervisor is a professional responsible for overseeing and managing dredging operations, which involve the removal of sediment and debris from bodies of water to improve navigability, maintain waterways, or extract valuable resources. Dredging supervisors play a crucial role in coordinating and supervising dredging projects, ensuring they are conducted safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project specifications and environmental regulations.

Here are some of the duties of a dredging supervisor:

  • Supervising dredging operations
  • Ensuring that all safety regulations are followed and that the dredging operation proceeds smoothly and efficiently by organizing workflows and monitoring staff
  • Directing, training, and assisting lower-level dredging workers
  • Preparing dredging reports and compiling dredging records
  • Ensuring that all equipment is functioning properly and preparing work schedules
  • Conducting reviews for personnel performance and evaluating employee performance
  • Conferring with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances
  • Advising others on ways to improve processes or products.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to dredging supervisor:

dredge operator supervisor
dredging operations supervisor
dredging site supervisor
dredge foreman
dredging project supervisor
dredging foreman

Working conditions

Dredging supervisors work primarily in outdoor environments, often in and around bodies of water. The work may involve exposure to various weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, and rain. They must adhere to strict safety protocols, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and following safety guidelines to minimize risks. Dredging supervisors may need to travel to different project sites and spend extended periods away from home. The nature of dredging operations may require working in remote or isolated locations. They may also be required to work during weekends, evenings, or holidays, depending on project requirements and constraints.

Minimum qualifications

The educational requirements for dredging supervisors may vary depending on the employer and project complexity. Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required, but some employers may prefer candidates with post-secondary education in civil engineering, marine engineering, or a related field. Relevant experience in dredging operations, preferably in a supervisory or leadership role, is crucial. Dredging supervisors should have a strong understanding of dredging techniques, equipment, and safety procedures. Knowledge of environmental regulations and permits related to dredging activities is important. Strong communication and leadership skills are necessary to effectively coordinate and manage dredging crews. Certification in dredging operations or relevant industry certifications may be advantageous.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Dredging supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Dredging supervisor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to dredging supervisor.

crane crew supervisor
dismantling supervisor
demolition supervisor
bridge construction supervisor
rail construction supervisor

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of dredging supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of dredging supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

construction general contractor
installation engineer
paper engineer
recycling specialist
defence administration officer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of dredging supervisor.

  • Soil mechanics: Thoroughly understand the characteristics of soil in relation to analysing the deformations of fluids within soil that supports man-made structures.
  • Mechanical systems: Mechanical systems, including gears, engines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Their functions and likely defects.
  • Dredging consoles: The configuration of different types of dredging consoles. How the functions of the dredge are mapped to the console.
  • Excavation techniques: The methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of dredging supervisor.

  • Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
  • Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
  • Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
  • Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
  • Ensure compliance with construction project deadline: Plan, schedule and monitor the building processes in order to ensure completion of the project by the set deadline.
  • Prevent damage to utility infrastructure: Consult utility companies or plans on the location of any utility infrastructure that may interfere with a project or be damaged by it. Take the necessary steps to avoid damage.
  • Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
  • Plan resource allocation: Plan future needs of various resources such as time, money and specific process resources.
  • Plan shifts of employees: Plans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.
  • Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
  • Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
  • Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
  • Operate GPS systems: Use GPS Systems.
  • Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
  • Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
  • Guide placement of anchors: Assist the responsible person in the positioning of box anchors and shore anchors.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
  • Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
  • Coordinate construction activities: Coordinate the activities of several construction workers or crews to make sure they do not interfere with each other and to ensure that the works are done in a timely manner. Keep up to date on the progress of the teams and update the schedule if called for.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of dredging supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
  • Machinery load capacity: The maximum load capacity of the operated piece of machinery, under different circumstances and in different positions and movements. Passive load capacity and active load capacity, which is measure while in motion.
  • Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of dredging supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
  • Operate bucket wheel excavator: Operate a bucket wheel excavator, a giant piece of mining machinery that uses a wheel or a chain equipped with buckets to scrape away material from the surface, then load it onto a conveyor belt.
  • Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
  • Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
  • Control cutterheads: Manoeuvre the cutterheads of a cutter dredge. Choose the correct cutterhead equipment and lower the cutterheads to commence dredging. Raise the cutterhead to avoid obstacles or to end the dredging session.
  • Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
  • Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
  • Position anchor poles: Lower and raise the anchor poles, or spuds, of a dredge vessel. Determine the desired position of the spuds and release them. Hoist the spuds back up to change the position of the ship.
  • Use rigging tools: Employ rigging tools such as cables, ropes, pulleys and winches to safely secure high structures.
  • Position dredger: Communicate with the captain or mate to move the dredge into the right position to commence the dredging operation.
  • Operate excavator: Operate excavators used to dig materials from the surface and load them onto dump trucks.
  • Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
  • Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
  • Measure water depth: Measure the depths of a body of water by using depth measuring equipment such as a depth gauge.
  • Control suction booms: Control the suction booms, which contains the suction hose that the dredged materials are evacuated through. Raise and lower the suction booms to start and end the operation, or to avoid obstacles.
  • Build business relationships: Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.
  • Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.

ISCO group and title

3123 – Construction supervisors


References
  1. Dredging supervisor – ESCO
  2. Featured image: By Sheba_Also 43,000 photos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/shebalso/18562116950/, CC BY-SA 2.0
Last updated on June 11, 2023