Jersey Heritage is seeking skippers and crew to work on the amphibious ferries, known as puddleducks, that take visitors across St Aubin’s Bay from West Park to Elizabeth Castle.
The positions offer the chance to interact with locals and tourists and ensure they are safe on the journeys to and from the castle.
Two ducks operate on the route throughout the ‘summer’ season, which runs from March to November. They are unique vehicles built in America but specially adapted by Island engineers when they arrived in Jersey in 2007 to make them suitable for their run across the sand, or sea, to the castle.
James Evans, who is preparing for his second season as one of the skippers, having joined Jersey Heritage at the start of 2019, said: ‘I flew over lots of times and always liked the idea of driving one of the ferries. I was told that there was a job going and the timing was perfect. I’d driven cars and boats, but never something like this.
‘I hadn’t considered working for Jersey Heritage as much as the appeal of driving the vehicle, but it’s been great to work for them – people are really interested in the castle, and in the vehicles themselves.
‘Most people haven’t been on a vehicle like this and they often don’t believe that it will just carry on in the water – everyone goes quiet for a moment as we reach the sea.’
A driving licence is a must for would-be skippers, and a Public Service Vehicle licence would be an advantage, but full training will be provided to successful candidates, including the PSV qualification if necessary, powerboat driving, VHF radio and first aid.
The skipper vacancies are available as seasonal jobs or year-round positions where employees work at other Jersey Heritage sites during the winter. Ferry crew members, who look after passengers on each crossing and assist the skipper, are being sought for the 2020 season, starting next month. Both roles operate a six-day shift pattern – four days on, followed by two off.
The vacancies for ferry skippers and crew are currently posted at jerseyheritage.org/jobs with a closing date of 7 February.
