Inspector

Do you keep the Port of Rotterdam safe, clean, and efficient as a supervisor on and around the water?

As an inspector, you are the inquisitive mind of the Port of Rotterdam Authority on board ships and with shipowners. You have oversight of dangerous and harmful cargo flows and know, partly through data analysis of internal and external sources, where attention in the port needs to be focused. Become curious? We take you through the work in this video!

If you want to become our new legend in the field of transporting dangerous and harmful substances, apply now and hopefully we will see you at one of our selection days on November 5 and 6, 2026.

Inspections on seagoing vessels but also digital inspections, that is the development the Ship and Environmental Safety team stands for. You will learn the job 'on the job' and contribute to the change in working methods. You will learn from your experienced colleagues how to inspect seagoing vessels, port terminals, and crews from all over the world.

Based on all kinds of technical data from various databases, including EU-thetis, as well as own experience and analyses, it is determined where and with whom inspections take place. During an inspection, you pay attention to, among other things, compliance with MARPOL regulations and safety regarding the cargo. In doing so, you test whether the rules are being followed. You record your inspection results clearly in systems and inspection reports. You make easy contact with both captains and shipowners as well as the deckhand working in the port on a Saturday night. In addition to inspections, you carry out enforcement actions on a regular basis.

Your knowledge and experience are also deployed to create a risk analysis in order to set conditions for allowing seagoing vessels into the port or for special cargo operations. Furthermore, you contribute your expertise when a seagoing vessel is involved in incidents.

Sometimes you are the bearer of bad news that an action or activity is not permitted given our standards for safety and the environment. You are able to interpret risks and name and devise solution directions that fit within the supervision of port processes. You do this based on signals, inspection, and investigation outcomes. You are eager to put your shoulder to the wheel for more effective and efficient port supervision.

As an independent Inspector, you will work on the areas you have made your own with the following tasks:

• Supervising and enforcing in the field of ship and environmental safety and, if necessary, making use of your enforcement powers (BOA).
• Providing requested and unrequested advice to ship management, shipping company representatives, agencies, and terminals.
• Giving instructions in the field of the transport and handling of dangerous and harmful substances.
• Advising the Duty Officer during calamities regarding the ship and (dangerous and harmful) cargo.
• Intensively collaborating with other supervisors and the business community.

We guarantee you a varied position, in which you are challenged in a positive way every day.

You will work in a proud team with a good team spirit. Your colleagues will teach you the ropes of the trade. In addition to the knowledge of colleagues, education and training are part of the induction program. The Ship and Environmental Safety department places great value on cooperation, a motivated work attitude, and involvement. The department is constantly developing and involves you in that process!

Depending on the combination of (relevant) knowledge and experience, you will be scaled into the scale of starting Inspector (1) between € 3,478 and € 4,153 gross per month, excluding a 30% irregularity allowance in continuous shift work. In this scale, you can eventually grow to € 5,191 gross per month. Within the inspector job house, you could eventually grow to inspector 2 (€ 5,836 gross per month) and inspector 3 (€ 6,465 gross per month). When you enter employment, you start on a semi-continuous roster. You have the willingness to transition to continuous shift work in the long term, if necessary.

In addition, we offer an extensive employment benefits package including a 36-hour work week (full-time), a personal choice budget of 19.6%; on top of your gross monthly salary (composed of holiday allowance (8%), thirteenth month (8.33%), vitality contribution (2.3%) and an extra budget of (0.97%)). You can have this accumulated budget paid out (partially) in the interim and/or use it to buy a bicycle, make extra pension contributions to the ABP, purchase extra leave hours, or settle training costs (not job-related) or career advice in a tax-friendly manner.

For more information about our employment conditions, please look at our CAO.

An online assessment (competency and cognitive) is part of the application procedure. An integrity investigation and online screening are part of the selection procedure. Valicare carries out this screening on behalf of the Port Authority.

You are an inspector who is driven to tackle matters and achieve results. You understand that all kinds of interests play a role in cooperation with different parties, and you can handle this well. Through your persuasiveness, you can clearly explain to all parties why you make certain decisions.

Additionally, you are able to work and learn at HBO (higher professional education) work and thinking level and you are also:

• fit enough to pass a physical examination. You can work safely with breathing apparatus.
• calm in stressful situations, so that you remain safe yourself and can help others.
• willing to work irregular hours in the semi-continuous (A and B shifts with weekends) with the willingness to work in continuous shifts in the long term.
• well-versed both orally and in writing in the Dutch and English languages.
• in possession of a Category B driver's license AND a swimming certificate.
• enthusiastic about physics and chemistry, digitalization, and data-driven working. Affinity with the port and relevant work experience is a plus.

Welcome on board the Ship and Environmental Safety department! Together with 140 Masters (nautical supervisors) and 35 Inspectors, as part of the Harbor Master division, you supervise compliance with regulations within the port. The goal of the Harbor Master division is the smooth, safe, clean, and secure handling of shipping. Moreover, the division fulfills an important role within the Rotterdam/Rijnmond safety region and in the field of port security. The employees of the division work on a world-class port that is constantly in motion. An increase in ship visits and transshipment in the Port of Rotterdam, the energy transition, and the increasing digitalization in the port demand a new generation of employees.

Effective communication: You provide information in a structured and concise manner, both orally and in writing. You communicate clearly and pleasantly, actively listening and asking follow-up questions to clarify any uncertainties.

Ability to change: You continue to perform activities under (time) pressure as adequately as possible. You adapt easily to new circumstances and are willing to change your thoughts or opinion when presented with new insights.

Developing yourself & others: You are open to feedback and draw up a personal development plan that you work on purposefully. You develop yourself by learning from your own mistakes, receiving constructive feedback, adopting good practices from others, and by actively participating in training and courses.

Problem-solving ability: You assess information for completeness and reliability. You analyze a large amount of information to identify possible causes of a problem. With your expertise and experience, you are able to oversee the possible consequences and identify critical points. You are open to new ideas and utilize them to further strengthen your problem-solving ability.

Do you doubt if this position suits you or do you want to know more first? Feel free to contact Carin via recruitment@portofrotterdam.com. We are happy to think along with you and answer your questions about the role, the working environment, and the possibilities within our organization.