Ferry Deckhand

Volunteers wanted! Join the National Park Service at Fort Matanzas National Monument as a deckhand on the park’s ferry. The only way to visit the fort itself is by taking a boat ride across the Matanzas River, and deckhands are crucial to our operations. Being a deckhand requires a person to be physically fit and able to assist with securing the boat to our docks, serving as vessel's lookout, and seeing to the overall safety of the park vessel and its passengers as well as any boaters or swimmers in the area that may require emergency assistance and rescue from the water.

The position requires physical fitness so you must be free of back, neck and knee injuries, have good overall physical health and can stand for 4 hours a day in a range of temperatures from 30 degrees to 100 degrees. You will however be working in a beautiful location, surrounded by water, with abundant wildlife and some great history. This position requires a drug test prior to being allowed to perform as a deckhand. You will also have to be enrolled in a random drug testing program. These tests are paid for by the park, so there is no expense on your part for them. This position requires the volunteer to be available year-round rather than on a seasonal basis. 

If you feel you are capable of performing the functions of a deckhand as described above, then we would love to have you as a part of our team. If you need more information, you can contact our site supervisor, Andrew Rich, at 904-461-0122 ext. 202.