Thanks, yeah the link wasn’t doing much haha…if I tried much longer it would of gotten a dose of my sailor’s mouth.
I definately need ocean survival. I’ve taken the lifeboatman lab thru Maine Maritime but not the test…so I’ll have to get that done. I have USCG marine fire fighting and CPR/First Aid already. I’ve passed a good amount of STCW requirements when I had classes at Maine Maritime so my best bet would probably be to call them and see what I have that I don’t realize.
Kelly may be a “sensetive” name…but when you apply to a job with a name like mine, and a short 5’2" girl shows up for work…well you can guess.
But hey, my height works out for the best. I can crawl thru bilges like nobody’s business! haha
I recommend completing the BST portion of STCW, it will open more doors for you. It consists of 4 classes, they are personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities.
I meant A/B for 1600 ton Master. I was thinking about something else to do with unlimited and inadvertanly typed unlimited. Thanks for catching my mistake captjacksparrow.
BST is a must…
I’m still not sure that I understand Erin…Is ocean survival, something different?? Or is the personal safety class that includes the donning of the survival suit what we are talking about? I think it is and our terminology is getting in the way.
Ocean survival is what you are talking about, it’s a class which is a part of BST. Since I went to Maine Maritime, they broke up BST into different classes since it wasn’t just a course, it was a semester.
This passage is taken verbatem from Leonard Lamberts book “The New Hawsepipe” page 38
For work as an AB special on international waters,STCW 95 Basic Safety ,Lifeboatman and RFPNW assessments are required…In domestic inland waters , STCW does not apply ,but you will still need RFPNW and lifeboat…
Erin: Females are under represented in the NY tugboat industry. If you get any kind of AB rating (that means you would have lifeboatman) with Basic Safety Training, coupled with several years of seagoing experience (which you have) you will not have a problem getting interviewed by any of the good companies. Be persistent. Most are Union but you don’t need to worry about that at first. You don’t need to worry about RFPNW at first either. Get hired, get on and get along…you may go far.
Practice throwing a heaving line about 10 fathoms long at a target at an extreme upward angle. Stand real close to a 2 story house and try to hit the chimney. Learn to throw hard and straight. Practice throwing a 2" diameter dock line about 15 feet and lasso a bit or bollard 100% of the time, then learn to toss it off. Then learn to do it from 20 feet.
A ship line is 7" to 9" in diameter and can really be heavy when wet. A decky needs to be able to quickly pull it hand over hand over a rubber fender out of the water and onto deck, the friction from the fender and the needed speed (to keep it out of the prop) are going to be a small 5’2" females biggest hurdle.
These are the skills we beat into the brand-new-never-been-on-a-boat-guys, you sound much more promising than that.
erin 4298, take seadog!'s advice to heart. I’ve worked with two women in the New York Harbor tugboat arena (both of whom went to SUNY Maritime) who had to claw their way up off the deck in what is still very much a man’s world. They are both working today as mates, one fairly new and still wet behind the ears and one who is experienced and will soon be up for a captain’s position. If you’ve got the guts to stick it out the opportunity is definitely there. Beyond the required natural ability, three words sum up what it takes: tenacity and thick skin. I’ll also point out that the most recent appointee to the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) is a woman named Edie Queen from Savannah, Ga., an experienced tug captain. She brings a lot to the table and sets an example for everyone. Follow her lead…
Thanks so much, both of you. I appreciate the advice.
I’ve worked on boats since I was 13 (and I’m 20) so I’ve had a good amount of experience with lines and I actually surprise some people with how strong I am for my size…but you never know when you pick up a 7" to 9" diameter line for the first time. When I was at Maine Maritime I practiced heaving smaller lines on to a bollard. I was pretty accurate but I definately need to figure out some techniques to use my body weight to heave further distances.
As for the thick skin…I grew up working with guys on boats and at first I was timid but these days I give it right back to them. They learn to not mess with me
Working on boats is in my blood and my passion so whenever I get an opportunity I take full advantage.
seadog! I will definately take your advice with practicing. (Once the snow melts down enough so I can get to the side of the house…I live in Maine, haha)
captjacksparrow, thank you for the nice words and I’m confident that I can do well and work my way up to captain some day. I will be sure to learn a little more about Edie Queen as well.
Your training at Maine Maritime can be credited. This is an unuusal situation, and probably the first time the evaluators at NMC have come across it. I would make it very clear you are asking to have your training in the MMA cadet program credited. The evaluator will need to consult about this one, probably with me as I’m about the only person with enough knowledge of the specifics of each academy’s program to evaluatae it.
In 2002 we sent the attached letter indicating what courseas are needed for BST. I suggest printing this and including with your application along with evidence you took and passd those courses noted within the past five years.
James D. Cavo
Erin: You won’t go aboard and be thrown to the wolves. Coming from any other industry, you’ll need to be trained in the ways and lingo of tugs.
One more thing, learn to splice 8 and 12 strand line, it aint hard, just different. All that will put you head and shoulders above the other candidates.
I really mean it when I say good luck, keep this board updated and maybe some here could open a few doors for ya. There’s a women’s seafarers webpage out there somewhere, maybe it has tips on throwing tecniques for females.
And another “one more thing” get so you can do a pull up or two, you may be on the dock and have to get aboard a barge with no pigeon holes or ladder.
Erin, call Castine and line up the rest of the classes you need. It should be a straight up process as I think you’re only lacking the Personal Survival component. Get that out of the way, and that will certainly open up some doors.
I’ll be home on the Midcoast next week, if you have any questions fire away. Winlsow Towing would be a good start for a ride along down at BIW if tugs interest you.