I have AB OSV, STCW/RFPNW, 100T Master NC, and FCC Marine Radio OP. I am preparing to go down to LA and pound the pavement, or swamp haha and look for a job as an AB or deckhand on an OSV. I hear talk on this forum of these additional certs like SafeGulf, Rigging, HUET, etc for the GOM. Should I bother getting these done prior to applying or are my current credentials sufficient to land a job with one of the numerous companies? I understand a lot of these companies put you through these classes once hired. Are they legally required certs for offshore work in the GOM or abroad? Or are they company preferences for insurance breaks? Please enlighten me on this as I would rather not have to shell out the dough for these classes if it unnecessary. Thanks in advance!
They are required by the clients the companies contract with. If you Getty hired by ECO you will be put thought rigging and Safe Gulf immediately. HUET is also required by many clients in order to fly in and out via helicopter but some clients require the HUET class to be from very specific schools or they won’t accept it.
[QUOTE=“TOWBOATTED;111624”]So would I be severely limiting my chances of success if I tried to get hired without them and get trained through the company?[/QUOTE]
Not at all. Most companies that I have hard of don’t expect you to have those before being hired.
AH YES! That’s what I was hoping. I had only heard about it on here and not from people I had talked to in person who are already in the industry. That is great! Thanks!
Give it a go. If you don’t get a job right away then go take some classes. SafeGulf and Rigging are fast, cheap, and very easy, HUET costs a bit more. The smaller companies often prefer to hire people who have had the classes.
True, and I understand that there are schools right there near all the company offices. I looked up SafeGulf and it was $1000 with Pec. Any recommendations for good/inexpensive schools to take these. This will be my first go at the OSV industry so I don’t want to eliminate any potential ins. Thanks.
BTW, what are you all’s background in the offshore industry if you don’t mind me asking?
[QUOTE=TOWBOATTED;111656]True, and I understand that there are schools right there near all the company offices. I looked up SafeGulf and it was $1000 with Pec. Any recommendations for good/inexpensive schools to take these. This will be my first go at the OSV industry so I don’t want to eliminate any potential ins. Thanks.
BTW, what are you all’s background in the offshore industry if you don’t mind me asking?[/QUOTE]
You can take the PEC Core class ( three days) for about $550 at Fletcher or Young Memorial which are respected community colleges down in the bayou. Flack Alford is a private worldwide training provider where many of the bayou boat companies send their people. It will cost a little more. I think there are week long packages at Falck Alford and SMS that include HUET and cost just under $1000. Google and the telephone are your friends.
I wouldn’t spend your own money until you get denied by the big companies like ECO. ECO, from what I understand, makes everyone take their Safe Gulf even if you already have one from somewhere else.
I will give it a shot with what I got and if need be, drop the coin for the classes myself. Company coverage of training costs and such is one of the very reasons why I would like to get on with a larger company over a smaller one (that is very interesting about ECO). At least now I have a good idea of where to go and what to spend. Looks like most of the schools offer it several times a week with plenty of seats, so signing up shouldn’t be too difficult.
BTW I heard that ECO is offering 28/28 time for ABs now too!
So while these cards and certs arent going away, what’s the consensus on the actual importance or effectiveness for someone who’s a licensed mate or chief with a decade of experience in a different industry segment? Having a card (safe gulf, “rigger,” HUET) I don’t think I’m any safer than I was without one. Granted the cards a decade old…but you get what I am saying. As a gulf outsider I always thought it was partially to weed out the complete bozos, but thoughts?
Some of it is a good idea in theory, but its mostly just CYA for the companies. It does not weed out any bozos. The classes are just an overview that is dumbed down so that 99% of 8th grade graduates can pass. It may benefit the new people, but its mostly a waste of time and money for the rest of us.
I don’t know about you, but I feel so much safer knowing I can safely escape from a PVC cage that has been turned upside down in a swimming pool next to a diver with an extra breather. Almost hope the helo does crash next crew change so I can show everybody what I learned in HUET.
All I can really hope for is that things are still booming when I get down there in late October. If the train is moving I’ll hop on whatever way I can.
Of all those safety classes that the Gulf companies are miking such a big deal about, HUET is probably the best one of the bunch. I bet a few people do freak out and fail HUET.
[QUOTE=TOWBOATTED;111665]I realize I misinterpreted the SafeGulf website on pricing. Found some companies in Houston that do an 8.5 hr/100 Q test for SafeGulf at around $250.[/QUOTE]
Check out Falck Alford in Houma. If I am reading their web page correctly, their SafeGulf is called RigPass, and costs $160. Not sure, as my company paid for mine.
Chateau on the Bayou is a good place to stay, and Claudette is very knowledgeable about who is hiring and goes out of her way to be helpful. She has a regular post/thread on here. Also Sea School in Bayou La Batre, Al has classes and offer boarding. Both at reasonable prices.
Water, I am going the deck route and will be looking for a job as an AB (hopefully I’ll get onto a larger OSV and earn some tonnage). I have 3 years experience under my 100T on small commercial assist towing/salvage vessels (Towboat US) so I hope that helps me stand out from some other applicants a little.
Sea Son, I am aware of Chateau on the Bayou and intend to stay there when I head to the area in October. I follow Claudette’s thread like a hawk haha!