Aloha Brothers: Domestic Able Seafarer Deck here; working tugs and OSVs. Turned 54 this year, never struggled so hard to find ANY work. I think peeps just see my age, and pass me over. What’s really frustrating is I am stronger, more nimble & fit than the kids I work with! On any boat I work, I do all the athletic work. I hop the barge on tugs, hop the dock on tugs and OSV’s, run lines, etc. Any and all advice appreciated, as it’s a sincere question. How do I impress upon HR Dept that I am not my chronological age? And that damn BMI Index…sheesh, Says I am obese at 6’ 198lbs. Reality: all muscle, bench 315, around 15% body-fat. Same weight when I was 19! Is age discrimination on deck a thing? Again, I have applied literally everywhere; can’t find a hitch, nobody responds. Thoughts?
Check out the SUP. Sailors Union of the Pacific.
He mentioned he’s a domestic ASD so SUP is out of he’s lacking STCW.
Domestic ASD: AB Unlimited, BST, RFPNW, VPDSD.
Perhaps it’s slang, but it’s what I have been called, as I do not have Able Seafarer Deck on my Credential.
I was all set to join SIU, here on Oahu, But they required me to get: Flu shot, COVID, Yellow Fever, Polio, MMR, Malaria etc
No exemptions, no way. Even to sail domestic! I have friends that work for Crowley, hired by Crowley, they aren’t forced to take any jabs. I fear SUP & IBU will be the same.
Please pm your resume to me. If it looks good to me, I’ll pass it along and see if I can get you an offer.
There are plenty of jobs available. However, HR at many companies has become very dysfunctional. Try smaller companies where you’ll be talking to an owner, or port Captain, not HR ladies.
Da Big Dawg replies to lil ol me! Thanks man! Loved your posts throughout the years. I am one of those - long time readers, first time poster kina guys. Because of you, Freighterman et al, I have always been honest with peeps about my Day Rate. Everyone is so secretive about it, and I don’t think it does the industry any good.
At any rate…can’t seem to find how to PM ya here. I am accessing the site via laptop, not Facebook or App. My email:
CapSTW@proton.me. I will try FB as well. Many Mahalos!
Whoops! CaptainSTW@proton.me
● USCG AB Unlimited (1080 days).
● USCG 100T Masters, with Sailing Endorsement.
● USCG 200T Mate (recently submitted USCG).
● STCW 11/4 - Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch 500GT or more.
● STCW Lifeboatman.
● STCW: Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties (VPDSD).
● STCW: Basic Safety Training (BST).
● Current USCG & STCW Medical & TWIC Card
Going back to the OP, wasn’t it an age related question?
One of our Masters retired last year at the tender age of 72.
Cross Channel, near coastal, tight harbours and shit weather a lot of the time.
But then he did marry a blond so had to keep working.
You may not be able to PM due to some sort of gcaptain restriction.
Maybe try asking gcaptain how you can PM?
While we usually have at least one younger guy to climb onto the barge. It’s common for most of the crew to be in their 60s.
Sure, wheelhouse has older guys. Still thinking/wondering if my age has me being passed over for deck. It’s why I am studying for my 500T.
So there’s hope!
I have noticed though, since the CG cut Sea Time in half, AB jobs have waned. Now, almost everyone has Unlimited. TBH, 1080 days working deck was a hard road. Wish it was 540 when I was trying!
Time as a registered user. The dood has only been a member for a few days.
He can’t initiate a PM until he has more activity – this is part of how “trust levels” work in the Discord platform. But if you initiate the conversation he can respond to you.
Sure you’ve tried American. Cook Inlet is hiring for the summer. I wouldn’t think ageism is a thing if you’re willing to do the work. Maybe approach from a different angle? With a more competitive job market, try selling yourself not so much as the experienced deckhand who runs circles around everyone, but more how your experience and abilities can enhance a crew, bring stability to a vessel, and make the company more money. Leverage your knowledge for the greater good. I’m sure you’re an awesome shipmate, so use that as the missing link a company can’t say no to. As I age, I have to remind myself that my experience, drive and ability to outwork others can actually be very ego driven and individualistic, when in reality I need to be focused on working within a crew to make it all better. We’ve all worked with the old timer who sits in the galley and complains about the lack of work ethic for the 20yr olds. There’s just a lot of uncertainty floating around these days, and it feels less busy/slow. Keep grinding though and it’ll happen. How’d you leave your last employer? Can you go back, or are you looking for something new?
If you have AB unlimited, why not just take the AS-Deck course and apply foe the STCW endorsement? Or am I missing soemthing here?
Also, lifeboatman is not an STCW endorsement, it is a former national rating (since renamed), so if you did want it, youd need to get PSC (the STCW counterpart).
PSC is what I have. On my Certificate, says Lifeboatman is included as well
American is “App Stacking”. My phrase for always advertising, but not actually hiring. Its a real thang, as up to 40% of advertised jobs aren’t real (just search it). I have done several hitch’s for American, and yes, have inquired many times if they have any openings. Centerline is App stacking too. To be honest, Curtain was the only company that showed strong interest, but it was basically a shipyard AB position, not sailing. So I passed. I applied to Cook, and basically everywhere! I can’t go back to my last AB gig, as the 220’ OSV I worked has been sold. I have been working as Captain on tourist boats in Hawaii for the past year. The pay is way less, and doesn’t help me towards my 500T. In retrospect, I shoulda taken my Apprentice Mate Steersman years ago! But I chose the 500T route, paying for my TOAR. It’s turned out to be longer! And I see AMS positions constantly! Hawspiping is biatch!