We are lacking guidance to one sector ;
The seasoned deep sea guys need to find jobs at Drill Ship (Rig) without having to use the OSV’s as a step stone.
There’s many good information flowing for going to OSV world, but not too many info’s for going to Drill Ship (Rig) from Deep Sea ship with unlimited tonnages.
Any information will help.
[QUOTE=“capitanahn;112716”]We are lacking guidance to one sector ;
The seasoned deep sea guys need to find jobs at Drill Ship (Rig) without having to use the OSV’s as a step stone.
There’s many good information flowing for going to OSV world, but not too many info’s for going to Drill Ship (Rig) from Deep Sea ship with unlimited tonnages.
Any information will help.[/QUOTE]
Good call! I am wondering the same thing. I tried to revive an old BCO thread to no avail. The DPO route for OSV’s has beat to death a hundred times over. Is it only “academy kids” getting these gigs on the Drill ships and Rigs? I am a little sick of jearing about
Woops, damn send button!! I am sick of hearing stories about academy kids going strait to the drill ships and such, just because they went to an academy. What about some seasoned pipers out there?? Beuller?..Beuller?..Beuller?.. Or any information at all regarding what the op posted??
I would definitely be interested in hearing some good replies. I’ve sent resumes to the usual suspects for openings. I wouldn’t mind starting over as a lower engine room rating just to get my foot in the door.
That is typically key. It is a lot easier for engineers to make a lateral move between sectors than deck officers. I know of a few guys who went to work for Diamond Offshore. Both had the ink drying on their 2AE licenses and took a QMED position to start out. I believe they moved up to 2 AE within a year. For unlimited deck officers you better be prepared to work as a 3/M/JDPO with most companies until you get your DP certificate. Doesn’t matter whether you have a 3/M or Master license. I believe Noble might be an exception to that but not sure.
The problem is most of the deep sea guys do not have the DP experience desired by the drilling contractors. The oil and gas industry does not always understand the marine counter parts as well as they should. There is no secret formula or angle. I would think that the attitude and timing are probably the most important x factor. Forget about all your accomplishments and experience. You will have to start at a DPO trainee position or possibly…if you are very lucky you might be able to hire direct as a Chief Mate, but I doubt it. I have seen a few hire in straight as chief mate, but they all had DP experience. Especially now, more and more companies (oil companies) are requiring certain experience and credentials. Don’t get me wrong, if you did get on, you would more than likely move up quickly, it is just you will be competing for these handful of positions in competition with every swinging fellow with an unlimited license. I am sure you get the picture. There is also a competent global pool of personnel to pull from, so your opportunities will be even further limited to the US GOM vessels. The only real thing that you can do to improve your chances is to pay for the basic DP induction course and even then there are no guarantees it will work. If I was hiring it would show me that you are willing to do what it takes and are committed. Another factor that could improve your chances is your safety record and leadership skills. If you can pepper your resume with safety, it may help you stand out from the typical resume. Today safety is number one with all drilling contractors. Networking and knowing someone that has already made the move. They could help make sure your resume at least gets looked at.
Sorry I was not very helpful, but I wanted to respond to your post.
I’m assuming you are referring to a mates ticket but I would take that class if it means a better chance in the engine room.
[QUOTE=MFOWelectrician;112726]I’m assuming you are referring to a mates ticket but I would take that class if it means a better chance in the engine room.[/QUOTE]
The original post is about a deep sea Master wanting to make the move. Yes, an engineer should not take the basic dp course…they would not understand it anyway.
[QUOTE=RubberRhib888;112719]Woops, damn send button!! I am sick of hearing stories about academy kids going strait to the drill ships and such, just because they went to an academy. What about some seasoned pipers out there?? Beuller?..Beuller?..Beuller?.. Or any information at all regarding what the op posted??[/QUOTE]
No body cares where you came from, as long as you have the credentials and can do the job. Bottom line.
I am only seeing the Deep Sea guys make the transition over to drilling with two companies: Transocean and Noble. Both of those companies have deck mates: 2nd and 3rd mates on their vessels, as well as JDPO or DP Trainee positions. Also, Noble has been known to accept CM and Masters directly into that position on the drilling rig, since they are a drilling company and consider us a necessary evil, they tend to look the other way for drilling experience, but not all the time. So, I would not count on that. Best bet is to try and get on with either TOI or Noble as a deck mate and get some time up in the CCR and take the DP classes, paid in full by those companies.
[QUOTE=MFOWelectrician;112722]I would definitely be interested in hearing some good replies. I’ve sent resumes to the usual suspects for openings. I wouldn’t mind starting over as a lower engine room rating just to get my foot in the door.[/QUOTE]
To the Engine Room guys:
You do have an easier chance to make the move to drilling. With numerous companies: Transocean, Noble, Pacific, Seadrill, Ensco, Diamond. You also have opportunities to go into an ART (Advanced Rig Training) program for Subsea Engineering. This is an excellent opportunity for some. It all depends on what you want: Mechanic, ERO, SSE(trainee), Hydraulic Tech. Those jobs you would be capable of doing and could have a chance to get into one of those positions, not having been on a drilling rig.
[QUOTE=“Capt. Lee;112728”]
No body cares where you came from, as long as you have the credentials and can do the job. Bottom line.[/QUOTE]
Your above reply was a great help. I have had several face to face conversations with experienced Rig/Drill ship mates and the common denominator that I found is academy people get preference over non academy when it comes to the initial hire. Thats all. I am not talking shit about anybody, nor was I implying one was better than the other. I’ve been out here long enough to have experienced both sides of the tracks and could care less where you came from as long as your not a fuckin’ douch bag.
[QUOTE=“RubberRhib888;112762”]
Your above reply was a great help. I have had several face to face conversations with experienced Rig/Drill ship mates and the common denominator that I found is academy people get preference over non academy when it comes to the initial hire. Thats all. I am not talking shit about anybody, nor was I implying one was better than the other. I’ve been out here long enough to have experienced both sides of the tracks and could care less where you came from as long as your not a fuckin’ douch bag.[/QUOTE]
I believe that you are correct. The common dominator may be academy grads.
I don’t think it is because of preference as much as the idea that a Master Unlimited may not be willing to sail as a third mate/training DPO for the amount of time that it will take him to get the DP certificate. Not to mention that for that time period he may be taking a pay cut.
[QUOTE=Capt. Lee;112725] The only real thing that you can do to improve your chances is to pay for the basic DP induction course and even then there are no guarantees it will work.[UNQUOTE]
DP Induction’s done, even considered DNV DPO CERT thing, but the cost is almost prohibitive to many people.
[QUOTE=“PR-9;112768”]
I believe that you are correct. The common dominator may be academy grads.
I don’t think it is because of preference as much as the idea that a Master Unlimited may not be willing to sail as a third mate/training DPO for the amount of time that it will take him to get the DP certificate. Not to mention that for that time period he may be taking a pay cut.[/QUOTE]
I agree. I will have my 3rd AGT in hand soon. I am just trying to make an educated decision on where to concentrate my energy and time…OSV world or go for the Drilling companies. I am ex Navy, MSC, and now on tugs. Obviously I have zero experience in the two sectors I wish to persue. Will I be wasting my time?? Probably a rhetorical question. It appears to me that many of the cats that post on here currently working on the rigs/drill ships are either academy or went through the OSV world. Another recent thread on the forum was dedicated to shredding a mate who wants to jump to the drilling side as soon as he got his DP cert from working on the OSV side. Seems like a conundrum to me…I hope there is someone out there with some insight on getting hired with a drilling company. The most recent Mate I spoke with (15 yrs DP experience and works for a drilling company) said to get my BCO cert and use that as a foot in the door. He said the DP will follow. Any thoughts???
[QUOTE=RubberRhib888;112784]I agree. I will have my 3rd AGT in hand soon. I am just trying to make an educated decision on where to concentrate my energy and time…OSV world or go for the Drilling companies. I am ex Navy, MSC, and now on tugs. Obviously I have zero experience in the two sectors I wish to persue. Will I be wasting my time?? Probably a rhetorical question. It appears to me that many of the cats that post on here currently working on the rigs/drill ships are either academy or went through the OSV world. Another recent thread on the forum was dedicated to shredding a mate who wants to jump to the drilling side as soon as he got his DP cert from working on the OSV side. Seems like a conundrum to me…I hope there is someone out there with some insight on getting hired with a drilling company. The most recent Mate I spoke with (15 yrs DP experience and works for a drilling company) said to get my BCO cert and use that as a foot in the door. He said the DP will follow. Any thoughts???[/QUOTE]
From someone who has made the jump, I don’t think just working on a OSV is of any relevance. If it were not for being able to get the DP cert and time, I think most OSV mariners are almost frowned on by drilling companies. The difference is if you are going to hire a fairly green mate, say one with only one or two years experience the DP time is more valuable to the drilling companies than deep sea time. Deep draft ships and Drill ships have basically nothing in common. Even an engineer coming from an OSV will have a hard time if they don’t have a lot of diesel electric experience and a unlimited license.
I do know that drilling companies and boat companies have almost exact opposite hiring practices. Drilling companies will advertise for certain positions, collect resumes, then pick the best candidate and usually hire them well in advance. Where boat companies seem to hire who ever is available and can pass a physical when they actually need someone. Don’t be in a hurry either drilling companies to me seem to be slow to hire, it was almost a year to the date from when I sent in my resume to when I actually went on the payroll. Several others I have spoken to have said not hearing from them for 6 months after sending in a resume is not uncommon, so be patient and persistant. Someday it will pay off.
Thanks Chief, much appreciated!
[QUOTE=ChiefRob;112793]From someone who has made the jump, I don’t think just working on a OSV is of any relevance. If it were not for being able to get the DP cert and time, I think most OSV mariners are almost frowned on by drilling companies. The difference is if you are going to hire a fairly green mate, say one with only one or two years experience the DP time is more valuable to the drilling companies than deep sea time. Deep draft ships and Drill ships have basically nothing in common. Even an engineer coming from an OSV will have a hard time if they don’t have a lot of diesel electric experience and a unlimited license.
I do know that drilling companies and boat companies have almost exact opposite hiring practices. Drilling companies will advertise for certain positions, collect resumes, then pick the best candidate and usually hire them well in advance. Where boat companies seem to hire who ever is available and can pass a physical when they actually need someone. Don’t be in a hurry either drilling companies to me seem to be slow to hire, it was almost a year to the date from when I sent in my resume to when I actually went on the payroll. Several others I have spoken to have said not hearing from them for 6 months after sending in a resume is not uncommon, so be patient and persistant. Someday it will pay off.[/QUOTE]
Guys,
Don’t forget about other options: such as construction/pipe lay, i.e. JRay, Helix/Caldive, Allseas. We have had many make jumps from those type jobs/vessels, and most of them started out as deck mates or engineers with those companies, then got into the DP side. You also have options with dredging (especially engineers), and don’t be scared to try foreign companies/foreign flagged vessels. The pay may be lower initialy, but it will work out in the end.
[QUOTE=PDCMATE;112796]Guys,
Don’t forget about other options: such as construction/pipe lay, i.e. JRay, Helix/Caldive, Allseas. We have had many make jumps from those type jobs/vessels, and most of them started out as deck mates or engineers with those companies, then got into the DP side. You also have options with dredging (especially engineers), and don’t be scared to try foreign companies/foreign flagged vessels. The pay may be lower initialy, but it will work out in the end.[/QUOTE]
Excellent point, that is exactly how I made the jump, 12 years on tugs then 12 years on construction vessels. Some dive, mostly ROV, and heavy lift, all my time on construction was diesel electric, over half was foreign flag. I was also able to get a lot of hydraulic experience with cranes and sub sea winches, so the jump for me was fairly easy once I made the decision to do it. The pay was actually better than tugs or an OSV, (back then) but less than a drill ship. Even though the pay scale has changed a lot in the past few years, so now the OSV guys are actually making good money, but still behind in the benefits dept compared to drilling.
This is one of the best threads I have seen lately. Good information.