17 years old joined my first ship in the USN. 38 now and just started my fourth issue on my 1600 ton Master. Happy to never had one of those “normal” jobs on that hard stuff they call land.
My first adventure on the sea was on my uncle’s shrimp trawler when I was about 14 or 15. Worked on my family’s shrimp boats on spring break and during the summer holiday’s until I graduated high school. Got on my first tug at age 18 three months after graduating high school, been on the water ever since. 25 years at sea, started off my career on a single screw tug, now working drill ships.
14 for fishing trips to George’s Bank on family vessels. Never looked back in the last 40 years.
Going to sea got me most everything good in my life, incl. wife I met in town while in dry dock in a foreign place, family and really good friends.
It has been a hell of a ride, and I’ve missed nothing that counts.
Remembering all the money spent on travel, wine, women & song. The rest was just wasted…
went to USCG at 18 years old, got chiefs license while still active duty before I got out, working on license, loving life:)
I started full time when I was 18. Summer work at 16 years old.
Basically I had spent a couple of Summers working as a deckhand for a one boat seatow type outfit and when I turned 18 my mother sold the house and sailed off on her boat. I needed money, a place to sleep and food. So I got a job on a boat. The end.
I was raised shrimping, gill netting and dredging oysters. When I got my Z-card at 16, I had to have a minor’s release and a “letter of intent” from the company. Back then you had to be ex-military or have a written promise of a job before the CG would issue a Z-card. Had a few shitty jobs but overall, I can’t imagine doing anything else. 39 years later, I drew early normal pension from the SIU at 56.
I am a very late starter 46 now and msy have to wate two more years to get started. Is 48 to old to try to become a offshore os cook ?
Not at all, Ham. Depending on what part of the country you are in. You might want to check out the IBU in Seattle. they need cooks on the tug/barges going to Alaska.
[QUOTE=trvlerjenn;138263]I was 27 and had never been on a boat, nor a ship before. Here I am 14 years later and hawsepiped my way up to Chief Mate Unlimited Oceans[/QUOTE]
Congratulations. That is quite an achievement.
I began riding the harbor tugs of Baltimore in the late 70’s, in my early teens… Learned the basics of decking on low powered, single screw boats docking ships and shifting scows, LASH and coal barges (boxes too) around a busy Baltimore harbor.
Collected my first real paycheck off a tugboat in 1981, I was 15. “Hamming” on the Curtis Bay and Baker-Whiteley boats along the way was a dream for me. The crews, camaraderie, working smart and safe and most important of all, going home every night.
I am 48. Been steering for some 27+ years now. It has been a fantastic ride for the most part with just a few regrets.
When I was in diapers my Grandparents owned a trawler. I would sit on my Grandpa’s knee as he steered the vessel. Did this until I was tall enough to stand on a five gallon bucket and hold course. Spent my adolecent years running shrimpers and oyster boats. Went off to college so I would not become “Boat Trash.” Wound up coming offshore for six months to make a little extra money. By 23 I had my 100 ton. By 25 AB Unlimited. By 02 when I was 27 got my 1600/3000 Oceans. Got the 6000 3 years ago. Now going for AGT. Damn long six months!!
Started working as a deckhand at age 14 for family business summers, vacations … Got my first license at age 19. First yacht captain gig age 21. Yachts til last year, finally got smart and made the move to the GOM.
Loving it ever since.
Been going to Alaska on tugs since my mother was pregnant with me. Actual crew deckhand at 13 in summers going to Alaska towing barges worked my way up to captain at 23.
Started working summers on sportboats when I was 14. Got my 100 ton at 19. When I was 20 got into workboats. 34 now working on an OSV.
I started working deck on coastal tugs at 19 then I got my first license an OUPV at 20 100ton at 21. Then a long line of BS jobs and I finally got my 500 master at 32 and 1600 master at 35. Now I run a little OSV.
I’ve really enjoyed this thread reading the humble beginnings of everyone.
I started taking tourists on catamaran sailboat rides off the beach at 16. Captain on a parasail boat at 20. In the winter, I worked at marinas while going to school for engineering. I hated college, so focused more on boats.
Worked on various tour boats, work boats, made my way onto yachts. Been on private boats since 2006. Currently have a good program, try to work 7/7 or 14/14 depending on when the owner is around. I treat the job like a workboat. 12 hr. days, fly home to NC. Probably wind up in the gulf one day.
Answered in a similar thread, when I was of working age, we lived a few hours from any water, so my first exposure to the industry was at the Academy. Sailed out of the Engineer’s hall at graduation, but got too difficult to make any money the way I was pissing, I mean investing it. Moved to Crowley and worked tugs with them and then ATBS with other companies for years. Came ashore to work with ABS for 10 years and now with 17 years as an insurance guy. Energy is our primary focus, and that also includes onshore stuff; but spend a lot of time with offshore claims and some maritime consulting. . . . Don’t know that I would survive in a “normal” office situation. . . .
[QUOTE=Swampfox;146246]I’ve really enjoyed this thread reading the humble beginnings of everyone.[/QUOTE]
Same here. It is interesting to read of these beginnings and then to think about how far so many have come since.
Driving around jumbo petroleum barges with powerful tugs, running state of the art engine rooms, operating next generation tractor tugs, offshore support and modern drilling ships or piloting ocean going vessels is impressive and they should be quite proud of their achievements.