[QUOTE=tugsailor;101991]I don’t believe that there is any shortage of ABs. No, not at all. I don’t believe that companies are actually paying over $350 for an AB either (maybe they are paying $450 for a guy with a Master 1600 tons license, and having him sail as an AB).
However, it could be that companies who don’t recruit, don’t advertise outside the bayou, don’t bother to read resumes, don’t reply to emails, don’t return phone calls, and just wait for prospective ABs to travel a thousand miles at their own expense to knock on doors — are starting to find that there are not as many guys walking through the door.
Maybe companies are rejecting too many applicants with excessive physicals.
Maybe the bayou boat companies are going to have to start using normal HR recruiting practices, like other companies in the US do, but there is no shortage of ABs.[/QUOTE]
Hit the nail on the head there. Thats what I think is going on, from my ivory “tower” (upper wheelhouse perhaps?) in the NE at least. You pay an unlicensed too much…you get problems. A fair competeteive wage, absolutely. But $450 a day to deck…give me a break. AND SIGN ME UP! No responsibility and that money, I’d love it.
I highest AB verified pay that I know of in the GoM is Harvey Gulf at $385.00 a day. AB pay at ECO $300 a day. AB’s are a dime a dozen down here. No one wants to work at Harvey so they are offering more to try and crew their new builds.
[QUOTE=ElCapitan;102001]I highest AB verified pay that I know of in the GoM is Harvey Gulf at $385.00 a day. AB pay at ECO $300 a day. AB’s are a dime a dozen down here. No one wants to work at Harvey so they are offering more to try and crew their new builds.[/QUOTE]
What’s the deal with Harvey Gulf? I have heard lots of people that refuse to work there but haven’t elaborated very much. Seem to have nice boats and picking off contracts from Chouest with Shell when they can. I know Shane Guidry (CEO) is a complete dick but the average employee would never interact with him anyway, sure there are valid reasons.
I don’t know if you call it lazy or just plain stupid. I have had AB’s tell me that the class is not available when I get off or I can’t afford it. No way in heck is a $500 class gonna stop me from making 30K more a year. I’m going to flectchers or Sea School to take the class and pay for it out of my own pocket. I was able to take 3 classes in my two week off period. BMR, Medicare Provider and Flashing lights. Two were in Mobile and one in La. I paid for two and Company paid for one. Over my one year journey to the Wheelhouse I paid for 3 of the courses myself and the company offered the others while I was off.
That year sucked for being at home and the significant other complained but after a year of hell she’s happy with what I’m able to provide now. You know the old saying “When momma is happy everyone is happy.” LOL!!!
As far as the AB pay talk. Quality AB’s are hard to find. Not saying all the $300 - $400 Ab are quality but some of the companies require 3 ab’s a watch on mudd boats for rigging. That can add up pretty quick on how many AB’s the company needs and if they can pass the physical. I’m glad I have never been one of those that needed medication. The day I was hired at ECO Ms. Laverne said we need 10 ab’s by the end of the week, we will hire you if you can pass the Physical. I was hired by 1400. You can’t hire crappy AB’s and Qmeds if you expect them to keep your boat up. I’m talking about the small things that keep the boat running. No company is gonna put up with paying 40K for a boat that is constantly on down time to fix stuff because your AB’s and QMED gun decked it and you don’t find out until it breaks.
Sometimes it seems that everyone thinks only the wheelhouse deserves the big money, I just don’t think that way even though I’m in the wheelhouse. The guys under me are the ones that make me look good and keep me out of trouble. No way in heck can I keep up with everything on 300’ boat by myself. You have to train, explain what is expected and direct yea but you also have to have them AB’s that have initiative that are self starters and the ones with common sense that can point things out to you that you my miss. Those guys are worth EVERY PENNY of $400 a day to me and the company when the boats are making what they are making.
If the boats day rate is 20K then pay cuts across the board should be expected. The day will come in the next 10 years when this happens and I hope that I’m around to hear all the folks being paid 200K a year now talk about how they can’t make it on 120K. Get back to what Jemplayer was saying about the AB not being able to pay for a school but has 3k worth of rims and tires on their car.
[QUOTE=Saltine;102005]What’s the deal with Harvey Gulf? I have heard lots of people that refuse to work there but haven’t elaborated very much. Seem to have nice boats and picking off contracts from Chouest with Shell when they can. I know Shane Guidry (CEO) is a complete dick but the average employee would never interact with him anyway, sure there are valid reasons.[/QUOTE]
We have a 1600t Master that just came to our boat from Harvey. The pay was more at Harvey but Crew changes and them not providing what they promised him made him leave.
I don’t believe that there is any shortage of ABs. No, not at all. I don’t believe that companies are actually paying over $350 for an AB either (maybe they are paying $450 for a guy with a Master 1600 tons license, and having him sail as an AB).
However, it could be that companies who don’t recruit, don’t advertise outside the bayou, don’t bother to read resumes, don’t reply to emails, don’t return phone calls, and just wait for prospective ABs to travel a thousand miles at their own expense to knock on doors — are starting to find that there are not as many guys walking through the door.
Maybe companies are rejecting too many applicants with excessive physicals.
Maybe the bayou boat companies are going to have to start using normal HR recruiting practices, like other companies in the US do, but there is no shortage of ABs.[/QUOTE]
Don’t get all worked up. I didn’t believe the guy neither, but since this was all about the latest rumor news, I figured I would have a little fun.
Murph, you clearly sailed as AB for a while. That’s why you see the value in a good AB. Those that sailed as an AB for a hot minute and moved to mate/master or never sailed as AB are always the quickest to talk shit and fuck with the Deckhand. I am worth every bit of $400.00 on the deck of a wire boat and I challenge any fat cat wheelhouse tough guy to prove me wrong. Not all ABs are created equal…and I have never worked in the Gulf or on a mud boat, however, the challenge stands.
I think like anything there is value in time and money spent in a higher position. I’ve had AB’s worth their weight in gold and some not worth their weight in salt. I worked as a 1600 ton master for below 350 a day for many years in the past decade. Of course there is some resistance to hearing that an AB makes more than that now but times are changing. We all want the high pay.
In the end if I’m not making the most I can that is my fault and if someone else is making more, that is their triumph.
Companies don’t judge worth the same way we do. It is simply the difficulty of filling your position to reach legal manning requirements that determines your worth to the office. We look at the contribution made as an employee/crewmember.
The AB OSV ticket has limited the pay for AB’s and will continue to do so. They can take a fresh OS and make “paper” AB in less than 6 months so there will never be a long term shortage of AB’s. If they could do the same with officers, we would not be seeing the day rates we are now.
I know this has been discussed, and I am risking a pointy-stick assault, but whatever, since we are[I][B] beating a dead horse[/B][/I] what is the deal with Harvey these day? So what if it was discussed before, there have been more newbuilds, and with the money being paid people may have moved around.
Whats the deal there… the tug division vs OSV, assume they pay different? Pros/cons? Mostly 28/14 but I have read on here, through the SEARCH FUNCTION, that some guys work equal time but it depends on your relief etc. Yes joe’boss gets lots of sh!t on here but the boats seem nice and new, pay seems alright, whats the problem there? Messed up crewchanges, crappy people afloat/ashore, poor benfits? Enlighten me!
[QUOTE=kfj;102214]I’m also curious. Why can’t Harvey keep deckhands?[/QUOTE] Maybe they be treated like garbage? I also wonder if when they bought BEEMAR, the BEEMAR people bolted.
No matter how “nice” the vessels are, if you are being treated bad, it makes no difference.
[QUOTE=Doodlebug;102233]Maybe they be treated like garbage? I also wonder if when they bought BEEMAR, the BEEMAR people bolted.
No matter how “nice” the vessels are, if you are being treated bad, it makes no difference.[/QUOTE]
I agree, my comments were based off of their growth over the last several years alone. They have a really good newbuild program underway, purchased the BEEMAR fleet, had some very nice vessels already in service and were working for some big customers that won’t just let anyone come on the payroll. It would just seem to get to that point they would have to be doing things right but it seems that may not be the case (as far as treating their offshore employees).
That would be across the board meaning everyone. Last year officers got 2 raises and our deck got a very small raise. It only makes sense because CHOUEST is behind in pay with 48 new builds planned. Supply and demand. If you do not keep the people you have trained then you continue to waste time and money. It’s the smart thing to do.
Murph, you clearly sailed as AB for a while. That’s why you see the value in a good AB. Those that sailed as an AB for a hot minute and moved to mate/master or never sailed as AB are always the quickest to talk shit and fuck with the Deckhand. I am worth every bit of $400.00 on the deck of a wire boat and I challenge any fat cat wheelhouse tough guy to prove me wrong. Not all ABs are created equal…and I have never worked in the Gulf or on a mud boat, however, the challenge stands.[/QUOTE]
Not all officers that didn’t work on deck much fail to appreciate good deckhands. I fully appreciate the value of the good deckhands simply by virtue of having had many bad ones.
The constant pay increases sound great, dont get me wrong, im on the fence myself waiting patiently. But theres gotta be a catch somewhere, something. I know ive talked to a few of you guys, and the advice is greatly appreciated, but now im starting to feel like a dumb ass working 16/12 for 150-200 a day less, paying my own way thru classes and licenses, maybe its just me.
