The only reason a company like Bouchard can exist is that there are far far too many desperate American officers competing for far too few jobs.
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Morty pays well and that talks to some folks. I’ll take a little less in the day rate dept when I can get good benefits for medical and retirement. Travel is a big deal too. I know they used to pay extra for travel but it was on you to work out the details with your relief. The office didn’t want to hear a word of it. Most guys I’ve met at Bouchard used it as a stepping stone to something better or a place to go if they got laid off or something. That would be my last ditch place if I needed to work before putting my license in continuity and going ashore…
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I truly hope Bouchard goes out of business forever. I never worked for them and I never will. I’d go back driving trucks before that. I heard plenty of horror stories about this outfit so, they’re reaping what they sown.
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I so agree with you man.
I believe this is a time old tradition nearly every Maritime school in maritime safety advisor uses Bouchard transportation as a example of how not to conduct business and how not to conduct safety procedures or should I say how not to ignore safety hazards
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This comment speaks volumes to the reputation of this company as someone else who has not been employed through bizarre transportation I can honestly say the horror story is are enough to steer any intelligent person away from any possibility of losing their life or limb in a situation that is a 100% preventable and unfortunately not Relaid by fellow workers due to fear of loss of employment or worse blackballed from the industry.
What’s the old saying
Rumors that Bouchard is closing down, they will restructure and be fine. People will still work there, because they have jobs, and any money is good money, when it has to do with your family. THey are too big to fail.
Whether Bouchard shuts down or not the equipment is good and it will be bought as a whole or pieced out and people will have work. It’s a private company so we will never know the whole story. Restructuring would imply that they are filing bankruptcy but from what I understand it was a sale or management deal…
Just heard something about one of the big units in the gulf being seized?? Anyone know anything?
I’ve seen a lot of speculation in here but no one has claimed to be from Bouchard and not have been paid. No one has told us how their boat was arrested or siezed, although with Bouchards history of going after whistleblowers we may be hard pressed to get one. I can say first hand that at least 2 boats are still doing their contract runs in the Northeast.
I talked to the Federal Pilots on the Miss River a day or so ago and they said they haven’t been moving much down here. The Ralph E. Bouchard has been sitting at Belle Chase Anchorage since the 23rd of May.
If you look online(linkedin & indeed) recent job postings are still coming up for high level shore side positions. Ironically enough one of them being VP of HSQE.
Going by their safety record it’s a surprise that’s a department there.
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Looks like they are looking for a sacrificial lamb! Who would apply for that position???
I can confirm that they lost their ABS DOC certification on Tuesday of this week. Since sub m isn’t in full force they can technically trade domestic but international is off the books. As far as pay and what not I have no idea
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SubM is in full force. All vessels are expected to be in full compliance even if not yet issued a COI.
Additionally, ISM is not a SubM requirement but is only one of the available SMS options to demonstrate compliance for TSMS option vessels/companies. There is not any SMS requirement for USCG Option vessels.
Well, whatever the case, they are definitely still sailing and loading cargo, as of yesterday…
I think they are just having significant vetting issues right now that is limiting their business. I don’t think they plan on closing shop. At least that is the commercial buzz I am hearing.
Wish I could post things on here without being hunt down.