What’s the real skinny on Bouchard? I’m a 1600 mate. I’ve got an offer to work on deck for a hitch to get get my foot in the door and they are saying I’ll be bumped to mate after. Generally, I’d keep moving but with the way the market is I’m tempted to take this. I’ve heard horror stories and wanted to know just how true or not, that they are., I know how dramatic seaman can be. Thanks
I talked Friday, to an old shipmate who has been there over a year and he said he hasn’t had any problems at all.
thanks-I figured it was probably more bark than bite.
Didn’t they just lay off a bunch of new mates back in January? If they’re saying you’ll work on deck for a hitch then go straight to the wheelhouse then I’d get used to sweeping, mopping, and cooking.
[QUOTE=DirtyRodriguez;166449]What’s the real skinny on Bouchard? I’m a 1600 mate. I’ve got an offer to work on deck for a hitch to get get my foot in the door and they are saying I’ll be bumped to mate after. Generally, I’d keep moving but with the way the market is I’m tempted to take this. I’ve heard horror stories and wanted to know just how true or not, that they are., I know how dramatic seaman can be. Thanks[/QUOTE]
That may be a great opportunity, or just a deckhand job than may eventually turn into mate. At any company, personnel is mostly interested in the filling the current needs (in this case for a deckhand). They will promise anything to get someone on the boat. Most personnel types do not plan ahead.
The best way to find out if they are serious is to say: Ok, I accept your offer for a position as a mate, and its ok with me if you want me to do one hitch as a deckhand, so long as as I am starting at mate’s pay. When a decent company is hiring a mate, they don’t mind paying him mate’s pay. If they only want to pay you as a deckhand, then they are only hiring you as a deckhand.
[QUOTE=DirtyRodriguez;166452]thanks-I figured it was probably more bark than bite.[/QUOTE]
I wouldn’t say that. The company may have changed recently but everything you’ve heard at least was 100% true. (And not too long ago either.)
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[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;166453]If they’re saying you’ll work on deck for a hitch then go straight to the wheelhouse then I’d get used to sweeping, mopping, and cooking.[/QUOTE]
My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t buy that line from any company, let alone Bouchard. If you’re a Mate with no barge pushing experience I’d go for it but expect to be on deck a while. Use it as a chance to train in the wheelhouse so you can go to a better company as mate later.
By the way, do you have any towing experience? Do you have Mate of Towing or a TOAR?
What changed at Bouchard? Why is it better recently?
He’s fired most of the office staff.
Yes. 2 years wire boat experience and 2 years on ATB’s as mate. Mate of towing upon Oceans.
[QUOTE=DirtyRodriguez;166469]Yes. 2 years wire boat experience and 2 years on ATB’s as mate. Mate of towing upon Oceans.[/QUOTE]
With that kind of experience I’d be leery of the “do one hitch on deck” line, especially from Bouchard. If their wording was “do a hitch as an AB while the master evaluates your boat handling abilities on your off watch” that would be different. If you need the job, take the AB spot until they promote you or you find a Mate job elsewhere.
Why do you consider this a step up? Are you out of work? Looking to get out of the oilfield before you’re out of work?
You won’t be a mate after one hitch. Recency in the northeast?
They laid off/fired all the training Mates that were extra guys in January or February. No idea why but some of the guys who were training did get promoted. They probably got rid of those training guys because they hired a few fully qualified guys .
I wouldn’t hesitate to go there if I was looking for a tug/barge job. Their equipment is overall pretty good. Where else you going to go? People get fired but not like the old wives tales you frequently hear.
Most of us would fire people for the reasons many Bouchard people have been fired for. Not all but most are things other companies could fire people for and just choose not to.
[QUOTE=z-drive;166473]You won’t be a mate after one hitch. Recency in the northeast?[/QUOTE]
Good point. He didn’t say where he had his tug experience but when I hear ATB I immediately think the Northeast.
You don’t necessarily need recency as a new 2/M anyway, the chief or captain will more than likely be doing the piloting through waters where recency would be needed
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;166478]You don’t necessarily need recency as a new 2/M anyway, the chief or captain will more than likely be doing the piloting through waters where recency would be needed[/QUOTE]
That’s assuming Bouchard runs with a 2M. I got the impression that that’s basically what everyone was calling the “training mates” that were all fired 8 months ago. If you’re running a two watch boat the mate needs recency.
Bouchard doesn’t really do the 2nd mate thing that way. If they do its strictly to be legal on a long trip or to satisfy the customer, like Reinauer by having 2 licensed people on watch in pilotage water.
Alot of “2nd mates” at reinauer dont even have a license. There just tankerman who only do ballast and maintenance on the barge.
yes, which is why I don’t agree with calling them 2nd mates, or calling a deckhand with a license a mate either. I license second mates are the biggest joke second to a barge captain.
They should get rid of the 2nd mate position and but another deckhand on the boat.
The way I heard it told all those mates they let go were being called “third mates” but you know how the grapevine goes 'round these parts…
I work there. It’s hard to believe you will be an AB for one hitch. You could somehow get promoted ahead of all the other guys waiting. Unlikely. Id agree with the other guys, be prepared to be a swabby for a while. Oh yea and working28/14.