I have had less than stellar examples, of what a good Mate should be…Up until recently anyway…
I was wondering what your thoughts are…I have often heard, a good Mate makes it look easy but what do you, yourselves look for in a mate?
Thank you in advance…
Someone who can run the boat & make decisions without endangering the boat or crew & let me sleep easy @ night.
[QUOTE=Tugted;47393]Someone who can run the boat & make decisions without endangering the boat or crew & let me sleep easy @ night.[/QUOTE]
Best compliment I’ve received. The Captain I currently work with was asked by the Port Captain to give him an evaluation of my performance. He objected to the question because I had only been working with him a few weeks. He told the Port Captain he hadn’t worked with me long enough to give him a review, but he said when I go to bed, I go to bed.
I am not a good mate, not yet. Too green, still trying to fill in the holes from my experience with the mates I’ve worked with. So I am very interested in the feedback to Shellback’s question.
Shows up early, gets the deck ready on the tug, and cares about his job and is just not there only for the pay check.
On the technical side I would say a good mate has situational awareness, a better mate can anticipate what needs to be done. This would include such things as knowing the weather forecast, the tides, loading / discharging rates and so forth.
On the non-technical side two things are important, number one is trust, and secondly respect.
K.C.
A truly good Mate is most likely not going to be a Mate for long.
I have had the pleasure of having a couple excellent Mates, but I have found the way to ‘bring a Mate along’ is to encourage them to take on more and more, in addition to the ‘Mate’ job. Some Mates will not rise to the challenge. My observation is that the Mates who KNOW their limits are worth more as a dependable, if un remarkable Mate. However, a Mate who goes the extra mile and just expects a cup of coffee as a reward is not just a Godsend but a welcome, trusted addition to my crew.
On the ‘non technical’ side (sorry KC I had to steal that!) I really appreciate knowing that I won’t feel the Mates boot tracks on my back, as he selfpromotes himself at my expense.
[QUOTE=Shellback;47392]I have had less than stellar examples, of what a good Mate should be…Up until recently anyway…
I was wondering what your thoughts are…I have often heard, a good Mate makes it look easy but what do you, yourselves look for in a mate?
Thank you in advance…[/QUOTE]
Any person that does their job, and is good at it, regardless of what title they may have, is the only requirement. Demeanor has always been the defining asset for most that become very successful - it’s not only doing the job, but having those around you do theirs. Management styles usually start to differentiate each person as they progress toward Master and Chief Engineer. A good Mate develops these skills while generating respect, not resentment from subordinates. I have always said that you can judge a man best by his children, and an officer best by his subordinates.
[QUOTE=anchorman;47407]I have always said that you can judge a man best by his children, and an officer best by his subordinates.[/QUOTE]
That doesn’t include teenagers does it!? Learn your bosses jobs and when you’re ready start doing their jobs for them…
A good mate leaves a mint on my pillow.
I’ve been a Mate now for some years now and it has been a work in progress. It takes time to become a truly effective leader/supervisor I feel that my job is to make the Captain’s job easier. That means taking care of the routine and handling the unforeseen. And when in doubt “CALL THE CAPTAIN”.
Thanks for the responses …It helps to hear what you guys have to say…There is no substitute for experience…Thank you all
A really good mate is just an under-paid captain.