Jill,
Where would that passenger vessel originate from? Where is its boarding location?
Ashley, you seemed to be focused on one factor here, gender. Another thing that you might consider is the effects of the economic downturn. I work on Tugs in the Northeast and the best description I can give to the current situation up here is that itâs in convulsions. The company I work for normally employs between 70 and 90 deckhands. Currently we have between 20 and 25, and not all of those are working consistently.
As to the question of gender. I have worked with a handful of females over the past 6 years and have found that what they lack in brawn the make up for in brains and motivation. While not always the case, itâs not always the case that a male can do the job physically either.
As far as getting Employers to get the same idea? Keep beating their door down, eventually theyâre going to give you a chance just to get you off their back!
Cal,
Itâs all based on gender because I wouldnât want to get into a job/career and have to âwatch my back,â and work at a job where there will be no promotion, no matter how much I try to advance, because of it being prodominately male.
As far as the economy, TrueâŚIâm aware they laid off a lot of people. Most of my family & friends have been laid off. But, they turn around and hire younger/inexperienced ppl so the pay rate that is shelled out is not AS high.
[quote=Ashley;16092]:eek: But, Iâm not going to be anyoneâs flunky just to get aboard something.
And, I currently make close to 40K right now. Iâm looking for something that would suit me either making THAT, or more.
Any suggestions?[/quote]
Ashley,
I took the time to read all your posts on this board.
you might want to consider thisâŚif someone does hire you and put you aboard it will at the âentry levelââŚthat means as ordinary seaman which Iâm afraid you might consider a âflunkyâ positionâŚI usually tell my âgreen handsâ that they must learn to âcrawlâ before they âwalkâ and learn to âwalkâ before they can ârunââŚthis a dangerous industry we work in and it is best not to
take any âfast track shortcutsââŚyou wonât be stepping off the dock onto the vessel and steering the boat anytime soon.
also you might want to âcrunch the numbersââŚI donât know what an OS currently makesâŚmaybe someone can speak up on thatâŚtypicaly in the GoM 242 days aboard per year-times ???.?? per day= ???.??..yes you will be spending 2/3 of your life aboard the vessel and I donât think you will be making much more income than your making now.
BTWâŚan OS rated cook typically makes more than just an OS deckhand.
if you decide to pursue this you will need TWIC, MMC, and BST to be seriously consideredâŚfigure about $1k out of pocket??
donât mean to sound so discouraging but, this work/life is not for everyone.
BEST OF LUCK IN ALL YOU ENDEAVOR!!
[quote=Ashley;16092]:eek: Ok, guysâŚIâm not a weak personâneither mentally nor physically.
[B]So no need to say/type it right ?[/B]
[B][/B]
Sometimes itâs just hard going after something when itâs not commonly sought after by the masses.
[B]masses ? I would think it would be harder because, well âŚitâs the âmassesâ lol[/B]
I donât need âgrab yourself by the boot-strapsâ pep talks. I do appreciate everyoneâs opinions on this issueâI have no one else to ask.
[B]âŚBut your typing speaks itâŚ[/B]
Are there any Louisiana women on here? Besides me? LOL
Iâm VERY close by Morgan City, and the maritime industry has always fascinated me. I really wish that these jobs would be more publicized than they are. Unfortunately, they arenât. Well, not to me anyway.
[B]By the time you get done with this site today, you could already be down at the docks cleaning out a freezer hold. ( I usually got $ 2 - 400 for a few hours work ) That may not be a career goal, ahemâŚitâs just an example.:rolleyes:[/B]
[B][/B]
[B]Not being mean here, but the whole âworking outâ (from a previous comment) thing to stay in shape is not something that ever occured to me. Chipping, painting, and cleaning etc. is something that I enjoyed, every boat I was on looked and ran great (and there is nothing degrading or demeaning about that!), and I got paid for it. ( oh and your time off is not [I][U]working out[/U][/I] but [U][I]forcing[/I][/U] down ice cold be_rs 
)[/B]
Before I signed onto Gcaptian, a Cpt that frequents between hitches in Lafayette, La., made it seem as though it wouldnât be âhard.â But, Iâm not going to be anyoneâs flunky just to get aboard something.
[B]oh, stop it. 
[/B]
And, I currently make close to 40K right now. Iâm looking for something that would suit me either making THAT, or more.
Any suggestions?[/quote]
[B]If your ever in Tampa, I could show you around plenty of the âindustryâ, ie: shipyards, commercial fishing, tugs, barges, shipping, stevedoring etc. We have a lot of things comming in and out of the port. [/B]
[B][/B]
[B]Try calling your local port industries also, or pm me and when I get time I might be able to come up with something.[/B]
Nauticart,
It would be nice to have the âtourâ youâre offering. I have friends in Tampa at the base out there. So, whenever I plan a trip, I will definitely let you know in advance. I wonât have the time to do it before I go back to work, though. 
Unless, something changes.
Thank you for mentioning that to me, thatâs very nice of you.
Though, you had to dissect everything I wrote, before you actually got to the main âhelpâ portion of what you were presenting. 
Itâs okay though, I take it all with a smile. LOL
Seadawg,
Very enlightening.
I like the way you present information. For instance, you made it very clear about having to âcrawl before you walk.â I meanâŚthat applies to everything, essentially, in lifeâthough, there are opportunities that send you straight into the white-collar, more skill-advanced jobs that are higher paying. I guess the other people make it all seem very glamorous (???).
Most people think that Iâm crazy to even consider this anyway.
Thanx, SeaDawg
[QUOTE=Ashley;16093]Jill,
Where would that passenger vessel originate from? Where is its boarding location?[/QUOTE]
Ashley, there are small passenger vessels all over the country. Google, or go to Passenger Vessel Association for a list of members.
Caveat: do NOT get into that side of the industry if you are only in it for the money.
[quote=Ashley;16106]Cal,
Itâs all based on gender because I wouldnât want to get into a job/career and have to âwatch my back,â[/quote]
If the only hurdle you see is your gender, then the problem is yours, not potential employers. If that is the attitude you portray, and from your posts here it is, if an employer senses that then theyâre going to get you out the door as quickly and gingerly as they can because they can smell a discrimination lawsuit miles away.
If you donât think this job/career is one in which you need to âwatch your backâ then you have delusions of grandeur and I would suggest talking more with some of your family members that have been laid off. Itâs an industry full of men that are worse than the two old women sitting on the front porch gossiping about the neighbors wife. âSea storiesâ are abundant and if you arenât the one telling the tale, you are frequently the subject of the tale.
The niche of the industry that I work in is inherently dangerous, as are all seafaring endeavors, and while I have people that watch my back, responsibility for oneâs safety and well being primarily rests with that individual. If you think there is a lack of petty backstabbing going on or that it isnât affected by gender, race, background, or sexual preference then you are sadly mistaken. If thatâs not something you can handle, then I would suggest you choose a different job/career because such issues are amplified working on a boat. You donât go home every night, you live it all day every day.
In response to seadawgâs post. As Iâve heard it since I began in this industry six years ago, the Gulf pays more than the Rivers, East Coast pays more than the Gulf, and West Coast pays more than the East Coast. Iâve had a few confirmations of this, but canât swear that the generalization is true. I also think that the boom in the Gulf in recent years closed the gap with the East Coast significantly, I saw a few examples where the Gulf was paying more.
That aside, the Company I work for pays offshore O/S deckhands $245/day ($44,100/year), harbor tug deckhands make less. Equal time is the schedule standard in NY harbor. There are some benefit differences and the pay rates vary accordingly. For the most part, theyâre all within a few dollars of each other with compensation.
Of the 20 to 25 deckhands still employed by the company I work for, I am only aware of 1 O/S still working. His schedule and pay have been cut and he is no longer working on his regular boat.
Cal, (some of this is for you, other is generalizations because I feel that there is [B]more criticism than advice, now[/B].)
Have skin that of an alligator? to go aboard the ships. right? I get what youâre saying.
As far as the discriminatory lawsuitsâthat is absurd from my P.O.V.
And for men to comment making it seem like there is NO worry about certain things (in relation to gender) is even MORE ridiculous. Why donât you send your daughters out into it, then??/? rhetoric
Iâm a very friendly person, by nature. Being raised in the south with our cultured demeanor piles onto that. I donât think that i would have any problems with anyone, per ce. But, as some other members have wrote, you never know when there is a NUT on the ship that may think you are making advances, when you are only just trying to get along, and carry a good vibe in your work environment.
A custodian at the place I used to work for thought I was âinterestedâ in him just because I made small-talk. I make small-talk with everyone! No matter the race/age/socio-economic class/gender/religionâETC!!! Now, if a guy did do something that would provoke a matter (THEN ,AND ONLY THEN) could I see the cause for any type of reporting.
Generally, i try to stay clear of anything that leads to confrontations. But as i mentioned, sometimes the person can be too forceful. In the event you do not treat him/her ( in their mind) the way they intend for it, he/she may stop being of aid to you in doing what HE/SHE was set to do (their job) in the first place.
That has AlreadY happened, and i donât stand for it. So, unless what YOU think effective communication doesnât work on a person, thenâŚyes, you seek a greater help to work things out, and find a solution.
I digress.
But, stop all of this lawsuit talk. That is so silly, and I donât like a person discrediting me for boundaries I want to seek that is unchartered territory for ME. i donât like a question out of concern to be used as a âbashingâ towards me. IN THE EVENT YOU DO NOT LIKE MY RESPONSES, JUST DONâT RESPOND. Itâs very simple. Iâm not trying to challenge anyone on here. [B]Moreso, itâs disgusting for a man to challenge my concerns and tell me Iâm out for bad intentions[/B]âSo, you think that makes me feel more safe? To already know your mindset towards me is that of a trouble-maker? Oh yeah, you proved to be a very professional/extradordinary gentleman.
iâm in it for the work, the scenery, and the comradery that most people talk about, having worked in this industry.
Itâs people like YOU that do keep most of these jobs a homogeneous environment. (general to ANYONE that has a - mindset toward a female coming aboard a ship or any other job that may not have too many women IN it).
Ashley,
what Cal described is fundamentally validâŚonce again that crap is best left on the dockâŚdisrupt the routine or âcultureâ of the vessel Iâm on and you may find yourself back on the dock with the rest of the refuseâŚwhen presented to management correctly they are pretty quick to reactâŚdoesnât matter WHAT you are!!
**BTWâŚin the finality of things we are all âWHATSâ!!
My apologies Ashley, it was not my intent to offend you. Also understand that some of the insult you took, was how you perceived what I wrote.
Expressing a concern over gender and being aware of the obstacles you might face is healthy. Worrying over it is not.
My comment about an employer getting you out the door quickly and gingerly IS NOT an evaluation of you or a perception on my part that you would initiate a lawsuit. By your words, âItâs all based on genderâ and the perceptions I get from having read your posts, if an employer obtained the same perception, theyâll take action, they wonât hire you, theyâll avoid the potential. While I donât know you, I do know employers and they are very aware of lawsuits and will take extraordinary measures avoid them. Even if their perceptions are completely wrong. You perceived my evaluation and knowledge of employers as an evaluation of you, Iâm sorry you perceived that incorrectly.
Might I suggest that you utilize the effective communication you refer to before making an emotional response to a perceived insult. It will save you a lot of grief later in life.
[B]Keep smiling. :-)[/B]
[B]To those who have been very helpful, thank you very much.[/B]
[B]To those that like to create net-controversy over a mere posting for information, you need to invest your time in doing something better. That way you wonât waste my time, or your own.[/B]
You steadily attack me, mentioning that I am getting too emotional (??). Weird. Everyone has a right to defend themselves. If defending myself is me being âtoo emotionalâ (lol), wellâŚso be it, but Iâll stand for what I believe is true to ME until my last breath. Men usually use the woman being âemotionalâ when he feels challenged. Itâs perfectly normal. You arenât used to my type. We exist. LOL
You ask why I took it personally? UmmmmâŚthatâs VERY ODD. This is MY posting. So, unless you mention it to be generalized, as I HAVE OFF & ON ON MY DIFFERENT RESPONSES, then yesâŚyour target is yours truly.
You are probably one of those guys that give the women aboard hard times, just for the hell of it. Itâs people like YOU, who should not get hired, becauseâŚyouâre vile for the environment. Your employer should be AWARE of YOU, because having a man like you aboard is ExactlY what would spark lawsuits. You donât seem to know your place. LOL Place? Anywhere where you are taking care of YOU and leaving others alone that do not want ANY assistance from YOU.
AS I SAID, KEEP THE CRITICISM TO YOURSELF. For whatever reason that you do not have SELF-CONTROLâthatâs quite alright. You arenât getting rid of me. LOL
I may add humor and poke every now-and-then when I relate a messageâthatâs just my way. When I write to someone, I address them with a greeting. If there are no greetingsâitâs probably me generalizing over EVERY posting, in a sense.
I donât have any intentions of making anyoneâs blood boil. Some of you seem to thrive on that, though.
At any rate, it was great hearing from those of you who replied.
I hope those of you who felt threatened by such a post thread, have now regrouped and blew off steam.
Iâm not on here as a secret agent (from reading some postsâit seemed like it was wayyyyyy too manuscript). I noticed for the most part, most posters seem to give me the polished/policy of everything being so respectable. That didnt make any sense to me, because there are different personalities in EVERY job industryâand not everyone is a team-player or a hard worker. OrâŚcivil.
I thought Iâd compare what I know from guys HERE, to a general audience and see what I would be up against. I mean, I already know from the guys that do work on boats, they wouldnât suggest that I do itâfor obvious reasons. I wanted to have a true insight, without any biases.
So far, it seemed there was only 1 guyâs opinion that mirrored the ones here.
Hi Ashley,
You may have to go places you donât want to go, do dangerous and/or dirty work you prefer not to do, live with repulsive strange people in confined spaces for long periods :eek:, eat bad cooking unless your cooking it yourself, make less money than you are making now :mad: and miss all that is dear to you back home. But if it is what you want then you are going to have to literally get your feet wet. Every mariner needs sea time to advance so you have to start somewhere. Find a boat and go to work on the deck or in the engine room. Engine room personnel are in much more demand than deck dept. You are going to be entry level on deck (OS), engine room (wiper). On smaller vessels you may be required to do both but the object is to get sea time. Get a letter from every boat company you work for. It is the key to advancement. You are going to have to spend some money up front to get the credentials you need even for entry level. Get your MMD, STCW (not required if working inland waters), TWIC and get going.You are in LA so you are surrounded by boats/companies. Find the largest one that will hire you and get on it. You can also search for companies with government contracts (they are required to hire minorities) and use it to your advantage. Also you can look into MSC here http://www.msc.navy.mil/ . They have alot of women employed on those ships. I have met several who worked their way up to captain and some were my instructors who I respect very much. I know youâve mentioned in previous post your desire to stay in LA and I only mention MSC because the opportunity is there to get the training/credentials you need to be taken seriously as a female mariner.
Another option would be to take diesel mechanics courses at local colleges which would make you more desirable in the engine room with any local boat company.
I wish you the best. 
10 Talents,
Thank you for coming by and responding to my post. This is perfect!
[B]You have been the most informative.[/B]
Now, Im just waiting for OS to get back from his ship, to help me further things along. Itâs always a plus to make genuine friends whoâll direct you in the right direction.
I consider you one of them.
Best Regards-ALWAYS,
Ashley
Everyone has a right to offend themselves.
um,âŚwhat?
If offending myself is me being âtoo emotionalâ (lol), wellâŚso be it,
wad she say?
Steve,
LOL!!! Thank you for the proof-reading.