Ken,
What are you now? I’m thinking an upgrade may be necessary. sigh
Well I was flirting with you, you had said you LOVE ordinaryseaman,
currently 100 master 200 mate, working on my mate osv and third mate unlimited at this time, currently working as an AB in louisiana, looking to get an 1600 master 2nd mate unlimited license, might stop there or go further, not sure at this time, but one thing is for sure, the next year is work, school, and very little play time
:D:D:D:D
Ken,
I was doing the same unto you. LOL
I mentioned I needed an upgrade, hence you WERE an OS once.
aawwwwww
u r 2 sweet
:D:D
Ashley, I have worked with several highly gifted ladies who hold masters licenses.
GO FOR IT!
Capt Dave
Cpt. Dave,
Where are you working out of?
Ty for the message, too.
[quote=Ashley;17714]Ken,
What are you now? I’m thinking an upgrade may be necessary. sigh[/quote]
An upgrade is always necessary in everything you do. A particular job, position, rating, social standing, can stagnate and become an actual burden if a person does not look to upgrading to keep from stagnating…
So Ashely were do you stand on getting your TWIC, MMD, etc.?
Also you need to look into getting your Safe Gulf if you plan to work in the gulf. Some companies will give it to you when you first get on with them, other don’t. But it’s just another one of those things that helps you stand out.
If anything get your TWIC and Safe Gulf and start beating on doors of the small boat companies.
In the beginning you will most likely have to take a pay cut, but you sometimes have to make a sacrifice in the begging to get what we want in the end.
I’m hearing a lot of talk but no real plan as to how you are going to go about getting what you want.
Jem,
I DO have a degree, and I’m using it right now (so, I’m not sitting at home unemployed); however, this is another avenue of opportunity I would like to partake in.
Right now, I do live quite a distance from Morgan City. I’m originally from Iberia Parish, which is right next to MC.
While I’m on here, learning from others–taking advice & suggestions, I am trying to determine if I ought to: 1) get my masters into what I’m currently using 2) get it in something oilfield/offshore/maritime, by-passing the less-liked jobs or 3) start from scratch as though this is the ONLY choice that I have in life.
[B]FROM WHAT MOST WOULD SAY[/B], me doing #3 would be a DEMOTION.
I’m too good just to remain right where I am without progressing myself to increasing my opportunities in a wid[U]er[/U] range of jobs that I can fulfill the duties of MUCH better than the people who currently attempt to.
More and more people are telling me that it is a very boring job to be out at sea, that it gets REALLY trying. So, it’s 70/30. 70 would rather have a different job if they could, but they are in too deep & think the job they currently hold was the ‘last port in the storm.’
Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about that. This is NOT my last port.
Hopefully I will have my act together soon, and have more of an outline of using my time wisely during the summer to handle my business. A lot of people on here have been very resourceful to me, then again, a lot have just said things to put on a [I]cosmetic front.[/I]
I’ve read a lot of these very same folk’s responses in OTHER threads, and what they say in this 1 in comparison to the other is ALL opposite. I find that VERRRRRRRY peculiar.
Anyway, if I get more of a formal education…I won’t HAVE to start from the bottom of the barrel. Why start at the bottom when it isn’t necessary? Everyone chooses the channels of opportunity he/she wants. A cpt here started as a OS and became cpt. in 5yrs.
The industry started with people mainly without formal education (at least here), so they started from the bottom & worked themselves up with training overtime. I’m seeing if it’s actually worth my trouble starting at the bottom. Certain women can work in a male-dominated industry if they can work a man’s job. Am I the same type of person? I’m not certain of that EITHER. I know I’ll have to go through a certain amount of ridicule.
Geeeez… Ashley…Quit beating the dead horse!! This ain’t rocket science but not everyone can do it. Either go through a maritime training program, college or entry-level, and go prove yourself, or take an entry-level position, learn the job and prove yourself.
The closest thing to an internship in this industry is nepotism. EVERYONE in this industry endures ridicule every day.
Attitude is everything. As short as the crews are nowdays, if you don’t learn your job and pull your weight, the other crew members that have to take up your slack will make it known. Capt Fran and Gemplayer have proven they know the difference between “demanding respect and commanding respect”. I hope you realize that too.
Good luck in your endeavers!
Wow, what a thread! Took a while to read and it looks like you are at a crossroad. I would suggest looking a little farther ahead to see where your decisions might take you instead of looking at the immediate results.
You mentioned demotion? Yes, to start off it would be, but long term would be to your advantage. No different than what you would go thru in college. Unless there has been a shift and freshmen now rule the world. The nice thing about starting at the bottom is that you have a chance to learn, because one day you might be managing folks that are starting at the bottom. If you don’t know what to expect they will make you look stupid and will have very little respect for you and that will make your life miserable.
Earning potential? Long term you could be 100K plus depending on how dedicated you are. I don’t know what you would expect to be making in 6 years at your current position.
Physical requirements? I think a lot of people get caught up in the he-man world, but the truth is most companies don’t want you to be straining. To many lawsuits. Proper lifting techniques, getting help when needed, cranes, etc. will all play out in your favor. Might you get some flak, yeah, but you got to be thinking. Most will be from insecure individuals that are looking to build themselves up by tearing you down. You will have to figure out how to overcome this and not come down to their level. There is also the fact that no matter how strong you are you will have to learn how to do things. Muscle memory or whatever you want to call it. I can offer firsthand experience on a couple of things. I am short and stocky, low center of gravity. Perfect for keeping my balance onboard. The first time the crane lowered me to the deck of a work boat I about fell over several times for the next few days. Everyone laughed, I did too. Now I can carry a full cup of coffee up to the wheelhouse in 10’ seas. I worked on a crew boat for a few days to get some extra sea time. Tried throwing the line onto the bollard. Everyone laughed, I did too. I suck at that but have never gotten enough practice to overcome it. I have seen little scrawny fellows heave a loop 20’ plus away and perfect ringer. Most things in life require you to learn the tricks of the trade and if you don’t start at the bottom you will not learn and more importantly you will not be able to give advice when the time comes for you to pass along some help to a struggling newbie. You can sit up in the wheelhouse screaming at the deckhand to get the line on over the loud hailer or you can teach him/her how to do it before you get into a bind. Which one of those training techniques would you rather endure? Which one will you use when your time comes to manage?
As far as life on board… it’s going to be different every boat. I work with some real assholes, but I let them be what they want to be and I do my own thing. I am not there to make friends or seek acceptance, I am there to do a job, learn all I can, and come home safe. Those three things alone will get you plenty of ridicule. Especially on a boat where everyone has been there a while. They have it down to the bare minimum of what they have to do to keep their job and will resent anyone trying to set a new standard. I work with an oiler that has been an oiler for 20 plus years. All he bitches about is how little the engineers do but he can’t take the initiative to get his license. Don’t get me wrong, he knows a lot about boats and how they operate but he is an asshole with a bad attitude. How do I put up with it? I don’t try to change him, I try to learn as much as I can from him and I stay focused on the prize. I will be off that boat in a year or so as I move up the chain so why get caught up in his problems. If you need acceptance to be able to function then you will probably have a hard time, especially at first. So you will have to choose. Do I lower my standards to fit in and make others happy or do I keep focused and work on what I need to achieve even if that is the road less traveled.
So all this boils down to is: I have no idea what would be best for you and neither does anyone else. All the different responses on this thread are just what you will get offshore. A wide variation of opinions and suggestions. Some there to help you, others hoping you will fail, and still others that have no idea what the hell they are talking about but think you should do things their way or you’re a dumbass. I don’t believe in good or bad, you will never really know if something was a “good” choice until very late in life and you can then look back and acertain your decision. I had a career of 16 years working my way up, staying late, working nights, weekends, no shortage of stress until the economy melted down and I was laid off with no signs of that market returning for years. That’s “bad”. I spent my savings to get my MMD, TWIC, BST and was on my last week’s unemployment check when I got a job on a boat and found I had a true love of this type of work. I have never been so excited about anything in a bunch of years and the money is now, since my first up grade, slightly more than what I was making before. That’s “good”. Now I might get squished under the grocery box next hitch and that would be “bad”.
Anyway, welcome the grown up life of making hard decisions. Take everyone’s advice, sift thru it and make your own decisions. The harder you work the luckier you will get. I do wish you well no matter what you decide, Good or bad.
Who said IT was dead? LOL:p It’s very much alive. I OUGHT TO KNOW–I’M RIDING IT! LMAO!
Injunear,
Sometimes it would be better if you just passed up posting if you were only going to rephrase the same things that ALMOST everyone did AFTER I got 4 posts. LOL!!!
I guess you got bored. LOL
Thank you for the laugh, though. LOL
Good Luck, too.
Well, I know for a fact that although OSHA is present & companies are to follow the safety guidelines, it doesn’t MEAN THEY NECESSARILY DO.
That’s just the people of the world now: no one really does anything properly unless they get caught. So, you & myself may be the exception. LOL
Thank you for actually writing me something original, and not repeating the same ole bullshyt, as the response above & other pages. You did enlighten me on the managerial spot, too. I do know that starting from the bottom would give me [U]empathy[/U] toward others at the bottom/other levels if I ever did manage a crew; however, I’m a compassionate person by nature–so I don’t necessarily see THAT an issue. I do know that everyone has a job to do, and regardless of what level the person is at, it NEEDS to get done.
Now, in regards to the man that just bi8ches, we all know people like that. He may be 1) too lazy to promote himself to a higher rank, or 2) don’t know where to start b/c familiarity is right where he’s at, and he’s comfortable there. Even though he’s oldER, it doesn’t mean he may know how to attain things he may want. Yeah, it sounds silly…but can very well be true.
That’s where I am, I’m trying to find out how to get the spot I want.
The time isn’t running out yet because I don’t have any major obligations. I’m single, no kids, no aspirations of such, EveR! I’m not a family-oriented person. I’m career-driven. Because I don’t have a family, I feel I have NOTHING to lose.
My job becomes that. This is why, as you mentioned it’s a crossroad. This is why, some think Im beating a dead horse. I’m just trying to find my niche.
Say what? What relevance does that have? Is Jemplayer a female, too?
I’m a little confused.
Why it’s not relevant? Let’s see…Cpt. Fran is experienced because of her background. I have no clue about Jem, though.
You can’t classify things into the same group when they are indeed different. Even if ONLY one thing makes it diverse, you can not group it together.
You hope I realize it??? Why do I need to realize that? LOL
Is there a difference? LOL
Not to me. LOL
Now if you said EARNING RESPECT and DEMANDING/COMMANDING—Ahhhhh, then, YES, there’s a difference.
Demand & command=still a force to obeying an order.
Demand & command= still USING authority to squander all others
Demand & command= still having the ppl that work under you bytch
I don’t care how you or anyone else puts it, it is STILL using the dictator-method of getting it. Yes, when u are in managerial positions, you may not always be able to go around smiling & joking because you want to be taken seriously. A lot of people, a lot like myself doesn’t think I need to demand or command it. It will come naturally by exuding yourself as a hard-worker that handles business, and that you can maintain humanity at the same time, not putting YOURSELF up on the pedestal. Now…TO ME, THAT IS HOW YOU gain respect and get it in return.
[quote=Ashley;17791]
More and more people are telling me that it is a very boring job to be out at sea, [/quote]
[B]Please don’t respond with a long dissertation but, “boring job” ??? Hey, it’s not “work” when you like what your doing, and “boring ???” I say…" If your bored…It’s [U]your[/U] fault. 
[/B]
[/quote]I know I’ll have to go through a certain amount of ridicule.[/quote]
[B]Boo-hoo whaaaaah !!! lol [/B]
[B]You may be burning bridges already with all type and no action, More and more “people” are surfing around this site, Good luck. [/B]
[B]
You may be burning bridges already with all type and no action, More and more “people” are surfing around this site, Good luck. [/B]
Now since when did someone put me & MY life’s decision on a time limit??? That is RIDICULOUS!!!
I can laugh too, it goes a lil something like: HA-HA…HA!! 
Burning bridges? LOL
No such thing. I make my own bridges, if I even have to cross any. 
The Marine Institute of Newfoundland intake to the 3 year nautical science diploma programme is now abt 20% female. Graduates also gain an STCW Watch Keeping Mate certificate.
Female graduates from the past few years are employed in the offshore industry as mates on supply vessels here in the North Atlantic, DP operators in GOM and worldwide, and also on drillships
Ashley-
Nothing changed on my end:confused: hope you’re doing okay:o
John-
I think it’s time to move this thread.
"Scuttlebutt and Off-topic. Non-maritime talk plus jokes, rumors and innuendo belong here." seems more appropriate.[quote=seadog!;17824]John-
I think it’s time to move this thread.
“Scuttlebutt and Off-topic. Non-maritime talk plus jokes, rumors and innuendo belong here.” seems more appropriate.[/quote]
SEADOG!,
If you do not like the thread…stop coming by.
Same applies for anyone in general.
[B]Have a little sense, and know that if this particular thread is NOT that of your interest, move along.[/B]
You’re very comparable to that of a brat right now. YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING, so YOU WANT IT DONE YOUR WAY.
THE WOMEN OF THIS SITE ARENT EVEN THAT PETTY, and WE ARE SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN FOR THAT! Amazing.
[B][U]I have legitimate questions about the industry[/U][/B], and I’m trying to find out whether I want this OR not. NOW, there ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE MEMBERS ON THIS SITE. [B]LATELY, MORE NEW MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTING ME[/B] & RESPONDING. SO…How this becomes illegitimate all of a sudden MAKES NO SENSE!
JUST BECAUSE I RESPOND THE WAY THAT I DO–WHICH I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO, A LOT LIKE YOU…does not make it any less serious. JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY BE STIFF-SHIRT and less comical doesn’t mean that I MUST respond in THAT way to everyone that sends a message my way. But hey…you’ve painted the picture VERY vibrant for me. APPARENTLY I RUBBED YOU and YOUR MANY FRIENDS the wrong way with my comments. If you disrespect someone or belittle them–challenge them, don’t fool yourself that there will be no reaction.