The engineers that I’m in touch with are doing well. The companies have been keeping them employed during lay-ups. 2/3rds of them have up-graded to 1st or Chief and the other 1/3 are counting the days to retirement.
[QUOTE=injunear;45149]The engineers that I’m in touch with are doing well. The companies have been keeping them employed during lay-ups. 2/3rds of them have up-graded to 1st or Chief and the other 1/3 are counting the days to retirement.[/QUOTE]
I’ve had 43 people on board - standing by for 6 months doing much of nothing. We have a good client, keeping key people in-place and employed till things pick-up. There is already concern by clients, and myself, of the effect of not doing much over an extended period, then starting back to work. Getting out of practice means you lose proficiency and that opens the door to incidents and injuries. Whenever things do pick back up, it will be a gradual process.
[QUOTE=injunear;45149]The engineers that I’m in touch with are doing well. The companies have been keeping them employed during lay-ups. 2/3rds of them have up-graded to 1st or Chief and the other 1/3 are counting the days to retirement.[/QUOTE]
This brings up a good question. How are people in different positions going? I am curious about people not getting work as to what position they are looking for?
[QUOTE=brjones;45155]This brings up a good question. How are people in different positions going? I am curious about people not getting work as to what position they are looking for?[/QUOTE]
This is a very good question. I have found good engineers are normaly kept onboard until things get really bad. The overall vast majority of engineers I have meet have been good ones and they always seem employed. Now, wheel house, that seems back to experience level, if you have direct hands on experience doing what the vessel is scheduled or expected to do, then you can pick up a position. By example, you may have a towing endorsement, but if you have not pulled anchors then you probably will not be hired. Kinda the old catch 22 about experienced workers only.
For better of for worse I moved around a bit when things were booming, giving me time in a wide range of towing operations, then add in Crew boat, supply boat (DP and non DP) lift boats…heck even a Casino boat for a few months (never again on the Casino boat, I found I do not tolerate drunks easily). Point being I do belive work is out there, but as mentioned before employers can pick and choose, and employers seem to be picking experianced hands that are hungry and will do what ever hitch length and pay scale that is availible.
Interesting replies, this topic seems to be generating some good information
Ocean
I went through an academy to get my Third Mate’s ticket in 09, a terrible time for inexperienced newbies. I actually had to do a bit of carpentry to pay the bills that started coming in for that school and didn’t get any job offers until a full year later. I’m starting entry level because of my lack of experience, but at least I’m out on the water and making money. The pay sinks and I had to move farther than I was comfortable with at first. To be honest, I’m just happy to have a job. I’ve been hearing a lot of horror stories from academy grads getting laid off or still looking. I guess you just need to take what you can get until you find something better. I keep reminding myself that no job is permanent.
[QUOTE=Kalin;45172]I guess you just need to take what you can get until you find something better. I keep reminding myself that no job is permanent.[/QUOTE]
Words to live by…
I was laid off about two years ago from a job that never had relief. They did keep us at the dock for a month before the cut. Since then I spent a year teaching 5th grade and never wish that on anyone. I have worked with captains that pissed me off red but this job had me shaking from pure anger. I finished my year then left before I was on the news for chocking a kid. I found a local company that hired me for some bridge repair and dock work. It only lasted a month and had me siting at home waiting for the phone to ring for a month before claiming unemployment. My brother is working with a large tug company and am hoping he can pull some strings. I don’t care for large companies but anything is better than returning to a room full of sugar crack heads.
[QUOTE=jlgooding;45176] Since then I spent a year teaching 5th grade and never wish that on anyone. I have worked with captains that pissed me off red but this job had me shaking from pure anger. I finished my year then left before I was on the news for chocking a kid.[/QUOTE]
If you’ve got experience choking immature crackheads, you’ll fit right in in this industry. 
is there any way to look at a black list for the GOM. that way i will be able to know if i’m retired now or not.
I would like to know if there is a black List for the west coast or anywhere for that matter. There is a thread called “Coonass blacklist” that gives a link, however you can only get a report on one company that you went to for employment. If that company didn’t go to them then it wouldn’t show.
if the company laughs when you call, your on their “black list”