I’m 20 years old and this has been my first “real” job I guess. I’ve gotten enough sea time and obtained my AB special, but this company does not pay for ABs. Where’s my best bet?
I suggest that you not focus on your next step until you have an idea about the second step…
Do you have any idea about what you want to do? Continue to the bridge? Stay on deck? Work long hitches? Work foreign? My point is that you need to explore the long game and think about where you want to end up… Get some ideas on that, and the “next step” question might answer itself.
Deep sea, oil patch, wind service, dredging, salvage, tugs, Alaska… there are many different routes…
There are many different types here on this forum, so ask some questions about where you can go.
Good luck!
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If you’re thinking of going to Mate or Master of towing vessels, and leaving where you are, look for a company that has “Designated Examiners” on stakk who can sign the “TOAR” you will need for Mate of TV.
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What do you mean “does not pay for ABs”? They just have one pay rate for deckhands? Or they don’t pay for the school?
Get hired on at a bigger tug company as an AB. Learn your trade, learn how to be a good deckhand, then decide where you want to go from there.
Do you want to stay there and move up? Do you want to stay doing that kind of work? No one can tell you how to proceed unless you know what you want to do.
My guess is it’s this option. Inland tugs aren’t required to carry ABs so no inland company I’m aware of pays you extra for having one.
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Just go to a bigger company, even if it’s a deckhand job first. Then go be an AB at that company.
I know of several tug companies that pay AB $100/day more than OS. Some tugs are in fact required to carry an AB in some circumstances.
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So do I, but I don’t know of any inland tug companies that aren’t required to carry ABs that pay ABs any more money.
True, and I wasn’t talking about any of those companies.
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Everybody on the Great Lakes is looking for ABs. I can personally recommend Interlake, Great Lakes Fleet/Keystone and Lake Michigan Carferry .
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You can get on a bigger tug for more money, or you can start studying for the apprentice steersman exam.
Pretty sure G&H offers a small pay bump for AB/Oiler.
G&H does. Currently OS/Wiper is about $270 and AB/QMED is $375.
McAllister NY OS is $250, AB $350.
Reinauer in NY is at $411.21 for ABs and an additional $50 per day for travel.
40% pay increase for AB/Qmed, that’s good incentivisation.
Inland companies do infact (in NY Harbor and up the hudson) do pay $100 or more for A.B.'s
We’re out here for the pay but there are other factors that could potentially lead to even bigger paydays. If on tugs, find a company that has a mate training program and as someone above mentioned has designated examiners. When advancing to a deck license, having a TOAR just pads your resume. If you are moving tank barges, by all means go and get your Tankerman PIC endorsement also. If moving over to OSV’s, a company that has their own school, like Edison Chouest (list of courses can be found on their website under training), can save you thousands on the OICNW classes needed to advance, as well as a path to obtain an unlimited DPO endorsement. The added tonnage of an OSV compared to tugboats will also be of benefit when wanting an unlimited license. Also, working for companies that are union, particularly with an SIU contract, gives you the advantage of taking the classes they offer for free. A little sacrifice in money or time now, can pay off greatly in the very near future.
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