# Interested in Alaska Marine Higway **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Employment\ **Created:** [September 5, 2012, 8:16am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383 "2012-09-05T08:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![treetopflyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@treetopflyer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/treetopflyer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:16am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/1 "2012-09-05T08:16:48Z")
Has anyone worked with them? I understand you need to live in AK. Is it a beneficial job to have for a new graduate from Maritime Academy? For example, how is their training programs for obtaining pilotage and permanent positions as deck officers? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![brjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@brjones](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/brjones)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/2 "2012-09-05T08:29:05Z")
I did some work for them. You dont have to live in AK, but they dont pay transportation unless you are a relief out of the hall. Also you get the COLA for living up there. I know most of the mates get their pilotage. I am an engineer. I liked working for them, but I have no plans living in Alaska and there is more money in deep sea. ---
**Author:** ![treetopflyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@treetopflyer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/treetopflyer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/3 "2012-09-06T04:43:02Z")
Did you come across any difficulties with keeping a job in the “slow” months during the winter? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Axelrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@Axelrod](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Axelrod)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/4 "2012-09-06T20:08:51Z")
You start out as a security officer in order to get your pilotage. You get paid the same as a 3rd mate but you are up for every port screening vehicles etc. And getting trips for pilotage while underway. Helps to go out as a cadet, you can log trips like that ---
**Author:** ![liftedlimo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/liftedlimo/32/73700_2.png) [@liftedlimo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/liftedlimo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 10:26am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/5 "2012-09-07T10:26:35Z")
[QUOTE=brjones;81209]I did some work for them. You dont have to live in AK, but they dont pay transportation unless you are a relief out of the hall. Also you get the COLA for living up there. I know most of the mates get their pilotage. I am an engineer. I liked working for them, but I have no plans living in Alaska and there is more money in deep sea.[/QUOTE] If you dont mind me asking, What is your rotation and salary? I am wondering if the website info is current. Been thinking hard about getting back up to AK on the ferry system. ---
**Author:** ![brjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@brjones](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/brjones)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/6 "2012-09-07T14:09:07Z")
When I was there the engineers were doing 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. I believe the mates are the same. The unlicensed do 1 week on and off. I believe some of the ships further north do 4 weeks ---
**Author:** ![treetopflyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@treetopflyer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/treetopflyer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/7 "2012-09-07T14:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=Axelrod;81427]You start out as a security officer in order to get your pilotage. You get paid the same as a 3rd mate but you are up for every port screening vehicles etc. And getting trips for pilotage while underway. Helps to go out as a cadet, you can log trips like that[/QUOTE] So are you not “technically” signed on with the company until you complete the pilotage trips and exams? While being a Security Officer, are you permanent on that certain vessel or a kind of “on call” type for the whole fleet? ---
**Author:** ![treetopflyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@treetopflyer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/treetopflyer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/interested-in-alaska-marine-higway/8383/8 "2012-09-07T14:50:21Z")
So are you not technically signed on with the company whil being a security officer obtaining pilotage trips and taking exams? Are you a permanent on a certain ferry when working as security officer or an “on call” type of job description? Thanks