Is my experience considered normal for the industry?

Professional Mariner Forum
21

[QUOTE=Fishplate;34361][COLOR=black]I recently returned home from a hitch with an offshore towing company and must say, the experience aboard was quite the eye opener. I sailed international as an AB with a total crew of 5 having my past experience aboard harbor tugs, gaming ships and inland boats. [COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]As a career mariner, I have had the pleasure to serve and learn under some of the most professional Masters and Pilots in the business. However this hitch was definitely not the case and I would like input from the masses if this is normal or just a bad experience.[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Prior to my employment, my union representative indicated to me that my position with the company was a temporary 30 day hitch. This was asked and confirmed several times by the union rep and a company rep. With this in mind, I was able to make arrangements to join the vessel for 30 days while having obligations to see to at the end of the hitch. Only once we were underway, I was informed by the Master that the duration of the hitch was at least 60 days. When I questioned the information and informed the Master that I was told 30 days, the response was, “Oh well kiddo. I only go home for 2 weeks a year.” I would not have accepted the position aboard the vessel knowing it was longer than 30 days.[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Prior to our arrival in Venezuela, I once again asked the Master why I was told 30 days when in fact it was 60. This was met with ridicule such as, “Don’t worry, someone else is fucking your wife and beating your kid now.” It was the following day I received word, not from the Master, but the rest of the crew that the terms of my employment was “changed” from temporary to permanent.[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]I have always had a very good rapport with Masters I have served under and the companies I have worked for, but comments such as, “What are you, one of those fucking Born Again Christians?” were directed at me when I wouldn’t drink alcoholic beverage aboard the vessel or attend trips to the local brothel.[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]I requested to leave the vessel and fly home after the Master justified his sexual exploits with a 14 year old girl as “helping her family in back in Columbia” as well as treatment in his recovery from prostate cancer. When it became obvious travel arrangements were not going to be made, I flew home on my own dime. Once I landed in the US, I contacted the company office and told them what had transpired and was told never to seek employment with them again and I best “keep my fucking mouth shut”.[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]So, my question is this: Have I blackballed myself from the maritime industry by jumping ship? What could or should I have done differently?<O:p</O:p
[/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

I think you handled yourself pretty well. Use that as a learning experience. I would have knocked that Captain the f^%k out - no telling what would have happened to me, but it wouldn’t be as good as just losing money on an airfare. Then again, that might have got me a ride home.

22

[QUOTE=seadog!;34720]…Libel and slander be damned,name names…[/QUOTE]

I can just imagine half of gCaptain trembling in their sea boots…the shady half guys, the shady half!

23

I think some don’t realize there is NO such thing as anonymity even in this forum. The email address and true name of the posts can be forced in a lawsuit. I am sure Gcaptain would NOT like to be susceptible to this kind of pressure, or legal liability.

I surely don’t agree with the operations and tactics of this towboat company or operator, but this forum would be ‘mis-used’ to use it as an ‘outing’ mechanism.

24

Well hate to say it but Cappy208 is right you most certainly had to fill out or the Capt did it for you a Crew List and you had to put your John Hancock on it for sure however when you enterd the port of Venazuela where ever you landed you had costoms come to the boat and an agent for your company you did get a stamp in your passport so no matter wether you jump ship or not you were stamped in to the country I have done it alot with deliveries like to Margarita Island Venazuela

25

Fishplate come on back man! We were just joking with you man! We always fuck with the greenie, didn’t know that you would take it so serious! I swear…some people just can’t take a good ribbing!

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[QUOTE=cappy208;34833]I think some don’t realize there is NO such thing as anonymity even in this forum. The email address and true name of the posts can be forced in a lawsuit. I am sure Gcaptain would NOT like to be susceptible to this kind of pressure, or legal liability.

I surely don’t agree with the operations and tactics of this towboat company or operator, but this forum would be ‘mis-used’ to use it as an ‘outing’ mechanism.[/QUOTE]

True to an extent, but a forum, in principle is a conduit for free speech. The last thing a company wants - and believe me, is to take on a poster exercising their rights to free speech on an internet forum. If you think ‘outing’ a company is bad - wait till they try to shut that person up. The result would be ten-fold of what they were trying to avoid in the first place. It simply will not happen unless there is provable monetary damage. I can’t see how that could be the case here. It’s not worth the hassle. If you’re still working for that company, then you’re pretty damn stupid. Firing someone is easy. If a company screws a fellow mariner, hell yeah, post it here on gcaptain. In the case of the Captain, do you really think if it was true, that he would sue? That’s like a drug dealer calling the cops for someone stealing his dope. No case here.

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This is an interesting topic and will most likely set some precedent for the forum…

I am torn between Cappy’s suggestion that the forum would be mis-used as an outing mechanism and Anchormans stance that free speech should prevail…I agree with both…

There needs to be a way where mariners can share their stories of disreputable companies to protect one another from situations like the one FP described…And at the same time not have to fear legal action and retribution…

Any ideas??

28

aren’t there precedents already like Monster.com and other job finding sites that list the good & the bad of a company? naming a company for sloppy management is not libel.

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[QUOTE=Shellback;34888]

Any ideas??[/QUOTE]

Playboy Advisor?

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[QUOTE=anchorman;34893]Playboy Advisor?[/QUOTE]

Hah! I should have known…:slight_smile:

31

It’s a sea story, not an indictment.

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I think there is a difference between starting a thread like this:

I went to work for Ocean Rambler Towing CO. Beware: They do not live up to their word. They held me for more than the agreed upon voyage length, and would not relieve me when agreed. In addition they have Crew that is unprofessional, and unseamanlike.

That is printable.

However: The Union, the Company, the Captain lied, fucked a whore, drank on the boat, and called me a B.A.C. infuriated me, I went home, and want some sympathy. What do you think?

That is unprintable.

Seadog has it right. this is a sea story, with no ending.

33

cappy208 is right.

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[QUOTE=buccaneer;34850]Well hate to say it but Cappy208 is right you most certainly had to fill out or the Capt did it for you a Crew List and you had to put your John Hancock on it for sure however when you enterd the port of Venazuela where ever you landed you had costoms come to the boat and an agent for your company you did get a stamp in your passport so no matter wether you jump ship or not you were stamped in to the country I have done it alot with deliveries like to Margarita Island Venazuela[/QUOTE]

When I left, VZ customs back dated my “new arrival” paperwork and sent me on my way.

35

You should find out what is meant by the term 30 day job. It may not mean what you think it means. In the union contracts I am familiar with, a 30 day job is for 30 days or one trip,(back to the US) which ever is longer. In that case you would not have been entitled to transportation in a foreign port.