[QUOTE=godspd44;78026]Go into the office and have a sit down with the operations manager. Tell him what is lacking… If he is unresponsive… Recite the “MISSION STATEMENT”;)[/QUOTE]
Sir, your intentions are good but unrealistic. Walking into an office, demanding to speak with the Operations Manager and tell him what he is lacking will get you a free bus ticket to your local unemployment office. Or the exact response will be what you’re lacking: a job!
You have to be realistic and understand that this is a business where profitability is the goal and employees are used out of necessity. Shoreside or not, employees are a necessary evil of all industries. If robots could run boats, manage operations, perform audits or drive a crew change none of us would have a job. Customer requirements by the majors has gotten so tedious that it’s usually not the vessel company’s BS youre ultimately having to deal with.
Get a job and your main response should be “Yes Sir” and you will be fine. Like my dad told me when I graduated college: “Son, you now have a degree and can begin to learn because you still don’t know shit.”
Sometimes an example of how the military operates comes forth. The expectation that the entity you are working for, and are willing to spend time on will somehow ‘lookout’ for your wellbeing and your future will soon be dispelled. Unfortunately it may take a hard fall.
That’s quite a statement… But I assure you that I am a loyal employee where ever I work… And I will bust my ass!!!.. I’m not one of these company jumpers because ooooohhh!!!.. $25 a day more over there!!!
WOW are you in for a Real Life Lesson!!! You are not working for the government anymore where there are rules. Out here more than not a company HSSE or employee handbook is something written by lawyers so they can hang your ass out to dry and protect theirs.
You know, I have not yet had the opportunity to fly in a DC-3 or an Otter. There are still some old DC-3s flying cargo out of the Rio Gande Valley down into Mexico … or so they say; oilfield equipment mostly, kind of the Botrucs of air cargo, I guess. Anyhow, always thought it would be cool to ride along on one. I have, however, flown across the Atlantic three times on prop planes and have plenty of time in: C-12s (military version of the Beech Super King Air), C-23 Sherpas (Texas to Honduras/El Salvador), C-26s (Panama to Ecuador), C-130s, C-141s, OH-58s, CH-47s, UH-60s and a whole buncha civil aircraft. I think maybe my favorite has been a Lake Amphibian – pretty cool little plane with USCG-approved nav lights.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;78157]Anything worth saying about this has probably already been said. Why not give this a rest?[/QUOTE]
Actually the topic is quite appropriate. Many new entrants to the industry assume many erroneous thoughts about what ‘someone else’ said this would be like. Most new employees I have found are a little confused (putting it mildly) about expectations and what they ‘think’ they should be doing aboard.
The crew list on any vessel starts from the Captain and works its’ way down to the newest deckhand. This is NOT a democracy. And the Masters word is law. I know it sounds cliche (ish) but it is true. Then when people come on this forum assuming they will be treated as ‘equals’ and don’t understand why they get ‘disrespected’… well… It’s the way it is. But newbies who come here asking for info about simple info, when it is obvious they have not done any research on the industry, specific parts of the industry, or whether they even could handle being away from home for days, weeks, months at a time is pretty lame.
A candidate may have ‘put in your dues’ elsewhere but each vessel you sign onto you must prove yourself, and gain both time and respect. All the while, realizing that you are just a payroll number. This is Private, commercial business. There is no love lost, or given. Your paycheck is your reward. Of course knowing that you have done a good job is great, but there are quite a few other sailors each and every day who do a great job! For someone to think that they will be ‘rewarded’ more than seaman A, B or C. for doing the same job is pretty immature. At the entry level all are squids in the sea. Equally possible to get eaten by a big shark. Or just fall off to the wayside and be another one of the millions.
I like to say to newbies: It’s fine to want to be the Captain… But first learn to be an excellent deckhand. Concentrate on the first stages, don’t get side tracked by the glitz. In truth, not all can handle the glitz ( being the responsible person aboard) But everyone THINKS they can handle it!
