Looking for Work as a Wiper in Engine Room on Atlantic East Coast

Maritime Employment
1

Can anyone give me some advice as to where on the web can I find employment as a entry-level Wiper either aboard a ship, ferry or tug boat along the Atlantic East Coast? I live in Maine and I have worked as a field construction UNION Welder/Boilermaker for a few years on the road in New England when the construction industry in the development of co-generation power plants was booming. Now, work has come to a complete stand still in this industry and I do not want to re-train as a computer programmer or office worker!! I have been out of work for over a year and from time to time, I have been able to work as a custodian-cleaner. I do hold a State Of Maine Fourth Class Stationary Steam Engineers Licence from working as a volunteer Fireman/Watertender-Oiler aboard a narrow gauge steam locomotive. This licence was an upgrade from my previous High Pressure Boiler Operators licence. It seems that I can not get hired on as a stationary watch engineer or utility operator in a stationary plant due to lack of hands on experience! I have applied for positions many times here in Maine, but with no results.
I would like to work as a Wiper for the required 180 days aboard some kind of marine vessel so that I can qualify to sit for a few USCG QMED ratings. I’ll most likely take the general exam first, then try to qualify as an Oiler or FM/WT.
I’m not a school person and have earned my stationary steam licence by studying on my own. I learn by doing things hands on, and self study.

Yes, I know about the TWIC documentation and have already pre-applied on their website. I need money for the fee and as soon as I get the TWIC, I’ll be applying for my MMD and will then take the required one week Basic safety course here in Maine. I am asking about Wiper work because I would like to know if there is some demand out there in the Marine Industry for wipers and getting a QMED raiting is something I am really interested in doing as a new career!

Any suggestions would be of great help.

DryPipe.

2

There are lot of jobs. Almost everyone is hiring.

Have you tried the dredging companies? They would value your welding and fabricating skills.

Maine

Prock Marine
Reed & Reed
Cianbro

East Coast

Cashman
Donjon
Great Lakes
Weeks
Manson

Many of the tug companies will hire green deckhands and train them to be deckhand/engineers.

Local 25 of the International Union of Operating Engineers with offices in New Jersey and Tampa would be a good place to call. They supply tug crew to the companies doing dredging support.

The are maritime schools with courses (maybe 4 weeks) that provide training for QMED Oiler. If you take one of those courses, you only need 60 days of seatime to qualify for QMED Oiler.

3

Moran, Mcallister, Harley NY/Centerline, Vane bros…start there once you get your twic and MMC.

Sounds like your background would make you a good candidate for engineer jobs, and once you get some seatime and get your qmed it will open more doors.

Lots of tugboats in NY/NJ harbor. Lots of companies big and small. Some of those companies may have boats working out of a port in ME close to you.

4

Well it is 14 years later, hopefully the guy got a job by now!

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5

Lol

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Steamship Authority ferry service in Massachusetts is looking for wipers with paid training to Oiler in 6 months.

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Looks like I got fooled when an old thread popped up.

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How long is that QMED Oiler course that substitutes for 120 days of seatime?

Two weeks?

9

I fell for it as well much to my chagrin.

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2 weeks yes, and I believe 180 days of sea time are required to upgrade

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The last I knew, some of those courses counted for 120 days of seatime.

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Courses cannot substitute for more than one-half of the service for QMED. See 46 U.S. Code 7315(c).