The honeymoon phase is over given the time frame so given that centerline now has maritime partners backing, has there been any forward motion or discussions to improve Centerline ?
In what respect please?
Looking for some more info about the current state of Centerline as well. I am considering a mate job on the west coast. What is the watch schedule on board the OTB fleet? How are the rotations? Is it hard to get a relief? Any flexibility in roation that you can workout with your relief? Thanks for the info.
I worked there for a bit. Watch schedule varies but it was mostly 6/6. A lot of the runs there are predictable so you know when your downtime will be. Hell my captain lived locally and would go home every chance he could get. We rarely worked weekends and overall it was a good experience. I know people complain a lot about centerline but working strictly Puget Sound OTB was a fairly gravy job. They’ll ask you to fill in and cover but you can always say no. If you need to get off the boat they’ll get you off. I think for gigs in Seattle it’s tough to beat.
Mates on the west coast are sea buoy to sea buoy tankerman , captains are scared of their shadows and incompetent.
For the vessels outside Puget Sound the runs are typically anywhere between Vancouver BC, to anywhere in the Sound, up the Columbia, and outside to SF or LA. Alaska or Hawaii is always a possibility but I think that’s rare and depends on what boat you get. They really prefer Mate/Tankerman so you’ll be tanking the barge as well. Even if you don’t have Tankerman PIC yet you’ll be out there as assistant and they’ll expect you to get it. Usually 8 and 4’s underway and 6’s while tanking the barge. Rotation is 28/28 and they’re pretty good about getting you relief. Lots of opportunity to stay over and make more money if that’s your jam. I’ve seen some incompetence on occasion with some reliefs but the core team on my boat is pretty solid. All in all it’s a good gig where I’m at. The equipment could be better in some regards but I think that’s mostly anywhere. That’s my biggest gripe. The schedule is great, the pay is decent, the benefits are solid, especially the medical… basically free and spouse and kids is cheap. I’ve heard people bash Centerline but I’ve had much worse jobs.