Alright guys,
I work in the GOM but I really want to go back to blue water. I want a PIC but don’t want to sail as AB for a pay cut or join a Union. I am looking at MSC for an option. I kind of like the idea of it?
Is MSC really unpleasant as everyone says it is? People always complain about it yet there are still people who work there. Can anyone give me pros and cons to that side of the maritime industry that has insight on MSC or has worked there before? How bad can MSC be?
Do you like the idea of sailing for 4-6 months and then getting a month off before heading back for another 4-6 months? If so, sign on up and get out there man.
Minimum of 4 month trips. It is different than commercial shipping however. We pull in port and stay for a week and you get a little R&R… You could be in Norfolk or San Diego for that 4 months. You can work as long as you want - make over 100k as an AB. No cutting your salary or slashing your 401k…
Do you have a family? If I didn’t I’d be there in a heartbeat. The job sounds like fun, travels around the world, nice accommodations, etc. The only really consistently bad thing I’ve heard about them, other than being run by bureaucrats, is long hitches with no real time off. I happen to have a really cute toddler and a wife I actually like so I don’t want to be away that long or that often.
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;166397]Do you have a family? If I didn’t I’d be there in a heartbeat. The job sounds like fun, travels around the world, nice accommodations, etc. The only really consistently bad thing I’ve heard about them, other than being run by bureaucrats, is long hitches with no real time off. I happen to have a really cute toddler and a wife I actually like so I don’t want to be away that long or that often.[/QUOTE]
Have you asked them how they feel about that? Lol, sorry, couldn’t resist.
[QUOTE=MVNEVERSAIL;166380]Minimum of 4 month trips. It is different than commercial shipping however. We pull in port and stay for a week and you get a little R&R… You could be in Norfolk or San Diego for that 4 months. You can work as long as you want - make over 100k as an AB. No cutting your salary or slashing your 401k…[/QUOTE]
So the bridge officers make millions then?
[QUOTE=MVNEVERSAIL;166380]Minimum of 4 month trips. It is different than commercial shipping however. We pull in port and stay for a week and you get a little R&R… You could be in Norfolk or San Diego for that 4 months. You can work as long as you want - make over 100k as an AB. No cutting your salary or slashing your 401k…[/QUOTE]
Making a 100 G is a crock of piss. If you belive that I have some prime swamp land for sale. I sailed 3 yrs as ab unlimited and my close friend just retired after 33 yrs. $ 75 000 if you stay on the ship and work every hour you can EVERY DAY.And its the Phillipno navy so if you are american you will be the minority by far .And dont expect to get off the ship on a day you plan its not happing .buyer bewere. There is far more negitave than positive. if you think any of this is untrue my good friend who just retired will really open your your eyes with his stories. I am sorry to sound thus way but it needs to be said.I AM BEING VERY HONEST.
Base pay is about $28,000 so overtime is king. and 75000 mucho overtime and not alot of time off the ship weekends is money .and to make that money its about a month in a half off a year as someone else said. and theses days MSC keeps the ships out in the ocean as much as possible. and sail alot at 5 knots not 15 so dont plan on long port calls .That ended long ago.
Sailfish, your post has so many non-sequiturs re MSC that I won’t waste time unraveling them.
If MSC interests you, jerstokes, apply. When they make a job offer,get all your remaining questions answered and make your decision.
I think even MSC people will admit that MSC civmars are a different breed than the rest of us “normal” mariners. They tend to be ex-navy and still have some navy in them. Many of us “normal” mariners don’t like the MSC way of doing things. Many MSC civmars wouldn’t like the way we operate either. If you come from the GOM, it is going to be a bit of a culture shock being a MSC civmar. I am not saying it can’t be done…
I do agree that making over 100K for an AB is a bunch of bs. There are some advantages for working for MSC but that isn’t one of them.
[QUOTE=RespectMyAuthority;166422]I do agree that making over 100K for an AB is a bunch of bs. There are some advantages for working for MSC but that isn’t one of them.[/QUOTE]
Maybe the OP will clarify this but I’m pretty sure he is a mate, not an AB. He said he wants to get his PIC but isn’t willing to take the pay cut of going down to AB…
I made just over 100k as an AB once on back-to-back deployments. It certainly can be done if the stars align right. People have far better odds of making 72-85k a year which I did in three other years. On my current ship I’m sure three of our day working, homesteading ABs will break 120k this year. Two more should break 100k. The rest won’t even get close to 90k.
If the OP should say what license or enforcements he holds things could be clarified.
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;166423]Maybe the OP will clarify this but I’m pretty sure he is a mate, not an AB. He said he wants to get his PIC but isn’t willing to take the pay cut of going down to AB…[/QUOTE]
I got that he doesn’t want to sail AB for a paycut. Civmar is the one who claims they make that money. His options are limited if he wants to go blue water and not take a pay cut, not join a union, not do this and that. If I was in his shoes and looking to go somewhere else, I wouldn’t be so choosey. I would take the best offer that came my way. It might even be that just where I am isn’t as bad as I thought.
I want to work for MSC. I’m about six months from being able to sit for my AB exam and then I plan to apply. The $100K/year for ABs did sound odd, but if salaries are more within the %72 - 85K range, I can live with that just fine. At least I can take most of it home, minus taxes. I plan on upgrading and earning my mate’s license, anyway. The benefits are a big draw for me as well.
Most ABs make somewhere in the neighborhood of 60-75K, assuming they aren’t SD or Norfolk duty oiler and going home every weekend. A few of the guys onboard are also picking up a USN pension, which for a retired Chief, could put them over 100K.
If you have your 3/M license, you can get a PIC pretty easily. I came in without one, and my first ship was an oiler. With 4 months onboard, you’ll have loads/discharges ready to submit when you get off.
Reliefs are a lot different from even a few years ago, at least on the licensed deck side of things. I was relieved early the last two times. Some ABs will go overdue by a week or two, but that usually happens when deployed in the Middle East. Chief Mates and engineers are a different story.
[QUOTE=bluesailor;166432]Chief Mates … are a different story.[/QUOTE]
How so? Do they still not get relieved on time or is it better with them?
[QUOTE=bluesailor;166432]Most ABs make somewhere in the neighborhood of 60-75K, assuming they aren’t SD or Norfolk duty oiler and going home every weekend. A few of the guys onboard are also picking up a USN pension, which for a retired Chief, could put them over 100K.
If you have your 3/M license, you can get a PIC pretty easily. I came in without one, and my first ship was an oiler. With 4 months onboard, you’ll have loads/discharges ready to submit when you get off.
Reliefs are a lot different from even a few years ago, at least on the licensed deck side of things. I was relieved early the last two times. Some ABs will go overdue by a week or two, but that usually happens when deployed in the Middle East. Chief Mates and engineers are a different story.[/QUOTE]
One thing I’m discovering is that everyone’s a daggum critic. Some people are just never satisfied. The most reasonable response regarding the whole relief situation is that sometimes you’re relieved on time, sometimes you’re not. And I can live with that.
Yes I should have definitely clarified. I am a third mate unlimited. It seems like everyone has their own opinion. Some really useful info thanks to everyone. Do they cover chief mate classes?
You can live with that until it happens to you a few times.
Respect My Authority : “Civmar is the one who claims they make that money.”
I didn’t make the claim, but I did earn in the high end of the range that Deck Ape states above in my next to last year sailing AB with MSC.
My Chief Mate last autumn went overdue by 45 days, but we were in the Middle East, busy, with only a day or two in port every two weeks. He wasn’t able to get a relief until we were homebound and stopped for a liberty port in Rota.
You would be hard pressed to find a C/M sitting in the pool with no assignment.
[QUOTE=bluesailor;166432]Reliefs are a lot different from even a few years ago, at least on the licensed deck side of things.[/QUOTE]
Has time off gotten better?