How do you guys pack your steel toe boots? They take up so much room in luggage - do most people just wear them on the plane?
MICREW843, shoot me an email at divedog@aol.com and I’ll shoot you one back.
I refuse to wear steel-toe anything. Fastest way to lose your toes.
sent divedog…
and CA i know that feeling it weres me too… but they do help sometimes…
id me worried about fallin overboard with them…
Hmm… I never thought about that. Ah well, I don’t plan to go overboard either. 
haha…no one does
Soo i’ll rephrase…how do you pack your boots?
Beringcrab…Were you given the option of the West Coast or is that just how it worked out?
Shellback…They gave me the option. I was only home from Alaska for 2 days before they gave me the offer.They let me think about it over the weekend before I accepted it. They had 2 spots open for the AB jobs. 60/30 schedule doesn’t seem to be popular w/ people(on deck or wheelhouse). I consider myself very lucky. Granted, I don’t hold a license but I plan to do so very quickly.I got my mate 500 OSV assessment and study guide from them the other day…will be working on that(classes w/ them) and hopefully by this time next year or early 2010 I will be getting that or maybe taking more classes to get my 1600. I’m kicking myself in the head by not doing this earlier. I wanted to make the move from Alaska crabbing to something like this in 2004 but just said to myself “I will just do one more season”.
Hey beringcrab welcome to the fray. Things can get fun and informative and it will be nice to have you aboard. Nothing like a crabber’s perspective on things.
Let us know how things go for you at ECO. I know many people have made great careers there. Last summer I turned down an offer from them because I’m not willing to work 2 for 1 anymore and I couldn’t get them to budge. Someday they’re going to have to wake up and smell the coffee regarding schedules. With all the training that we have to do these days you spend a good part of your time off in school, and on 2 for 1 that eats up your time off quickly. If I was just starting out, 2 for 1 would work just fine (I did it for years, as a matter of fact) because you build sea time so quickly. Some of the companies in the GOM are offering equal time, HOS has a 28/28 rotation available.
For those reading your post about Chouest, there’s no need to wait back for an email giving you the contact numbers. Here you go:
Nicky J. Collins
EDISON CHOUEST OFFSHORE
Main: (800) 417-7144 Ext. 51740 (Toll-Free)
Direct: (985) 601-4285
FAX: (985) 601-4237
Heck, you can even call Nicky’s cell phone:
(985) 677-1740
Thank You Capt_Anonymous,
I’m very excited about the opportunities here at Chouest. If you apply yourself in a timely fashion,the room for advancement is def. there. I consider myself very lucky to be employed right now. The starting pay was a surprise for me to start(w/ no industry experience so to say). Granted I know alot of you are licensed and think 68grand is low but I was figuring 50-60grand to start as an AB whether it was tug,osv or whatever nationwide. Since I live in Seattle this job works out great for me. Was also told that there was other opportunities via the West Coast/Pacific Ocean esp. “if” or when they start drilling in Alaska and or the Arctic area. The schedule is fine to me and the soon to be wife(who has dealt w/ the crabbing schedule for years-and welcomes a very less dangerous job) so I can get my seatime and experience.
Granted not every company is perfect but working for close to 15 years for the same employer and captain was a big selling point for Chouest on hiring me. Again I’m looking foward to a change of pace and the challenge of getting my license(giving myself a time frame of 2-3 years).
Cheers to everyone and to all the helpful information and chat on here.
Beringcrab,
Get hold of Mike Terminel. He’s in charge of Chouest’s Alaska operations. He’s an Alaska and Antarctic veteran, he’s spent years up there and I’ll bet he’d love to have someone with a crabber’s work ethic in his division. He is a hands-on, hard working type. The “Nanuq” is scheduled to return to Alaska next spring sometime (last time I checked, at least) and I hear they have plans for several boats up there. If you [email](javascript:location.href=‘mailto:’+String.fromCharCode(99,97,112,116,46,97,110,111,110,121,109,111,117,115,48,48,64,103,109,97,105,108,46,99,111,109)+’?’)me I’ll send you Mike’s contact info. It will be easier now that you’re an employee of ECO.
Your comments about the money made me chuckle. My first hitch in the GOM as a Mate I got $75.00 a day and paid my own travel (from Hawai’i) and I thought that was great money.
I just sent you an email and thank you again for the info. Being that I came into this industry later(I’m 37) I figured the pay scale was going to be alot less(being unlicensed) than the 85grand gross I was making in crabbing and would have to start on the bottom of ladder in all aspects. I understand that I have to pay my dues of course but the conditioning and work ethic that I’ve learned will help me get the endorsements and license(s) alot easier mentally. They were quite surprised that I already asked to get the Mate 500 OSV assessment and study guide package since I have not even worked one day yet for them. I’m setting my goals for when I turn 40 in 2011 and I know it’s alot of hard work to come to achieve this.
A little thing from crabbing taught me nobody is going to give you anything(raise,advancement) or push in the right direction unless you show that you really want it and then “in theory” the doors should open up for you. I think the only thing I have to is to learn not to step on toes in this industry even though it’s not my intend but you did A-Z on the crab boat from cleaning(inside and outside), helping out in the engine room and plenty of wheel watches so that habit will be hard to break w/out looking like I’m trying to do or steal someone’s job.
Funny I always heard the old stories about what the guys made back in 70’s-early 80’s. Snow Crab was about .25 per pound and king crab was less than 2.00 per pound. Us kids today are spoiled-LOL!
You’ll go far in this industry with the work ethic and initiative you developed on the crabbers. You understand already that a license doesn’t put you above getting dirty, chipping and painting, and cleaning heads. That’s one of the things I love about working in the <1600 ton world. I don’t think I could handle it in the deep draft world, the deliberate segregation and snobbery towards the unlicensed crew would drive me crazy. I’ve been able to learn more from a seaoned deckhand about how things really are than from some licensed guys. Just like in the military, the non-coms really run the show.
It sounds like you’ll become the type of officer that I truly respect, the guy who isn’t afraid to grab a needle gun and get busy right next to his deckhands. Talk about a morale-building exercise, and about gaining the respect of your crew. That’s a sure fire way to show leadership that the guys on your boat will always respond to. And let me tell you, the office will notice. You’ll jump past guys when it comes time for promotion if you’ve gained a reputation for being a hard worker. It’s like I tell my 16 year old son, it only takes the tiniest bit of extra effort to go from mediocre to outstanding. I wish more people understood that.
C_A,
THere are several folks at ECO working even time. Some 28/28 some 14/14. They will tell you when you sign on that their "normal rotation’ is 28/14. Once you are onboard you can work what ever schedule you can figure out with others on your vessel or transfer to a vessel where even time is the norm. The coordinators don’t really care, as long as the vessel is manned. Very flexible.
Yea some of the guys in the LOOP field work some crazy schedules, they got one guy that jumps back and forth between the Responder and Lifter so he can work an even schedule. Me and one captain would work 28/14 with the other one working 14/7. The coordinators dont care what you work as long as the boat is manned and your crew change doesnt inconvenience the customer they really dont care.
Hey captmike thanks for putting that out there! I got a totally different impression from Nicky when I was negotiating with him. Good news for those needing equal time, for sure.
Jemplayer what boat you worked on out in the Loop?
The Lifter has one guy working 28 & 14, another one working 14 & 7, Another one working 21 & 21. The guy off the Responder fills in on the lifter when the spot is open. The Responder runs a 3 man bridge. One Captain & 2 mates every hitch. Captains work 14 & 14. Mates work 14 & 7. If some one quits they usaully work extra to make a little more money. But as far as ECO, I agree with Capt.Mike yes get your foot in the door, then find someone who wants to do equal time. All those coordniators want is there boat to be properly manned.
first of all welcome to the job palace and your experience will definitely help to fetch the job needed and you can find some here.
sathyan