*Recently got my MMC/Passport/Med Cert/TWIC/BST and VPDSD.
*looking to work as a wiper in engineering.
*looking to work on large ships
*looking to disappear for a few months and make a decent savings.
I’ve contacted the SIU office in Norfolk (closest to me) for information on joining and the woman acted bothered that i called their number. Was told to show up between around 1-3pm to take a test, but didn’t go into detail and said to bring all my documents with me.
I currently work full-time and i guess ill use my vacation time to travel up there and do whatever paperwork they need and exams/testing they want.
I was told that to get a job id need to physically be there in person during set times everyday to “bid” on a job and pray someone senior doesn’t get it, which all of this makes sense, but my concern is quitting my stable full-time job to essentially camp at this union hall and pray i get a gig while i still have bills to pay.
I’ve applied to every cruise company that had positions and pretty much every oil company as well, i have scoured the piss out of indeed as well.
Does anyone have any other advice to help me get that first gig? Thanks.
I used a headhunter after I first got my QMED because I couldn’t find a gig. I know some opinions on headhunters are very negative but It worked extremely well for me to get my first job. Never used him again, but grateful he started my career going. He charged me a good chunk of money but he only collected after I made a months wages. Sometimes you don’t even get charged the company pays. Look into some headhunter places.
Also, what you want to do and what your first opportunity to do may be different things. As an entry level person you just need to get some time under your belt on pretty much anything. After that you can try to go for what you want to work on.
Not surprising. Seems like the norm any time you have to deal with any SIU hall.
You are right. It is a gamble…but you probably have some decent odds considering everyone is looking for people.
Have you tried contacting the MFOW? West coast union for engine ratings. You may have better luck with them but pretty sure you would have to show up in person.
Sounds like you want to sail deep sea but have you tried any of the local tug companies near you?
I would try the Gulf OSV companies such as Hornbeck Offshore, Edison Chouest, Harvey Gulf, Otto Candies, Laborde Marine, Odyssea, Jackson Offshore, Seamar and Tidewater. They seem to always be short of wipers and QMEDs, and have a clear path to upgrade in the engine room.
Can try tugboat companies nearby like Vane Brothers, Dann Marine, Moran Towing, McCallister, Norfolk Tug, and Intercoastal Marine.
Not that I am recommending the circle jerk that is Edison Chouest, but they do have their own school for upgrades.
When I was a young, green kid fresh outta the REC with my Z-Card I called them for information and got the same icy reception. We talked for about fifteen minutes and when I asked how to join the guy goes “whoa whoa kid, you better slow your roll. You gotta come in and pass a written English exam before we talk about you even thinking about shipping with us.” I replied “what the fuck have we been speaking to each other the last fifteen minutes?” and hung up.
Someone above mentioned MFOW. The few ships I’ve been on with their guys they seemed pretty happy top to bottom with their deal. Might not be a bad idea to give them a ring.
I have to wonder if the test the person you spoke to was in relation to their (SIU’s) Apprentice program. That seems to be their default response to persons looking to join the union.
As far as getting a job there be advised the SIU uses the hiring hall/seniority system. Yes, you have to go to a hiring hall. The SIU has 3 levels of membership, C Book (starting out), B Book (mid level and Apprentice Program graduates), and A Book (Full member). Any B Book will beat out a C Book when throwing in for a job. A Book will beat out B and C Books. As sea time is accrued ones moves up.
Once you get time and move up from wiper to QMED finding a job gets easier.
You might want to consider MSC, NOAA, or ACOE. Try contacting the companies @Wasforkandblade suggested. It might not be the deep seas career you are looking for, but it will get you passed the entry level rating you currently have.
not looking to work tugs at all considering i live nowhere near the shore nor do i have the funds to move currently, kind of dependent on a long haul to secure some decent funding lol
The test itself is not that difficult but you do have to take it in person. To get a job with C rating is completely different story. If you can’t camp by that board for days you will find it close to impossible.
So basically plan to stay up there for a week and hope to snag something.
After the first gig that’s not really an issue financially wise I’d assume but jumping in on a prayer for the first round isn’t exactly comforting.
It was quite a while ago, I don’t remember much. But it was easy for me despite English is not my first language. If you are a native English speaker you have zero things to worry about.
No one said anything about moving. If you will consider working on OSVs, consider tugs too. Osvs and tugs are liveaboard. Different companies offer different rotations. 14/14, 28/28, 28/14, etc. Skies the limit. If you want to work extra beyond your schedule, usually not a problem these days.
I guess if you want longer hitches on larger ships, another option might be the Great Lakes. Your wait for a job in a union hall could be same day you show up, weeks, or months, no way to tell.
I second @Ctony. Most guys who work tugs live nowhere near a harbor. The usual is paid travel, day rate for a period of weeks and travel home. You probably won’t be crossing oceans as often as ships, but there is a lot of entry level employment to get you started.
As most have said once you get some time under your belt and upgrade you can be a bit more particular.
With tugs you could even swing being hired over the phone. That’s how short we are on tugs.
Like everyone else has said, I would get your feet wet before you jump in. Got a new AB on here, came from MSC doing 9-12-15 month hitches, he says unless he was on an ammo boat hes making almost 2x the money broken down decking here working 2-2 versus going away for a yr. Had another guy here who got stuck during covid I wanna say almost 2yrs on the boat, no crew change, some asian shithole. Something to think about. Alot of these boat companys you dont have to go home, light blue / dark blue Dann will let you work till you bleed out, same as alot of places right now.
I worked through SIU in 2017 and 2018, currently work in GoM on OSVs and might be able to add some useful advice. It’s probably not what you want to hear but it might save you time and money, help you avoid spinning your wheels trying to work for SIU and never shipping.
SIU wants people to go through their apprenticeship program and getting a job with them as OS deck or wiper is going to be hard. As a wiper it’s going to be next to impossible because almost all wiper jobs go to apprentices. You may be able to get on as a deck OS but it could be a long wait. Additionally, they’ll want you to pay a $1,200 initiation fee … just to sit around the hall twiddling your thumbs. Also, even though you already have your medical cert from the Coast Guard they’ll require you to go get one of THEIR physicals at YOUR expense which will be another $500. They start paying for physicals only after you have shipped with them for a year or two.
Other people on this thread have given some good advice - forget about SIU and look at MSC, NOAA, Gulf OSV companies, tug companies, dredge companies. Almost everyone is hiring. The best strategy for Gulf OSV companies is to get in your truck and drive down to Louisiana and go in person to the companies with your resume in hand and your seabag in your vehicle. There are a couple of companies in New Orleans - Harvey is one, I think - but most are waaaaaaaaaay down the bayou along LA 1 between Raceland and Golden Meadow. It takes time and money - gas and hotels - but you’ll have better chances that way than sending your resume online and calling the HR department. That’s how I got my first GoM job. Headhunters usually don’t work with entry level people so I wouldn’t try them until you have some seatime and have upgraded to QMED.
Hope some of this was helpful, good luck with your job search.
I took the English test at their hiring hall and it was super easy, but it was a pain driving out to the Union Hall. It seems you have to be at the hall in person to get a job or fill out any of their forms. Very old school. The woman at the union hall told me that you have to go in entry level as a “goody” and you have to do their training program. They do have training/apprenticeship programs. She also told me there is not a lot of demand for wipers, but if you can get your QMED there’s plenty of demand for oilers. Be prepared, their medical clearance is pretty intensive.