Your not lying about that, I don’t know too many companies doing day for day/ even time. That’s another aspect I’ve been looking into. Work and save my money then travel. One think I know is that you have more off than you would on a land job. Thanks for your 2 cents.
See page A2-5. Old, but this part is still valid.
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A lot of inland companies have boats that are day for day for wheelhouse. This trend continues to grow. A large, solid company that works day for day (keep in mind you always have the ability to work over…every company is short) is Canal Barge. They also have an engineer program as well, but it isn’t going to pay as much as Captain or wheelhouse positions. The bigger river boats generally work day for day so look into Ingram, ACBL as well. Harbor tugs work day for day as well so EN Bisso, Willie Bisso or Crescent Towing.
What about your vision disqualified you from the USCG?
Close? Chiefs and Capt make the same from most of the folks I speak to (union deep sea…inland is likely much different). The big differentiator is mates can possibly move up to the big $$ if they get a pilot gig. I don’t know of any similar options for engineers.
I think MSC may be the best option for the original poster.
Big money pilot gigs are relatively few and far between, as well as highly competitive. If I were talking to a young person looking to get into this profession I would suggest engine side strictly based on the marketability ashore. There may not be “big money” opportunities, but there are definitely more opportunities versus someone with a deck license looking to do anything but ship out.
My vision is 60/40
How’s your color vision?
I’ve talked to people in the decking and engineering side. One engineer told me “it’s a dead end carrer but you’ll make money” The deckhand told me “this all I’m good at” Engineers definitely have more opportunities from what I hear.
I can see colors, my left eye is worst than my right. I need glasses for everything.
How bad? See 46 CFR 10.305.
For anything on deck requiring STCW (for international voyages) you need 20/200 in both eyes, corrected in both eyes to 20/40. For domestic voyages only for deck, the above has to only be in one eye.
For engine, both domestic and international, it needs to be at least 20/200 in one eye, corrected (same eye) to 20/50.
You may get a waiver if your uncorrected vision is worse than 20/200, but can still be corrected to 20/40 or 20/50,
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Thanks for the Information, hopefully I can get a waiver
If you’re set on your goal and your eyes are blocking you, what about lasik?
What do you mean by this? Your corrected vision is 20/60 in one eye and 20/40 in the other? If that’s the case, I might try to test again. 20/60 and 20/50 (the NMC requirement for engine) are pretty damned close and I’m not sure about the fine accuracy or repeatability of the “which one is better, this one or this one” type eye exam.
To be honest, I’m nervous having a laser anywhere near my eye. If I have to get to be where I want to be I’ll get it done.
I probably do need to retake it, for my preemployment test they didnt mention anything was wrong with my eyes.
I had Lasik done back in 2004. It was done on my 3 weeks off and I had no problem returning to work minus my glasses for the first time since I began sailing. Get it done, you will be very happy. I had mine done by Lasik Plus.
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Since you are working inland without an MMC, you weren’t evaluated for the standard I described.
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Oh, ok I understand.
I might aswell since I can afford it now. Thank you.