Wondering what anyone’s got to say ? Wasn’t looking for a boat job and “poof”. Just wondering what anyone knows about the operation since Norfolk Tug took over. Thanks.
From what ive heard, Norfolk towing whats to get rid of the third deckhand, cut everyones pay and make the engineer deck also. Right now there not workin under a contract. I know a bunch of Buchanan guys jumped to Don Jon and the rest might leave to find greener pastures.
Last I heard they pay deckhands $375 a day plus benefits in NY Harbor, but lay almost all of them off in Jan/Feb until Spring. The guys work it into their calculations for the year, understanding they will be out of work for several months from day one. Union (or at least used to be). No painting, it’s in their contract reportedly.
Their gravel barges are dangerous to walk unless your going up and over the product inside the hopper. With snow the kevels are unusable. They do always have lines on the bow/stern though.
They paid into there medical. Its hard work but fun work. Its not like working for a company with oil barges and ATBs. The deckhands there are on deck making and breaking tows all watch. The Capt and mate are doing some cool maneuvers you would never see done and at any oil company anymore. Those guys can handle a boat. I couldnt imagine doing that work with 2 deckhands. They would never sleep and/or be completely exhausted.
If you want to learn and gain some valuable decking experience this is the place to get it. This is the type of work that makes great boatman or sends you home packing.
Ive been down the “stone boat deckhand” road and it will separate the men from the boys. Im going to park myself next to a pair of 3512’s and see how it goes. From what ive been told they are down to 4 boats now @ Buchanan.
I worked for Buchanan back in 2006… it’s bust ass work. I started on assist tugs and ATBs before working the rock scows for awhile and don’t think I ever worked that hard anywhere else in the industry so far. It was $300 a day at the time. This was after Roehrig went the way of the dinosaur, so we were always quite busy. Sometimes driving around the NY waterways I can swear I still see the tug I was on, the “Mister T” underway.
One week on, one week off. The schedule sucked given my distance from the yard. Did my time and moved on.
Mister T still works.