@JamelG Tankerman on ATBs are somewhere just over the 500 dollar a day mark. There is usually a mate/pic and a tankerman on watch. Except Bouchard. They’re much less.
@ItsJody Thank you brother. This is something I will definitely look into. I just need to get my foot inside the door. That’s why I’ve been asking all these questions. I just want to get away from brown waters but still use my Tankerman PIC endorsement.
Dammnnn. I mean even with inflation that’s painful.
Yes it was. Sweetheart contract, and even with $25/ hour OT it sucked. Especially since we had two third mates and OT was limited to 36 hours a week, including the 16 for weekend watches.
That’s a little less than what I started with as a 3rd Mate on tankers… in 1980. And I was getting day for day vacation.
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Some real evidence of how wages have stagnated in America 
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3M pay is now 500-600 a day…
My point was that in this particular case, 1980 - 2004, wages had not appreciated. I’m aware of current 3/m dayrates.
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Sheesh sorry, verbiage just threw me off.
Good morning Jody. If you don’t mind me asking, what is 3M? I’d like to look into it and hopefully apply
If you have to ask, you probably don’t meet the requirements for it and/or are not ready to apply for it. But here’s the answer to your question.
Also, if you want to be employable, you would also need this stuff.
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Thank you. I work inland, and I’m looking I want to move up and go offshore. That’s why I ask. All of this is new to me my brother. But again THA K YIU. You’ve been the only one to give me the answers that I’ve been looking for
I recently went to the SIU hall in New Orleans but they wouldn’t let me apply without an AB. But when I went to school for my AB, which I’m currently waiting on my credentials to come in, I met a few OS that were with SIU and didn’t have an AB themselves. That’s why this is all a little confusing to me.
I’m a recent academy grad with no usable endorsement other than a tankerman assist. I joined SIU and I am sailing on a tanker as a AB working 12 hr days and on my off time working with the mates in the cargo control room and on deck learning all the cargo systems the piping diagrams how to strip and clean tanks how to properly hook up hoses and arms getting my time in so I can get my PIC. Sure it’s a lot of work and I’m not sailing on my 3rd mate unlimited license but I’m figuring out sometimes you have to put in the time and learn as a entry level worker to make it to that officer position. I’m hoping it pays off in the end, 3rd mate jobs are very competitive right now but if I can do it any of these new academy grads who didn’t get the opportunity to sail on tankers while they were cadets can do it. You just need to grow up and realize just because you have that 3rd mate printed on your license doesn’t mean you deserve to sail as a 3rd mate.
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When I started at Bouchard years ago now. They had on their website that they prefer to hire academy grads that have licenses. I was psyched at the idea of working with other school guys.
I didn’t even get to the boat yet. I was on the crew boat and I met the OS that I would be working with. He was hired off the street without his AB. I found out later that he was “juiced in” to borrow the expression from Casino. WTF did I go to school for when these companies hire guys right off the street with absolutely no experience?
That may be what you are up against with the union, especially if you don’t know anybody.
That’s a sentiment worth repeating.
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Silverbk, I can relate to that.But in a slightly different way. I decked and steered every chance I got on or off watch. Got my Operators license only to watch a green 3m unlimited come aboard and take a job I tried for, thankfully. didn’t work out and I persevered with a captain that gave a shit. Ironically, I told my son many years later, if you are gonna sail, get a decent degree and license so what happened to me doesn’t happen to you. Sorry Domer, mentioned my son again.
There’s plenty of turnover in 3rd mates on tankers. once you get your PIC (DL) you’ll probably get a job within a year. relax. get your mate of towing too, needed for ATBs. If you have a PIC and TOAR completed youll really be golden. the class is about 3k i think, pay the 3k and get it done. then youll be in the market for crowley, osg, etc ATB jobs.
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Good advice 23. Those guys/companies you mentioned arent doing too bad in the paycheck area either.
No, but the ship guys make more money than the tug guys do.