OSV Deckhand Job Description

Professional Mariner Forum
21

As Capt. Jack Aubrey so aptly put it:

You cant make friends with the foremost Jacks lad, they will despise you in the end and think you weak. Nor do you need to be a tyrant.

My crew & I have a WORK relationship, and it ends there. It’s nothing personal, its business. The reason I am on this vessel is not to be their friend but to keep them safe, so they can return to their families at the end of the hitch. But I am also here to manage and supervise them in the upkeep and maintenence, as well as the numerous & time consuming bridge operations. They were hired for a purpose, and I was hired for a purpose. We do have some occasions of laughing and cutting up, but they are usually brief. Everyone I work with knows that once I’m on board, I’m strictly business. If the hands have failed in keeping the boat in a clean, well maintained manner, then I have failed at my job. I give constructive criticism when it is due, & I always look for things the crew has done well & praise them for it. I have a great crew that respects me & I respect them in return. It works for me.

22

Have a positive attitude always. Show that you work hard. Show that you are willing to learn. Don’t get involved with sh*t talking. Don’t be a kiss ass. Don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how dumb. The stuff you don’t know you will pick up and you’ll do fine.

23

I think a lot depends on the boat your on. I’ve been on OSVs that you do about 50/50 50% cleaning/deck maintenance 50% cargo handling. I’ve been on others that it’s mostly cleaning and “being a maid”. Hell the ship I’m on now the AB/lookout has their own ARPA and ECDIS! So every boat is a little different I think. I think being early for watch and staying after watch goes along way. Even if it’s just a couple mins. Always be willing to help others, even if it’s not “your job” if you got a min and see a qmed with a hand full of tools offer to help him out. Everyone has a certain job and responsibilities on a boat but that doesn’t excuse anyone for turning their back on something that is with in their power to help. especially when it comes to safety. If you see oil on the deck wipe it up, it shouldn’t matter what position you hold. Capt, AB, QMED, CE ect. Just remember that you are making good money for the job so do what ever it is do it well.

Anyhow this is just my 2 cents based on my experience in the industry. Hope it helps! Have fun and be safe.

24

Thanks for the info. I’m looking forward to this.



25

Just keep your mouth shut and work. Utilize the all powerful uncommon, common sense. Be easy to get along with, that is at LEAST 50% of the trick to being successful.

26

attitude + willingness to learn + work ethic = level of success

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27

…oh yeah, like Diesel said, “keep your mouth shut and work” lol. Good luck!

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28

I give thanks to captains like you bayrunner nobody likes working for a D!©k in fact I always work harder for a captain that shows mutual respect for me as a person not a subordinate. I am 3rd gen mariner and can spot a good capt. Keep it up and dont let the dumb deckhand ruin it for the good ones.

29

This thread is 3 years old, the dumb deckhand is probably a dumb mate by now.

30

well thank you for the advice here so if I WANT TO WORK ON ONE THESE UTILITY BOATS HOW MUCH IS THE PAY AND WHICH COMPANY IS HIRING I’M AN OLD CHAMP CLIMBING UP THE LADDER AGAIN ! lot of experience but rather keep it between and my self so i wudnot offend a cpa’n[QUOTE=AB Murph;58123]Using phone so forgive mistyped words.

Started out with no experience in field. Jemplayer pretty much sums your work on the utility boats. There are only 4 of you on board most of the time. 2 cap’n and 2 deck hands (1 main job eng room the other deck.)

It may sound like a lot of work for one guy but it really isn’t. Remember you are the one leaving stuff laying around on deck. Cap’n is in the wheel house and the other guy is in bed. I started out on a 135’ utility boat and was able to do the daily cleaning in about 35 minutes. Moved up to 160’ boat and it took about 2 hours daily cleaning.

Far as weekly cleaning do 1 thing a day, ie scrub showers mon, wipe walls ties, wipe ceilings we’d. ( get the idea )…
You will burn out trying to do all the weekly cleaning in one or two day and start to dread it, little at a time and it will seem just like daily cleaning.

Now I am on a 280’ and have extra ab’s to help and only clean one level but still do the same. I personally do do believe in a crew change clean up. The boat should always be in a crew change condition.

The other deckhand is gonna have to get up and help you on certain evolutions. YOU are also gonna have to stay up on your offtime and learn from them and this includes getting your butt up when an evolution goes done that you don’t know how to do. Keep a good attitude during the training phase. If you bitch and moan about having to get up on your oddtime to learn you most likely will not have a job long. Ask yourself, why does the other deckhand have to get up when you are on watch to teach you? Should be the other way around.

Just some little inside tips. Small crews have to work harder together then bigger crews.

Ask your cap’n about rinsing the boat down. Freash water is a boats AND yours. Keep the salt off of it much as possible and less rust you will have to contend with. My old company was rinse wheelhouse everyday. It sure made it easy on upkeep.

Now what to bring:
a kindle or books
Laptop
Your directv rcvr if you have one ( lot of boat comp. Don’t pay for prem. Channels or sports packages) I would bring this the 2 nd trip though. See what they have on board plus ask the cap’n. Don’t want to look like you are there to watch tv.
If you like healthy cereal bring the kind you like ( lot of kid cereal in the fleet)
Knee high boots for washing boat. You don’t want to get your workbooks wet and have to work in them.
Figs and dip if you do these. ( people hate bums )

Probably some more but that is all I can think of now beside your normal work cloths, toiletry items and such

Remember attitude.
A book on knots to practice

Attitude is no.1[/QUOTE]

31

Tugboater !!! do know how much is the pay./day for deckhand and if I have USCG OUPV license can it be useful in any way can it qualify me to obtain an AB ? [QUOTE=Tugboater203;143057]This thread is 3 years old, the dumb deckhand is probably a dumb mate by now.[/QUOTE]

32

Forget about the OUPV! if you’re not operating an uninspected passenger vessel it’s useless.

33

[QUOTE=z-drive;143153]Forget about the OUPV! if you’re not operating an uninspected passenger vessel it’s useless.[/QUOTE] i mean do i need to take an AB course ? to get certified and which area is actually the good pay for deckhand /AB ?

34

Good pay for an Ab deckhand would be $350 a day.

Hire a license consultant. Please. A good one should be able to get you an AB fairly easy I’d think. Then once your citizenship gets worked out you should be able to get a license like everyone else, maybe even some of your seatime will count.

Seafarers may be considered to have qualified for this endorsement if they: 1. Meet the requirements for certification as a RFPNW;
· While qualified as an RFPNW, have seagoing service in the deck department of:
· 540 days; or
· 360 days and have completed approved training

Until January 1, 2017, seafarers may be considered to have qualified for this endorsement if they:
2. Have served as a watch standing AB or as an RFPNW for:
· 360 days within the last 5 years prior to application, OR Note: Mariners who qualify for AS-D under this option will also receive RFPNW if not previously endorsed and II/4 assessments met.
3. Seafarers holding a rating endorsement as able seaman before January 1, 2017, will be eligible for this endorsement upon showing evidence of:

  1. Holding an endorsement as RFPNW, and
  2. Having satisfactorily completed approved training in:
    i. Proficiency in Survival Craft or
    ii. Proficiency in Survival Craft - Limited
1 Like
35

Thank you very much for you advice long time ago it helped , Now I ended up having my USCG Unlimited Master :slight_smile: