Quickest route while optimizing for money(haven’t worked dredges) and time in my opinion would be:
Apply for AB special with your seatime, tugs don’t differentiate between the ABs for the most part. Depending where you go AB pay is in the 400s now.
I’d go work ATBs that’ll give you the schedule you’ll want 21/21 at somewhere like Centerline Vane Rose Cay etc… think only Crowley and OSG ATBs do 28/28. You’ll also benefit from the larger tonnage down the road for licensing.
You’ll only need 127 1.5 days to get to AB-U.
While accruing this time get your RFPNW watch and ASD assessments signed off. You should be able to get STCW Able Seafarer deck as well with the new rules.
Then you can either
- Try out deep sea as an AB and see if you even want to get your 3rd Mate Unlimited
- Become a tankerman(get signed off while working prior to this) and get a nice pay raise on ATBs
- Keep working as an AB but move to a better paying/more opportunity outfit and work towards your TOAR and 1600 ton mate at the 720 day mark or also apply for Mate OSV and go work the Gulf.
You could get to a spot where you could be a mate on tugs in 2yrs since the industry is short ppl.
Where I work they are hurting for people to move up.