[QUOTE=monkey72;154133]A great thread has developed…
However, quite simply I have a 2 A/E working as a Mechanic II. The Mechanic II position does not require a maritime credential. We have a full compliment of marine engineers. This individual is getting “sea time” for working as a Mechanic II. This “pencil whipping” of sea time only contributes to more unqualified and dangerous upper level officers. The integrity lies in each one of us to check the ones that want to sit down and slide uphill…[/QUOTE]
Actually I have to disagree with you on this one. Working on a drillship, for most companies now, the head of the maintenance department is now a Technical Superintendent, which is usually a C/E. Now, I agree that this position should be a C/E, but I disagree with giving that job to a 1st A/E who only spends his time on hullside machinery and takes no time to learn the topside equipment and Subsea equipment. In this case, I am not sure about the circumstance, but that engineer who is now working as a mechanic will be more well rounded and will fill the top position better, than someone who doesn’t take the time to learn everything there is about the drillship.
[QUOTE=PDCMATE;154064]The basic here is for the rest of our lives, we will always need to do continue education and training, no matter what vessel you are on, or specialty you are working in. It will always be like that. Anybody that has done the training to Unlimited Master or C/E can always learn something else and do well in that specialty. I believe everyone has that ability to learn new things and that’s what we have to embrace from an industry stand point. No one knows everything in the maritime industry and we all can cross over, but have to realize that sometimes extra training or step downs will be the norm and what is expected to get the knowledge of the specific vessel and specialty that vessel performs.[/QUOTE]
I am in total agreement with almost all of what you say but there is one group that Knows EVERYTHING, Pilots. Just ask them and they will tell you.
[QUOTE=PDCMATE;154149]Actually I have to disagree with you on this one. Working on a drillship, for most companies now, the head of the maintenance department is now a Technical Superintendent, which is usually a C/E. Now, I agree that this position should be a C/E, but I disagree with giving that job to a 1st A/E who only spends his time on hullside machinery and takes no time to learn the topside equipment and Subsea equipment. In this case, I am not sure about the circumstance, but that engineer who is now working as a mechanic will be more well rounded and will fill the top position better, than someone who doesn’t take the time to learn everything there is about the drillship.[/QUOTE]
While you are correct about being “well rounded” the problem still lies in the fact that the Mechanic is falsifying his sea time to raise his license. He should not be getting 1A/E time unless he is filling that billet. Plain and simple!
A lot of licensed mariners on MODU’s figure out rather quickly that by ditching the Marine path and jumping on the Mechanic bandwagon, one can avoid the monotonous 12 hr control room watches, potentially earn more $$ and shed the responsibility that goes with the license. If you can pencil whip your engineering sea time while working as a rig mechanic and advance your license in process, what a deal!
There are two drilling companies that I know of that require personal to not only have a chief engineers license, to be the maintenance supervisor, but to have sailed on a drill ship as a 1 A/E, worked as a mechanic on the top side equipment, and spend atleast a few months as a electrician. There is no other way to know all of the equipment on a drill ship. They have been moving our 3 A/E’s over to the mechanics dept for a year or more so they can get experience on that side of the ship. When they get moved back to the engine room, they usually bring them back as a 2 A/E.
The two harsh environment rigs I have worked on both had aux boilers on them. That is what they used for heat on the drill floor, some of the machinery spaces, and down in the hull. Plus they had some steam winches on the drill floor along with the air tuggers.
[QUOTE=c.captain;154169]not to change the subject but I say day and a half seatime to everybody including the ship’s dog and FREE BEER![/QUOTE]
The UK version of our CG, the Maritime and Coast Guard Administration (MCA) has got a jump on your campaign. Read this and either weep or die laughing … it makes platform sitters look pretty damned good.
[QUOTE=Steamer;154196]The UK version of our CG, the Maritime and Coast Guard Administration (MCA) has got a jump on your campaign. Read this and either weep or die laughing … it makes platform sitters look pretty damned good.[/QUOTE]
Why not UL licenses for yacht drivers? Hell we give them to truck drivers here! Free seatime and licenses for EVERYBODY!
On my rig there are people who went from the engine room to the mechanic side and have come back as a 1 a/e or 2 a/e and have done a good job. I don’t believe they would give anyone sea time a a first engineer unless that person was serving in that capacity. Here you can upgrade to 1 a/e working as a mechanic but not to chief engineer. Most of the non-licensed mechanics who came up through the oilfield worked as motormen and would be fine engineers.
So, it is “ok” for a Mechanic II who holds a 1 A/E to receive sea time even though this individual is not sailing or filling a 1 A/E billet for the drill ship. This is what I am witnessing on my drill ship. I have electricians and electrical tech’s that hold unlimited engine licenses and never have sailed as a motorman and did not have prior sea service before coming to the drilling industry.
I agree that a marine engineer that goes topside (Mechanic or Subsea) gets great exposure to understanding the drill ship and all of it’s systems. Obtaining sea time in a billet that is not approved for sea time is fraud.
[QUOTE=monkey72;154232]I have enjoyed reading the thread…
So, it is “ok” for a Mechanic II who holds a 1 A/E to receive sea time even though this individual is not sailing or filling a 1 A/E billet for the drill ship. This is what I am witnessing on my drill ship. I have electricians and electrical tech’s that hold unlimited engine licenses and never have sailed as a motorman and did not have prior sea service before coming to the drilling industry.
I agree that a marine engineer that goes topside (Mechanic or Subsea) gets great exposure to understanding the drill ship and all of it’s systems. Obtaining sea time in a billet that is not approved for sea time is fraud.[/QUOTE]
Who is writing this sea time letter for personal to get a license that have never worked in the engine room, the captain or the company? Either way it is fraud if they are not filling a spot on the COI. We have engineers move to other departments, (mechanic and subsea) and they get a sea time letter to be able to renew the license they already have. However they can not upgrade because they are not filling a spot on the COI anymore. I have never seen a mechanic, electrician or subsea hand get a license and never worked in the engine room. This sounds very fishy given the company your profile says you work for. I thought this only happed at Noble
Nope, it is happening here as well. If the COI were actually checked against sea time letters being issued one would find the “game” being played. I have an electrical supervisor stating that he is going for the next available TSL spot. He has never spent a day working as a licensed engineer. Yet, he holds a 2 A.E license.
The Mechanic II is obtaining sea time as a 1 A/E after each rotation. That is not correct. Naturally, a marine engineer that goes topside (Mechanic, Subsea, etc.) will become more well rounded in his/her understanding of a drillship.
