There’s lots of information about Gulf work but not a whole lot about work on the west coast. How does Seattle stack up to the Gulf as far as jobs go. Can people go around “knocking on doors” for a few weeks and likely get a job as in the Gulf, or is it more difficult. My gut feeling tells me there are less jobs in Seattle than in the Gulf. Do you think it’s worth a drive up there to check for work? I’m looking for an entry level wiper position. I want to pursue the engineering track.
You rely on a gut feeling to surmise their are more jobs in a booming region as opposed to in one city? Watch out miss Cleo!
[QUOTE=oregonblitzkrieg;118300]There’s lots of information about Gulf work but not a whole lot about work on the west coast. How does Seattle stack up to the Gulf as far as jobs go. Can people go around “knocking on doors” for a few weeks and likely get a job as in the Gulf, or is it more difficult. My gut feeling tells me there are less jobs in Seattle than in the Gulf. Do you think it’s worth a drive up there to check for work? I’m looking for an entry level wiper position. I want to pursue the engineering track.[/QUOTE]
A lot of the Alaskan stuff comes out of Seattle, the fish processors were always hiring when I was out there, might be able to get a job as a casual on Coastal Transportation dock unloading. . Seattle has the ferries, tugs, fishing boats, dinner cruises etc but in general the more desirable the job the harder it is to get.
Unemployment, particularly among unskilled workers if high right now. There are shortcuts. It’s possible that someone with no experience at sea could walk in off the street into a good situation, but if this forum is any indication lots of people are on the hunt for that opening. On the other hand more then one mariner started by gutting fish on a processor for a season or two.
Not going to have much of a chance getting a wiper job with the Washington State Ferries or most of the tugs I would think. WSF only has like 2 wipers left in the entire fleet if I remember correctly, and they have been there a long time. That position has been phased out mostly. Why not go to Seattle Maritime and go through their Engineering program. It’s only a year long including an at-sea internship. You come out with qmed, rfpew and a whole bunch of other endorsements. Seems like a helluva’ deal.
[QUOTE=Tacktician;118320]Not going to have much of a chance getting a wiper job with the Washington State Ferries or most of the tugs I would think. WSF only has like 2 wipers left in the entire fleet if I remember correctly, and they have been there a long time. That position has been phased out mostly. Why not go to Seattle Maritime and go through their Engineering program. It’s only a year long including an at-sea internship. You come out with qmed, rfpew and a whole bunch of other endorsements. Seems like a helluva’ deal.[/QUOTE]
Worked for me and a bunch of other guys. Not trying to brag, but a year in school, and about 6months-1 year of working anywhere that had a job, and now working for big oil making great money with even time off. Plus, the school is located in Seattle so if you had your heart set on working for some of the local companies, you could try to network while you are in school as they are all pretty close. Only problem is that you are SOL for this school year, so looking at next year.
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;118316]A lot of the Alaskan stuff comes out of Seattle, the fish processors were always hiring when I was out there, might be able to get a job as a casual on Coastal Transportation dock unloading. . Seattle has the ferries, tugs, fishing boats, dinner cruises etc but in general the more desirable the job the harder it is to get.
Unemployment, particularly among unskilled workers if high right now. There are shortcuts. It’s possible that someone with no experience at sea could walk in off the street into a good situation, but if this forum is any indication lots of people are on the hunt for that opening. On the other hand more then one mariner started by gutting fish on a processor for a season or two.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but do you get sea time gutting fish?
According to everyone ever, and c.captain hjmself: “Of course being a processor does not count as time towards anything other than to be an OS/wiper/FH…Sheesh, where do they come from? Go to the NMC website to look up what qualifying seatime is!”
Other people claim the contrary but I’m going with the consensus on this one. I am done feeding the trolls after this post however! Use the goddamn search! “Fish processor” works well.
Coastal will try to kill you with long hours of hard labor but they are honest about it up front. Try Western Towboat. They do not have engineers onboard so as a deckhand you will be doing a fair bit of engine room work, though most of it is polishing the insanely shiney EVERYTHING.
[QUOTE=MariaW;118369]Yeah, but do you get sea time gutting fish?[/QUOTE]
Evidently not. The path is from the slime line to deck hand.
The mariners I know that got their start on the processors didn’t have a better option or couldn’t sit around waiting. Anyone that has a better option should take it obviously.
Anyone looking for something in the Seattle area should contact Bob Walton Sr. of Maritime Recruiters (206-232-6041), he has been in the business the longest. Also Captain Kelly Sweeney of Maritime Headhunters (360-678-3350). Both are going to charge a fee, but both will land you a job.
Really? I know a few maritime recruiters that were classmates of mine and a few who have contacted me about jobs and none of them charge a fee to the candidate. My understanding is the employer pays the recruiter to find them the right candidate.
i didn’t say the fee was charged to the candidate, but apologize if it came across like i did. who the hell cares what they charge, if you can’t find a job you need help getting one.
Yes, a ligit headhunter will charge the company, not the mariner. I’d run the other way if one of those criminals ever ask for you to pay them.
I used Captain Sweeney to get my first job and it was a great experience. Understand some people’s thoughts on Headhunters, but for me it was well worth it and would recommend it for someone not having any luck doing it themselves.
Yessir King, I wouldn’t mind paying them if I needed to go to work. They are very good recruiters. Thanks for confirming this.
Nobody has mentioned the various excursion/tour boats in town. I know people who have used them to build sea-time or when they lacked recent sea-time. Argosy is the largest player but there are several others in town including Waterways and some single vessel operations. This isn’t the time of year to be looking for jobs with them but it is worth looking in to.
Both King County and Kitsap County operate water taxis but I imagine that they follow some cumbersome formal hiring practices.
Also arrow launch services
Going to ask a dumb question, if you think it’s too dumb and beneath you to answer, just ignore it. 
SIU seamanship school requires you to have perfect teeth. Now what about hawsepipers? Will employers make you get a dental check up before they hire you? If so I need to go ahead and get that crown I’ve been putting off due to the cost of it. Don’t want to show up and be turned down for a stupid reason like that.
I have never had a pre employment physical that included a dental check and definitely not a requirement perfect teeth. (1 dinner boat co., 3 tug co., 1 dredging co. and a large OSV co.)That includes my yearly physicals when I unfortunately had to be a SIU member as condition of employment at my prior company. That apprentice program with SIU is the first time I heard of that.
[QUOTE=seacomber;118395]Anyone looking for something in the Seattle area should contact Bob Walton Sr. of Maritime Recruiters (206-232-6041), he has been in the business the longest. Also Captain Kelly Sweeney of Maritime Headhunters (360-678-3350). Both are going to charge a fee, but both will land you a job.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the info. I wonder if they offer this service to entry level non-experienced people or just to people of licensed rank?