Hello, my name is Zachary Cunningham and I am very eager to get into an entry level position with an offshore oil rig company. I have very little knowledge of the industry, all I have is an high school education and I am just wondering if i could get some advice that maybe some of you wish you had before you got into the industry. Maybe things like, the best entry level position, the best company to apply for, how to speed up the application process, what to expect and any other things you may think i need to know. Thank you so much i appreciate everyone’s time. Also I live in Virginia but i am 30 minutes away from two international airports and I do not mind flying back and forth I just hope that my location does not turn employers away. Also I feel like I would enjoy working 21:21 more then 14:14 let me know if that would be a big mistake.
First step to any maritime job is getting your Merchant Mariner Credential. You’ll need to get a 5 panel drug test, TWIC (transportation worker identification card), and submit an MMC application (CG-719B) to the USCG.
Thank you so much!
Check out the podcast, Meet the Maritime Industry with Teddy P. The interview with Brian Cook of NextGen should help guide you.
Good luck
Keep an open mind to other work in the oil field. In addition to the rigs there are drill ships, and deck hands on supply vessels all looking for entry level workers. If you stay on top of getting basic credentials and make some calls and email inquiries you’ll have no problem finding work. Some companies are so in need of workers they’d probably even help you through all that but I think youre better off just sorting that part out yourself. Your location will not be a problem, most workers are not local and commute from other parts of the country.
GIS- has an opening for riggers. Careers - Grand Isle Shipyard
Take a look at Transocean, at the moment they aren’t advertising for entry level but watch their webpage or even just give a cold call and get your name out there.
OSV companies, like Chouest, Harvey Gulf, Hornbeck, if youre interested in that route at all that is.
For entry level on an oil rig you will have to get yourself to and from the Heliport…usually Houma or Golden Meadow. Nobody flies entry level workers from their home. They don’t care where you live as long as you get yourself to work on time. You also picked a pretty slow time to try to get into the oil field, still coming out of a down turn and probably won’t pick up until 2027. Companies drilling in the Gulf are Noble, Valaris, Transocean and Stena as far as floaters don’t know anything about jack ups but you can probably find that online. Just check the companies websites for openings and you can try a crewing agency like Prime Ocean.
Get your TWIC and MMC. Contact SIU in Piney Point, MD. They have a training school free of charge. You will not work in the oilfield, but big ships.