I usually like to make my own schedule. Normally I like to work about 60 days at a time. It does not matter whether I have 30/60/90 days off. I dont mind working over. Some years I work eight or nine months some years only four or five months. I like doing a variety of different things in different places on different types of vessels so I like temporary assignments. If I’m ashore I’m usually ready to fly out on short notice.
I will be back ashore in a couple months with a pocket full of cash. Im looking for a DP job. I would do any schedule anywhere at very low wages to get DP-2 seatime. I might even do the first month of DP-2 for free.
So just which companies in the GOM offer equal time? I have a friend at ECO who told me that 4/2 and 6/3 were the normal rotations and equal time was “very hard” to obtain in the gulf. I was under the impression from reading posts on here that the companies were moving more and more to equal time.
Unfortunately 2/1 is a deal breaker for me despite the huge increase in pay I would potentially get by heading down there. Before I spend $3000 in DP classes airfare and hotels I would like to get an answer to this question.
I have worked 2/1 before and its very easy to get burned out and miserable very quickly. Sure the money is nice but if you arent home to spend it whats the point?
I have heard that it can be difficult to get equal time at ECO. It is quite the opposite at Hornbeck, particularly for officers. I know of a few cases where they have pretty much required boats to go equal time. Can’t speak to any other GOM boat companies.
KC–love your comment (even though it’s roughly three weeks old now). There’s more truth to that than many of us would care to admit.
I work deep sea, and my schedule is pretty much day-for-day. In fact, my relief and I pretty much make our own schedule–we both live locally to where the ship comes in, so there’s no additional travel burden to the company. And the pay is good, so it all works out pretty well. And, if I ever do need a few extra bucks, there are occasional opportunities to do an extra week, or even work an occasional night shift when the ship(s) are in port.
I do not think it will be that difficult. The operators are becoming more creative to attract personnel. There are some at ECO on the BP boats that work 14 days on, 28 days off.
I do not think it will be that difficult. The operators are becoming more creative to attract personnel. There are some at ECO on the BP boats that work 14 days on, 28 days off.[/QUOTE]
My chief once told me I will never work equal time while he is breathing. Four coordinators have laughed at me and told me no, no, why?, and hell no. Two managers have told me, there are other color boats of you have to work a different schedule.
I have personally watched two engineers quit when the office took equal time from them.
I’m so frustrated at always being on the defensive with my schedule that if they try and take my equal time I’m walking off the ship. Im having a hard time with the stress of everyone in the office giving me the impression that I’m a bad employee because I want to be home with my family.
I’ve never understood why even time is such a sin with a lot of tug and OSV companies. All the people in the office get to go home every night to be with loved ones, get off all holidays and most weekends… what’s wrong with the people on the boats trying to get a little slice of that? I can understand some people want 2-1 and that’s fine, but don’t force people to work that and laugh when they ask for even time. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who want even time.
[QUOTE=ryanwood86;120581]I’ve never understood why even time is such a sin with a lot of tug and OSV companies. All the people in the office get to go home every night to be with loved ones, get off all holidays and most weekends… what’s wrong with the people on the boats trying to get a little slice of that? I can understand some people want 2-1 and that’s fine, but don’t force people to work that and laugh when they ask for even time. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who want even time.[/QUOTE]
Maybe because the folks in the office, in the main, aren’t making what the guys on the vessels are? So, to them, that’s the tradeoff, the office guys don’t make as much money because they don’t have to go away from home like we do.
BUT…I assume guys in the GOM make a day rate like most other mariners. In other words, work 180 days, make 180 x (day rate). Work 240 days, make 240 x (day rate). On that level, I don’t see what the problem is with a guy who’s willing to sacrifice some of his pay to get more time at home. So, what’s the real reason the office doesn’t want to let a guy work equal time if that’s what he wants, in exchange for less pay?
[QUOTE=z-drive;120602]They like 2-1 because its a net less number of employees than equal time. Employees are expensive, the less the more profit they make.
7/7 is nice but depends how close you live and how consistent crewchange is. Late or early crewchange cuts into a week off pretty steep.[/QUOTE]
So, in simplistic terms, a two-boat operation might have three captains…one permanent on each boat and then one relief? From a simple wage perspective it doesn’t make any difference, but in terms of benefits it makes a difference I suppose. Just trying to understand what’s going on.
Yes it’s taxes and benefits, hassle too. Others can chime in but normally a boat has a captain, relief captain and mate (two watch boat) where the captain is always captain when he’s on. The relief captain is mate half the time, captain half the time. The mate is only on as mate. Works well for continuity though. This is up north, not down the bayou but I’m sure it works similar.
Been working 21/7 and 14/7 for 22 years except for 2006 when I worked 360 straight while relief got sick and couldn’t return for a year.
But I’m in the harbor only a few miles from my house and live the life of short notice standby.
It’s been great but loud. I’m at the point where I need to get away into the woods.
[QUOTE=z-drive;120608]Yes it’s taxes and benefits, hassle too. Others can chime in but normally a boat has a captain, relief captain and mate (two watch boat) where the captain is always captain when he’s on. The relief captain is mate half the time, captain half the time. The mate is only on as mate. Works well for continuity though. This is up north, not down the bayou but I’m sure it works similar.[/QUOTE]
That’s pretty typical, though down on the bayou we might say First (Master)/Second (Relief Master)/Third (Mate) Captain – at least at the crewboat companies, which I guess is because everyone has a master’s license on 100-ton boats. The actual billets can and do change, both up and down, depending on circumstances and the companies’ needs. And the earlier poster was correct as far as I can tell: no additional impact on wages (man-days stay the same), but an incremental cost for benefits for an additional person per vessel.
Apparently there also is a concern, especially at companies with smaller shoreside staffs, about logistical inefficiencies, which I don’t quite understand; you can still crew-change every two weeks, just take the time for a thorough handover. <shrug> Shouldn’t impact how often supplies, groceries, etc. are sent to the boat.
Some companies run even-time schedules for officers and 2:1 for unlicensed crew. That works, too.
[QUOTE=Traitor Yankee;116851]28/14 right now but I’ll soon be making a push for a transfer and even time.[/QUOTE]
That’s me but I’m looking at about 8 years before looking for even time. I want all bills paid off and a nest egg before asking or going even time. I guess they call it paying your dues.