Don’t know of any companies specializing in tramping but every company I’ve worked for tramped us between long term contracts and seasonal work.
Also, the ATBs are going away from manned barge drop-offs to mates and AB/tankerman loading and discharging. You can add load plans and ballast water exchange to your pencil pushing
not referring to the “big boys”…rather the smaller owner/operators that work the “fringe” of the industry…I suspect a dying breed…long ago I worked tows “down south” mostly pl480 cargo…these were jobs the bigger companies didn’t or couldn’t be bothered with…most of these tows were custer f**ks from the get go…but were fun, challenging, and with interesting destinations with longer than usual dock times…a vagabonds dream…either as master or mate I do my best work “outport” away from the office…just a thought.
not referring to the “big boys”…rather the smaller owner/operators that work the “fringe” of the industry…I suspect a dying breed…long ago I worked tows “down south” mostly pl480 cargo…these were jobs the bigger companies didn’t or couldn’t be bothered with…most of these tows were custer f**ks from the get go…but were fun, challenging, and with interesting destinations with longer than usual dock times…a vagabonds dream…either as master or mate I do my best work “outport” away from the office…just a thought.[/quote]