Gentlemen,
Has anyone here ever worked for, or known someone who worked for, Tropical Shipping Lines out of Florida? They make regular runs to the Bahamas, the USVIs, and a few other places. They’re the rusty gray hulls with white super-structures and the maroon-colored containers that look like an advertisement for some kind of orange juice. I got the ridiculous idea in my head that making a regular Caribbean run for a little while might be a fun job while I’m still young and can afford to take jobs like that.
I just wanted to know what their reputation was in the industry. Are they a bunch of rum-soaked pirates who I stand a good chance of going to jail for or is it a decently reputable company where it might actually be enjoyable to work? I thank you all in advance for whatever information you can provide. Your experience is invaluable to a young green-horn just getting his sea legs.
Company Website:
https://www.tropical.com/external/en
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;90727]Gentlemen,
Has anyone here ever worked for, or known someone who worked for, Tropical Shipping Lines out of Florida? They make regular runs to the Bahamas, the USVIs, and a few other places. They’re the rusty gray hulls with white super-structures and the maroon-colored containers that look like an advertisement for some kind of orange juice. I got the ridiculous idea in my head that making a regular Caribbean run for a little while might be a fun job while I’m still young and can afford to take jobs like that.
I just wanted to know what their reputation was in the industry. Are they a bunch of rum-soaked pirates who I stand a good chance of going to jail for or is it a decently reputable company where it might actually be enjoyable to work? I thank you all in advance for whatever information you can provide. Your experience is invaluable to a young green-horn just getting his sea legs.
Company Website:
https://www.tropical.com/external/en[/QUOTE]
As a US citizen they probably would not consider you. If you want adventure take your MMD down to the Miami River and ask around some of the tramp freighters. You could make as much as $3500/month with a license. maybe $800 if you can cook and you’d get an entirely different perspective on the shipping business. You just might have the best adventure of your life too if you live thru it.
Does Sante Line still run out of the Miami River with that crusty old ex-McAllister tug and container barge??
[QUOTE=Bayrunner;90752]Does Sante Line still run out of the Miami River with that crusty old ex-McAllister tug and container barge??[/QUOTE]
I see them advertising for an unlicensed engineer every so often. They did have a webpage also.
[QUOTE=ForkandBlade;90764]I see them advertising for an unlicensed engineer every so often. They did have a webpage also.[/QUOTE]
Just found this from 11/28/12: http://www.getmerchantmarinejobs.com/engineer-miami-florida-3099951.htm
Nice little ships, interesting destinations, horrible pay and I don’t even know if they will take an American for liability reasons but if you can work for them for a time for the experience and seastories, then it would be worth trying. I say though in the end it would be nothing to look at longterm.
What a travesty when an American-based company won’t even hire a licensed American mariner for “liability reasons”…
[QUOTE=c.captain;90779]Nice little ships, interesting destinations, horrible pay and I don’t even know if they will take an American for liability reasons but if you can work for them for a time for the experience and seastories, then it would be worth trying. I say though in the end it would be nothing to look at longterm.[/QUOTE]
Hell, some of the fondest memories I have that still bring a smile to my face are things that I wasn’t looking at “long term”.
Go have some adventure before you chase the dollar or you’ll regret it the rest of your life.
Once you do start chasing the dollar you might be on a GOM delivery boat or a damn drill ship in the galley one day, look around and say to yourself, “Damn, am I the only person here that was a real port calling sailor?” Then you’ll go cash that check and wish there was a way to have it all but you know those days are over once you get a mortgage and a ex-wife or two.:rolleyes: