Folks,
(I have put a long-form description of the Prospect on the following web-page:- http://gointerlink.com/manning.htm)
What I love about Internet Forums is that there is a lot of dissent but then it all sorts out in a quick while since there are usually well-balanced people on both sides of the argument. THANK YOU to all those who have answered to keep the sentiment of this Job-Posting positive, and also to those who have doubted the very job and suspect Mickey-Mouse operations - you folks have seeded good conversation which has been responded to by folks on the board. I’ll address a few concerns and can even relate one-on-one, but for the benifit of the board, we should keep discussions on the forum.
Here are the facts of the case (as known to me) and then we can discuss further:-
The US Armed Services need a Tug in Kuwait.
The Contract to move the Vessel has been awarded to a company in the Middle East, by the US Armed Forces.
The Statement of Work includes the simple task of moving the Tug from the US East Coast to Kuwait, and nothing else.
The Tug is NOT pulling anything in tow.
The Tug will not have any Cargo.
The Tug will not have any other personnel on board.
The Tug will not be armed.
The Tug will be moved from US East Coast, via the Gib and the Canal, to Kuwait and delivered.
Once delivery is completed, the contract is OVER.
Crew gets Air-Tickets to fly back home.
End of Story.
Now, Yes, it is a Mid-Eastern Company that is the Employer for the Crew. The Crew gets paid by the Employer, who has, I believe, done previous Govt. Off-Shore Contracts, thus has secured this contract.
The Tug may or may not have other Armed personnel on board, I have no information on this and at this point it is not an issue at all. After all, this is work for the Armed Svcs, thus this can be expected though I personally wouldn’t care about it, if I was joining the Tug. I am not.
Watch-keeping by Master: Yes, I’d too hate it if I was asked to do this. However, that is what I have and nothing more. If there was a legal way it could be ensured that there be 3 watch-keeping Officers in both the Bridge and the Engine Room, we’d do this, but if not needed, the Employers will not provide additional hands. Therefore, on this contract, we have two, doubled up Watches, spread over 24 hours, both on top and down below. Hey, on the positive side, since you are travelling East, you’d be keeping LESS than 24 hours each day to allow for Clocks!! J (Couldn’t resist that!!)
Maintenance work on board:- What maintenance work could be there on a Tug? IF the seas are good, there might be some paint-work, maybe. There could be only minimal maintenance work on decks. In the E/R, whatever is the routine maintenance, that would be there. Once the v/l is secured for Sea, which is within a couple of hours after leaving port, I doubt there will really be any work at all. For this reason, watch-keeping of 12 hours makes ‘some’ sense. The only place you’ll meet traffic is while passing the Rock, for about 24 hours, but the Vessel Traffic Management Scheme should take care of it. As long as the Master is keeping his position and intentions posted and is sending Notices as and when required, he shouldn’t have much of running about the Bridge. The AB would be busy keeping lookouts in Gibralter and in the Mediterranean, for Cross-Traffic. Maneuvering the v/l over auto-pilot could be an option if action is taken in good time, ofcourse!! Just remember to FLY A CLEAN US FLAG when passing Gib!!! And similarly the Suez Canal. Looking at Bunkering, I’d see it happen somewhere around Gib. Don’t take my word for it, please – not at this point!! Once you have bunkered, you are off to Port Said. You pick up that light 33 miles away, in good visibility, and drop anchor for your Canal Transit. When the Suez Pilot comes on board, you start up and move the 10 hour passage to Port Suez, to then towards Aden and you then turn the corner towards Muscat. Give all your Notices, move towards Bandar Abbas and enter the Persian Gulf. Do the 500-odd miles up towards Kuwait. You are met with the people who now take your ride away from you!!! You purchase your duty-free and get on board a flight to home!! Really. As simple as that! Now, we do want EXPERIENCED hands who have crossed the Oceans multiple times. Who don’t get scared looking at white-horses, who know how to read weather reports and adjust Course to avoid weather and seas, who know how to do their duties, and who can encourage the Crew to enjoy the trip while executing their duties. We similarly need a C/E who can plan the maintenance with the Main Engines running at all times, who can plan the load on the Engine for different Sea States and can economize on the consumption! Now, those are the BASIC JOBS of those Ranks. I really don’t see much work at Sea!! (Oh! How I wish I was the one on the boat!!) This is the reason why we need that Ocean Endorsement – yes it is a requirement, and the Employers also have a strict 5 year requirement for Experience for the Master and C/E.
Towing Endorsement:- People have asked for that. Why should the Tug need this? The Tug is NOT on Salvage duty. The Tug is only making a passage across the Oceans and is not offering up its services for Towage/Salvage. And, as far as Search & Rescue, it is the obligation of the Tug to assist a Vessel in Distress. However, it has NO Obligation to start towing a vessel in distress!! (As if Towing would relieve the Vessel in distress, from its distress!!!?) Therefore, there is NO need for Towing Endorsement Crew. On this board, thankfully we have people watching out and clearing misconceptions and clarifications from them is more helpful than from me! Thank you!!
Something fishy about the whole thing? Come on! I’d say that about anything!! Grow up, is all I’d say!!
Pirates on a small free-board, slow-speed vessel? Yeah Right! Yes, Actually! Good Point! Only, that there are no pirates in any of the Regions this tug is going, till it reaches Somalia North Coast. Now, I shouldn’t be bragging, but the North Coast has enough Naval Coverage as the waters are narrow and can be covered. However, you do have a point, but you are NOT the only tug in those waters. I’d recommend not flying any US flags at that point – which you’d not do at Sea, anyway. You’ll hear more about this at the briefing.
If you have not already seen the link above, please visit it and see that there is a Familiarization of the Crew before the Voyage begins. I think it is being done in the right way. At this point, if there are any suggestions, to prep for the Voyage, I’d like to hear and will suggest back up my chain. Please feel free to contribute concrete suggestions!
The Contract is short. It could be over in around 45 days. That’s the only bad part!! But it is an easy bit of income for anyone looking for work!
