Maybe you guys just don’t know anybody in the oil business outside of the marine world then and I’m glad you guys are getting treated well.
Most people that post around here are merchant seamen. I don’t care what the guys do that work for oil companies. Making those comments about selling your soul to big oil and not having a set schedule could scare the guy off. I think you’re confused about how things work out here. It’s not much different than working on a tug or a ship. We show up for our hitch (14/14, 21/21, 28/28 and then go home no one calls me until my next scheduled crew change. A far as even time being a unicorn the only company I’m aware of that mostly works 2 for 1 is Chouest. I can’t speak for the smaller out fits because I don’t know anyone that works at a small OSV company. Everybody else I know working at a larger OSV company works even time.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;143781]Most people that post around here are merchant seamen. I don’t care what the guys do that work for oil companies. Making those comments about selling your soul to big oil and not having a set schedule could scare the guy off. I think you’re confused about how things work out here. It’s not much different than working on a tug or a ship. We show up for our hitch (14/14, 21/21, 28/28 and then go home no one calls me until my next scheduled crew change. A far as even time being a unicorn the only company I’m aware of that mostly works 2 for 1 is Chouest. I can’t speak for the smaller out fits because I don’t know anyone that works at a small OSV company. Everybody else I know working at a larger OSV company works even time.[/QUOTE]
Sorry man. I was running my mouth about something I don’t know about. And thanks for spinning this into helping the kid out. I like his attitude. I think when he figures out his angle he’ll do well.
I learned something too. I thought a lot of places in the GOM were 2-1. Now I can aspire to get a 28/28 job if I want to go down there someday. Thanks for the info.
Most of us had to work 28/14 just to get by and it was the norm. Once the big raises came after Katrina most everyone went even time. After the big raises that came in 2012 anyone that was still working 28/14 went even time. The ones left working 28/14 either want to or are stuck doing it because if company policy. C.captain kept spreading that info long past when it was relevant and no one corrected him.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;143787]C.captain kept spreading that info long past when it was relevant and no one corrected him.[/QUOTE]
ok, so someone needs to list all the major OSV companies with their current work schedule policies. ECO, HGIM, HOS, OCLLC, Seacor, Gulfmark? How bout the smaller operators like Jackson, Adriatic, Odyssea, Aries, etc? Also, the subsea/dive companies like Oceaneering? I will start a new tread just for this question so it can be definitively answered once and for all.
[QUOTE=TrainMan;143776]Maybe you guys just don’t know anybody in the oil business outside of the marine world then and I’m glad you guys are getting treated well.[/QUOTE]
My brother in law works as a rig supervisor and works a 14/14 schedule, on land rigs. He does well, has a lovely home in Texas, and is buying a vacation home. He’s putting a child through college.
And I think his soul is intact.
Hey Catherder, I know a guy who’s on a regular fly in/ fly out type thing for the oil companies up in Prudhoe Bay and he lives quite well in Maryland, but that doesn’t minimize the lives of the other guys I know. Also, I always thought the GOM crews were on 2/1 rotations and worse until Fraqrat just corrected me. I told the kid early on if he wants to make money, the gulf is where it’s at. I do what I do in the lakes because I enjoy it and currently have the financial freedom to do what I please. If things in my personal life cause for a sudden need of money, you bet your ass I’m going down to the gulf.
The truth is that the big guys are the only ones giving even time. Almost all of the mom and pop and smaller companies are 2/1. It saves on benefits because you can have 3 guys fill 2 positions where 1/1 requires 4 guys to fill 2 positions.
In 20 years of working this industry I have never worked or even been offered an even schedule until I came to HOS earlier this year.
[QUOTE=txwooley;143833]The truth is that the big guys are the only ones giving even time. Almost all of the mom and pop and smaller companies are 2/1. It saves on benefits because you can have 3 guys fill 2 positions where 1/1 requires 4 guys to fill 2 positions.
In 20 years of working this industry I have never worked or even been offered an even schedule until I came to HOS earlier this year.[/QUOTE]
I just got offered an even time gig thru a recruiter, they paid the fee, it’s a small outfit. Of course the proof is in the pudding so we’ll see what happens.
I have been toying with the idea of a recruiter myself. If it gets my foot in the door it might be worth it.
[QUOTE=catherder;143870]I just got offered an even time gig thru a recruiter, they paid the fee, it’s a small outfit. Of course the proof is in the pudding so we’ll see what happens.[/QUOTE]
The fact that they paid the fee is a good sign they are trying to do the right thing.
Fishy,
You have gotten a lot of good advice. Some of the best suggestions are to do something now (maybe when you get your semester done and have those classes you needed squared away) that will give you a taste of what working on the water is all about. It would probably be a really GOOD idea to do this BEFORE you get yourself into an academy and get yourself all educated for a career that you just can’t hack.
You have gotten a lot of ribbing… mostly because there are a ton of people who come on her with the "I’m a woman… never been on the water… seems like fun and good money… how do I get a job? “I’m a HS kid who thinks working on the water would be cool… how do I get a job” “I’m an ex military guy… seems like working on the water would make me a lot of money… how do I get a job?”… Basically in a nutshell, most of them haven’t done any/much research and have never spent any significant amount of time on on a boat of any size… save for that canoe trip at camp.
So, yeah… we get it… where you are from, you couldn’t get exposure to this kind of thing because of where you lived. But, why did you decide that this would be something you would want to do? Watch too many Pirate of the Carribbean movies? Maybe Captain Ron too? Or is it that you would rather put bamboo shoots under your nails than be a dirt farmer or a mechanic at the local Jiffy Lube? You mention marine biology was an interest… did you take a trip to the beach as a kid… see a starfish and just think that was cool to look at? Cause, truth be told… if you just want to be near the ocean… there are a lot of places you can live and a lot of jobs you can do that have nothing to do with that (or even being a mariner).
The fact of the matter is that while there are definitely good things about being at sea… there are definitely drawbacks…
Number one question to ask yourself: DO YOU GET SEASICK??? I mean, do you know? Have you ever been on a boat… in rough weather… do you ever get carsick? motionsickness? If you can answer yes to any of those questions… it’s not for you. It’s not something you “get used to”… and you are a worthless hand when you can’t even function.
Then, you should be honest about your skills and abilities… are you more mechanically inclined? maybe engineering route. Want to be captain someday… lots of mathy stuff… and you better not be color blind… lol.
The acadamies can be great places to get training… but how would you feel if you went through all of that… and HATED being on a boat?
Try this… next summer get yourself a job on a boat… look up dinner cruise boats… or any of the other suggestions… and go spend some time on the water… working… and see how you deal with that. Even better if it’s a job that has some amount of “being offshore” for extended periods to see how you deal with that too.
You can see a lot of this thread has gone on to discuss work days… because… you know what? Most people don’t really care for being away from their homes, family… life for weeks at a time. Oh… and it’s not all exotic ports of call. If you go to the gulf… you will be on a boat… probably for 28 days straight… period. No getting off when you are in port and reloading for another trip out… just you on the boat doing your shift… eating what they feed you and maybe having phone service/internet/tv… maybe not at all… that’s for a month… no McDonald’s… No Stabucks…
So… yeah… the money is good… and the work can be interesting… and it can even be a super enjoyable way of life… if it suits you… You will meet a lot of interesting people… you might get a chance to see different parts of the world… you may get excitment whether you like it or not… but it is NOT for everyone. Do yourself a favor and test drive the life before you commit too much money and time to it.
[QUOTE=Saltgrain;143954]Fishy,
You have gotten a lot of good advice. Some of the best suggestions are to do something now (maybe when you get your semester done and have those classes you needed squared away) that will give you a taste of what working on the water is all about. It would probably be a really GOOD idea to do this BEFORE you get yourself into an academy and get yourself all educated for a career that you just can’t hack.
You have gotten a lot of ribbing… mostly because there are a ton of people who come on her with the "I’m a woman… never been on the water… seems like fun and good money… how do I get a job? “I’m a HS kid who thinks working on the water would be cool… how do I get a job” “I’m an ex military guy… seems like working on the water would make me a lot of money… how do I get a job?”… Basically in a nutshell, most of them haven’t done any/much research and have never spent any significant amount of time on on a boat of any size… save for that canoe trip at camp.
So, yeah… we get it… where you are from, you couldn’t get exposure to this kind of thing because of where you lived. But, why did you decide that this would be something you would want to do? Watch too many Pirate of the Carribbean movies? Maybe Captain Ron too? Or is it that you would rather put bamboo shoots under your nails than be a dirt farmer or a mechanic at the local Jiffy Lube? You mention marine biology was an interest… did you take a trip to the beach as a kid… see a starfish and just think that was cool to look at? Cause, truth be told… if you just want to be near the ocean… there are a lot of places you can live and a lot of jobs you can do that have nothing to do with that (or even being a mariner).
The fact of the matter is that while there are definitely good things about being at sea… there are definitely drawbacks…
Number one question to ask yourself: DO YOU GET SEASICK??? I mean, do you know? Have you ever been on a boat… in rough weather… do you ever get carsick? motionsickness? If you can answer yes to any of those questions… it’s not for you. It’s not something you “get used to”… and you are a worthless hand when you can’t even function.
Then, you should be honest about your skills and abilities… are you more mechanically inclined? maybe engineering route. Want to be captain someday… lots of mathy stuff… and you better not be color blind… lol.
The acadamies can be great places to get training… but how would you feel if you went through all of that… and HATED being on a boat?
Try this… next summer get yourself a job on a boat… look up dinner cruise boats… or any of the other suggestions… and go spend some time on the water… working… and see how you deal with that. Even better if it’s a job that has some amount of “being offshore” for extended periods to see how you deal with that too.
You can see a lot of this thread has gone on to discuss work days… because… you know what? Most people don’t really care for being away from their homes, family… life for weeks at a time. Oh… and it’s not all exotic ports of call. If you go to the gulf… you will be on a boat… probably for 28 days straight… period. No getting off when you are in port and reloading for another trip out… just you on the boat doing your shift… eating what they feed you and maybe having phone service/internet/tv… maybe not at all… that’s for a month… no McDonald’s… No Stabucks…
So… yeah… the money is good… and the work can be interesting… and it can even be a super enjoyable way of life… if it suits you… You will meet a lot of interesting people… you might get a chance to see different parts of the world… you may get excitment whether you like it or not… but it is NOT for everyone. Do yourself a favor and test drive the life before you commit too much money and time to it.[/QUOTE]
Very well put.
I would simply add that you may THINK that you are choosing the sea as a way of life, but you are only presenting yourself.
It is, however.the Sea that chooses YOU.
Never forget that.
Thank you for everyone’s time and their input. I have enjoyed receiving opinions and, more interestingly, observing some of you talk about work at hand. I am now really weighing getting some sea time before CMA. How I figured it, if I apply and am accepted this October-November, and taking into consideration that I’ve been cleared to complete the next semester at community college (which CMA is requiring), and should have a few months worth of time around Summer with which I could hopefully find some work.
Coincidentally, my math tutor has done 15+ in the Coast Guard, and when I asked him about deckhand work, he suggested NOAA. His argument was that I would have more of a chance to be involved with ship handling in a case like that, rather than medial work on a container ship. Is it as easy as that? I tried to approach NOAA about this kind of thing when I was doing my project, and it was entirely off-limits to me, being a federal agency.
You would have a better chance getting ship handling on a big passenger boat or ferry, but honestly you should get some experience cleaning toilets and chipping rust first. No one is above these jobs on most workboats and it will give you some humility should you be a green third mate with a deck crew to boss around.
What he said, and NOAA is a waste of time.
[QUOTE=SomethingsFishy;144040]Thank you for everyone’s time and their input. I have enjoyed receiving opinions and, more interestingly, observing some of you talk about work at hand. I am now really weighing getting some sea time before CMA. How I figured it, if I apply and am accepted this October-November, and taking into consideration that I’ve been cleared to complete the next semester at community college (which CMA is requiring), and should have a few months worth of time around Summer with which I could hopefully find some work.
Coincidentally, my math tutor has done 15+ in the Coast Guard, and when I asked him about deckhand work, he suggested NOAA. His argument was that I would have more of a chance to be involved with ship handling in a case like that, rather than medial work on a container ship. Is it as easy as that? I tried to approach NOAA about this kind of thing when I was doing my project, and it was entirely off-limits to me, being a federal agency.[/QUOTE]
Avoid NOAA and thank me later, preferably with a Don Julio margarita, shot of decent Scotch, or draft beer of my choice. Ship handling?? You should watch us pull into port sometime. Seriously. It’s You tube entertainment-worthy. They hyperventilate themselves into unconsciousness on the bridge when traffic appears within 2 miles.
if money is not a problem just go to academy. at least with the degree you can do something else or continue your education onto something else if you dont like it (since it doesnt sound like engineering is for you)
if you want to get somewhere faster as far as career goes I would do this http://mitags-pmi.org/pages/workboat_academy_programs at least with the type of jobs coming out of there you will have a better schedule and be able to travel and see the world on -your- terms. if you try to travel and see things by way of deep sea ship your going to see the world through brothels. do you really want to be a whore mongerer? thats where everyone goes when they get to port. they dont sight see or anything
I take great offense to these remarks. How dare you try to push your morality on the kid. How do you know that’s not exactly what he’s looking for in this career.