r/tuglife

My half brother graduates high school soon, and honestly I’m getting really concerned for him. He’s been applying anywhere and everywhere he can think of, but he hasn’t gotten a single callback yet. Soon he’ll have to move back with his relative which I can't even describe how bad that situation is.

Doesn’t really have anywhere else to go right now because he signed a contract promising them he move out the day he graduates. It was the only way he would have a place to live so he signed it. The clock is ticking. He already has his TWIC card but no MMC. That's going to take forever but he hopes to eventually get one just to have it. So far he’s applied to:

Florida Marine Transporters (automatic rejection)

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL)

Enterprise Products

Magnolia Marine Transport

Hines Furlong Line

Parker Towing Company

Vane Brothers (automatic AI rejection)

American Cruise Line

Founders 3 Management Company

Alliance Marine Holdings

St. Johns Marine Group

Golden Barge Line

Upper River Services

Kirby

Ingram Barge Company

Does anyone know of any other companies hiring entry-level deckhands or anyone willing to take on someone young who’s eager to work? Boats that allow him to work and sleep on them is a big plus because they are better than being at home. I know that sounds funny but his situation is that bad. I feel really bad for him which is why I made this post.

Applied to Ingram and managed to get an interview. But last few interviews with tug and barge companies didn’t go anywhere. First one I can admit was me being kind of ignorant of some aspects of the industry (they didn’t care about me being MMC certified at all. In fact it made them suspicious I was going to leave at the first opportunity for better job somewhere else). The other one I managed to be better about understanding the industry and emphasizing that I know how to be safe and a good crew member, but didn’t seem to matter either.

So basically I’m trying to get a better sense of what I need to be saying in these job interviews, because if I was completely unqualified I don’t think they’d be talking to me at all.

Hi all- Thought I'd reach out and put this question to folks working in the field...

I'm approaching 50 y/o, just left a 24 year career in the Marine Corps. Have always enjoyed sea time (though I have significantly less of it than your average Marine) and recently returned to rec diving. Realizing that I would love to do work that is more fulfilling and get out of office living, and spend more time on the water.

Here's my biggest challenge: I would love to get into tugs but am "stranded" in California due to divorce and keeping kids close to Mom. What that means is that I am concerned about being able to jump to deckhand pay- I am continuing to network with some part time options among the veteran side of things, but still don't know if I will be able to build a balance where I can keep the bills paid and work towards the needed experience...

Are there ways to build time/experience that I can manage "on the side" and progress towards appropriate licenses?

What are usable resources to help me figure out what pathways are available?

Thanks for any advice, I know this is likely a common topic to surface here and I'd love to learn from you all.

JMB

Curious to see what yall on tugs are making per year to give some insight on the possibilities of the industry.

Got my MMC, TWIC,passport, medical. I live in the west coast. Wondering if yall know of any companies hiring for deckhands green on the west coast or gulf. Currently, I applied at Centerline, Western, G&H towing, Norfolk Tug (east side I know), Pacific, Dunlap. If you guys know anymore that are willing to take green guys please let me know. Just want a shot.

Anyone go through this program or know of anyone who has? What can you say about it? Does it guarantee you a job as a deckhand or higher position?

Hi everyone,
My husband just got scheduled for a Zoom interview with American Cruise Lines this coming Monday, and we’re trying to learn as much as possible beforehand from people who have actually worked there.
He’s interested in hearing about:
What daily life onboard is really like
Pay rates and whether the money is actually worth it
Typical work hours and schedules
Living conditions/cabins
Food onboard
Management and crew atmosphere
Whether it’s a good opportunity for someone starting out in maritime work
Overall pros and cons of the company
We’ve been seeing very mixed reviews online, so we’d really appreciate honest firsthand experiences — especially from deckhands or entry-level crew.
He currently has a TWIC and is trying to break into the maritime industry, so this could be a big opportunity for him.
Thank you in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

Green OS here and just got a super last minute job with a company in Alaska (not gonna name it). Was told to do a drug test. And to basically be there in 2 days from now. Little did I know the company is expecting me to pay for my own drug test out of pocket. Also the communication with the office is horrible and nobody was willing to answer my questions, even the captain on the phone was impatient when I had some simple questions. Is this normal for the industry? I’ve never experienced something like this ever and I’ve worked for some shitty places in my day. Feels cheap like if they are willing to cheap out on something like this I wonder what other corners they’d cut to save a dollar? Makes me want to pass and hold out on something else even if I have no experience.

I am a navigation second officer.

I am trying to work on tugboats once I get a green card

What I have found so far says I need to get TWIC and MMC. Maybe basic safety trainings?

As I know my STCW Chief Mate COC will not be recognized in the us but what about basic and advanced safety trainings I have? Do I need to take again that are like USCG approved or whatever?

I believe since I have experience on working on merchant ships it is better than people who have no prior experience.

Have you seen green card holders working on US tugs?

Also Do I have to start from OS or would there be any other option for me based on my background

basic training

TL;DR: I’m weighing various methods of hawsepiping against a 1 year school program, and a 4 year maritime academy as a path to engineering.

I’m in Seattle, for reference.

I’m 25, no kids, no debt, own my property outright, been a diesel tech for 7 years, large variety of equipment, trucks, factory machinery, ammonia freezers, reefers, trailers, snowcats, heavy equipment, power generators, have OEM certs, 608/609 etc. currently making around 100k/year with overtime.

I love doing this, but, I’m a lifelong sailor, former live aboard, several ocean passages under my belt, and spend all my free time on boats already so my goal is to join my passion two passions, make some money and have some more free time. Overall my goal would be to have at least 3 months straight off a year, since my lifestyle is cheap and my interests are not expensive.

With that being said I’m looking to get into the engine room, ideally I’d like to make it a long term career. from my research and talking to people I figure I have several paths.

First off; I’m considering applying to be a wiper/oiler on a factory trawler for the upcoming pollock season, which would give me my initial 120-180 days of sea time depending on if 12 hour shifts make a difference, I believe I’d have to actually stand watch, not just working.

The goal here would be to sit for my qmed as soon as possible, because it seems like all the jobs I’m seeing have this as a requirement.

Secondly, I’ve been told MSC and the merchant marine in general is a great place to start earning sea time. I’ve also heard that it’s a slow process, and the hitches are long, and I’d like to visit home at least every 6 months.

I’ve also read about SIU apprenticeship, but have not found any details on what this consists of or where it lands you.

If anyone has experience with those or the merchant marine in general, I’d love to hear about the day to day, as well as the barrier for entry.

Third option; Seattle maritime academy has a one year program that ends with a qmed, and an accreditation from the program, though I’m not sure if that’s valuable.

They’re also involved with a bunch of maritime companies, and I’ve read that this is a good way to get on the radar for your first job. This sits as a medium between school and full on hawsepiping.

Fourth option; going to a 4 year program, this culminates in being a 3E, but I have several hiccups with this option,

the first being that I’d be relocating, and I just bought a property in the cascades last year and built a cabin on it, so I’m currently living with no bills other than property tax.

So while moving away from my house to attend school, I’d also be taking on six figures of debt to graduate into an industry I’ve never worked in, and have no insight on how it’s doing. I’d hate to graduate into a stagnant economy or a bad job market.

I could probably find a job in my current field in whatever city the school is in, that would make enough for me to live and go to school, but It would definitely be a very rough 4 years for me if I was set on graduating with no debt.

Also, I’ve heard that all the good shoreside jobs basically require a degree, but I’m already making six figures as a diesel tech, which again is a job I love, and if the only benefit of a degree is shoreside job security when and if I burn out on sailing, it might not make sense for me to go to school right now, maybe later in my career?

The benefit of school is a very concise timeline, and that set path inherently will have less ups and downs then just taking whatever jobs I can, I haven’t done the math, but I’m assuming I’d break even with what I would make hawsepiping + debt within 4 years of graduating school, unless I was incredibly fortunate to move up the ranks as fast as possible.

I should add, I only have a GED, as I started working full time at 15 to support my younger siblings. I’m sure because of the is I’d likely have a hard time with admissions, or have to get an associates somewhere first. I’m generally not familiar with college admissions.

So if anyone has some insight into how formal schooling would benefit my career, or if I’m missing something, please share it.

With all that being said, any insight into career paths, or discourse about it is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Just out in my application. Anyone ever work for them? I guess they do tows from Seattle to Alaska. Good company? Would be my first hitch if I get taken on.

I know you can go engineer on a ship. But do tugs have designated engineers? Is there a path for just engineer on tugs? Cause my buddy is doing his first hitch on a tug and he’s a deckhand, he was saying they got him in the engine room and the deck. Is there like wipers, qmeds, chief engineers, on tugs like ships? If so how would I go about that path?

I know the average time for you guys to being gone is like 28 days away. How does this affect your dating life or family life? Are you able to keep it afloat?

How do you guys handle a shitty relief that's constantly late for crew change? Neither captain has the balls to address this ongoing problem but he is constantly the last person to show up, not by a few minutes, but usually a few hours. Now, if we're crew changing at the dock and people can come and go as they arrive and I'm just the last person getting relieved that's not the end of the world. But I'm currently shanghaied on the boat for an extra day, at least, because this dude literally missed the launch boat at crew change. I'm really not one to bitch but it's called CREW change for a reason. Not show up whenever the fuck you feel like. The comical part is that this guy acts like it's a complete non issue and still expects me to show up on time for him. I'm really planning on taking my time off and showing up a day late for him whether he likes it or not. I have a family and shit to do at home just like everyone else. If you made it this far, thanks for reading my rant.

More details are: 2/2 ocean tug, stuck on board until the next port. I'm always on time for him. He's had 3 emergencies since being my relief and I've always dropped everything to get him off the boat. When my wife was about to give birth it was like an act of Congress to get him to come in for me

Got a job as a deckhand on a Kirby tug coming up. Can you guys recommend me a good multitool to have?

My goal is to eventually go on ocean going tugs offshore. What are the usual hitch lengths for these?