What does it take...

[toesup]

I was wondering what it takes to get a job on a real tug..

What qualifications do you need?... or do you just need to know 'somebody?.

Perhaps we have some real 1:1 tug crew out there that could give us an insight... :)

[Aerominded]

I can see it now, up and down the Mighty Columbia! :)

[tugs]

I was wondering what it takes to get a job on a real tug..

What qualifications do you need?... or do you just need to know 'somebody?.

Perhaps we have some real 1:1 tug crew out there that could give us an insight... :)


For an example here's a real tug captain's bio and some great photography:
http://www.phototiura.com/bio.htm

Most tug workers have some maritime academy education, an affiliation with a maritime union: IBU, AWO ,NMU etal

USCG Licenses,
Pilots license: Before the establishment of the Bar Pilots in SF Bay, Crowley captains were bar pilots too. Captain took over the ship, second ran the tug if needed.

Lots of experience
See local article about proposed changes
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=5968570
[quoting Jan T]

If you'd been at the Seaway tug event, Capt. Jay Sides judged the individual run on Sunday and regaled us with tales of the real thing relative to our boats' and captain's performance.

[patmat2350]

Captains/pilots/engineers for sure, but what about deck hands?

[CG Bob]

In the US, deck hands and oilers need a USCG Merchant Mariner Document (MMD), known as a Z-Card, too. All the info you need (for a US MMD) is located on the USCG website in the Standard for Training, Certification and Watchstanding (STCW (http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/)) section. You may also need a Transportation Workers Idenification Credential (TWIC) , which is issued by the TSA, see www.tsa.gov/twic for the latest info.

Some of the basic requirements (http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/new_begin.asp) are:
Evidence of passing a drug test,
A social security card,
Proof of legal entry into the United States,
Valid photo ID and proof of citizenship.
Be at least 16 years old.


If you want to sail international waters, you will need some more training and certification as required by the the STCW.

[charlie eaton]

Dora Nine can answer that he drives a tug in N.Y. harbor.

[patmat2350]

There's an outfit on the Missisippi that's hiring, no experience required!

[Dora Nine]

What would you like to know? Where would you like to work? Push boats, assist work or offshore? I've been working in NYC for the last five+ years as a deckhand (3 years) and as a mate (2+ years). I've worked on tugs from 1,500 hp to 7,000hp moving petroleum barges from 22,000 barrels to 135,000 barrels. You can see some pics I have taken at work in my blog.

If you are looking to be a deckhand...how old are you...don't worry, it's not that big of deal, but you do have to be atleast in decent physical shape. You could be moving/lifting some pretty heavy lines, shackles, ect. And you'll need an open mind, the guy at the bottom of the food chain gets to do all the fun things like cleaning toilets and bilges...trust me I've been there. ;) You'll also have to jump through a few hoops with the Coast Guard getting some documentation. The links posted above will get you started. It takes time more than anything. When you want to move up to the wheel house or down to the E/R that's when the hoops get lit on fire. Especially nowadays. The offset is the pay has nearly doubled in some cases. When I got hired on as a deckhand in '03, I made 165 a day...now my deckhand on my tug is making almost 300. Which works out to be about to be 55k a year---not bad for roughly six months of work. If you really want to get into it, you can always go to college for it. I went to Maine Maritime Academy to get where I am today.

Let me know if I can be of additional help.

[dostacos]

sounds like it would be easier to get a ride on a crab boat in the Bering sea :eek: :D

[Dora Nine]

Probably. You can thank Homeland Security for most of the trouble. You'll have to go through.



My Office emailed me this pic taken yesterday of my tug pushing one of our barges up the Hudson River.

[toesup]

Mrs Toes just found this site for me to read.. :o

http://www.tugboatjobs.net/index.html

[Bob Bighinatti]

So Toes were are you going to aply?
Bob Big :D :D

[Dora Nine]

Mrs Toes just found this site for me to read.. :o

http://www.tugboatjobs.net/index.html


That tug in the pic to that link is the Bayridge...which was owned by my company. The pic was taken when it was owned by Hess. A little trivia for yeah. ;)

[steveciambrone]

Dora Nine,
Is the industry short handed on engineers?

I have been waiting in Dutch Harbor for two weeks because the NOAA ship does not have a 2nd engineer. A replacement left Boston on Friday but is still not in Dutch, No flights have arrived today.

Stuck in Dutch.
Steve

[TROUBLEMONSTER]

The above info is correct about having to clean toilets and being the low man on the totem pole as well as having a MMD (z-card) and TWIC (transportation workers credential) You must have a clean history to obtain these doccuments. I am a Chief Engineer for a company named Edison Chouest Offshore www.chouest.com. We are always hiring and have everything from Tugs, OSV's, AHTS, Lift Boats, and Ice Breakers. Most boats work a 28 & 14 schedule and a few 14 & 14 We have over 20 new boats under construction world wide coming out about 1 new vessel each month. All of our boats are have the newest technology and are among the best (I have worked for the competition). I am not sure but I think you need a Z-card before they will hire you. The may assist you with the TWIC card. Tidewater marine www.TDW.com use to hire without any credentials they would get everything for you and have a good training program all of their equipment is very old but you can get your foot in the door. You would start as an ordanary seaman or wiper.

[Aerominded]

Just think of the need for more boats and crews if offshore drilling is expanded...

[Dora Nine]

steveciambrone: Most everyone needs engineers... I'd send freshen up that resume and send it out to a few places..

[HoaRC]

according to an article in New Yorker, tugboat guys get as much as 80k a year!!!!! it's a high stress job which means if you run the barge into the ground or crash it on a tight turn, you cause millions in losses.

[Tugboat Andy]

I understand that some companies have problems keeping crews on the ocean routes. A lot of up and down, side to side, and gone from home for days at a time. But that is the duty you have to pull to get assigned a berth on a harbor boat or inside job.

Toes, start logging your hours. You already have a couple hours towards running a state of the art ASD tug. ;) :D

[Dora Nine]

according to an article in New Yorker, tugboat guys get as much as 80k a year!!!!! it's a high stress job which means if you run the barge into the ground or crash it on a tight turn, you cause millions in losses.


That article must be a little old..the wages are a bit more than that. Granted, I do work in NYC, the highest paid port of the US. Add about 15K to that number...and I'm just the mate of the tug. The Capt obviously makes more. There's good reason for it too. ;)


High stress? You could say that. The maritime industry as a whole, is one job where if you screw up, you stand to lose: your job, your life, your lively hood, and everything you own or worked for in the blink of an eye. Lets not forget the possiblity of going to jail for gross negligence. No exaggeration here. It's definately a thankless job too. Amongst the folks who do like myself...you are only as good as your last job.