Boston Putford/Seacor

[steamer]

OK, I've had a few emails about BPOS/Seacor whilst I've been away, let me try to answer a few questions:

1. Offshore is difficult to get everything signed off in the TRB
Utter rubbish-I've only been away for a month so far (off to next ship in a week or so), my TRB is full of sigs and I have learnt a lot-either from hands on experience or from second hand experience from crewmates.

2. What's the pay
SSTG never explained the pay to me, other than it is higher than most etc. I will concur with that, our company pay significantly more than others-if not the most. You do not get a second rate education, nor is the company trying to compensate you for a second rate experience at sea-they simply pay more and take a lot of pride in their staff.

3. Is it worth going with them
If you are happy with your own company and confident in yourself, then you will have no problems. The crews are generally quite old and a large number of their officers are nearing retirement. You can see this in two ways, boring or a massive bank of experience to learn from.

4. Are you employed
Yes, you are employed with the expectation to work for them for a least two years after qualifying-much more than other sponsors. Also, travel arrangements are very easy, I even get access to a hire car for joining and leaving ship.

5. Phone calls home
You may use the "patch phone" which works out at about 5p a minute.

6. Work/Leave ratio
You work 1 month on 2 weeks off as a cadet, whilst working around the fleet to get as much experience as possible.

Hope that helps-they're a great company and very supportive-you also get the support from SSTG which is a huge bonus.

[Faust]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Excellent information, going out to sea with them in June for an observation trip. I am very keen to be assigned with them as the offshore sector looks very interesting and I think an excellent environment to learn in.

Even more excited about going to sea now.

Thanks very much indeed!

[Rowdy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Hey thanks for that steamer, I am also going for a observation trip in June with Boston P (maybe see you there Jack?)

you mentioned the pay, I was under the impression all you got was the SSTG allowance thingy? The reason I bring this up is because i'm currently going through a career change and although money is not everything, it helps when you have a mortgage to pay for!

[steamer]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

They pay considerably more than the SSTG rate-but DON'T let that sway you, this is a very niche industry and not for everybody!!

Enjoy your obs trips, I don't know of any other company that offer them. I am enjoying the company and i have not heard one moan or groan from their staff.

Enough said really!

[Chiefy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

rolling rolling rolling keep those tugs a rolling

[Rowdy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Anybody know if working for putford in the northsea would let you claim SED?

[Chiefy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

It depends.....apart from the 6 months out you also need 1 foreign port / year.

I have a friend whos company sends the boat to norway 1 / year for a crew change so everyone gets their tax back if you dont get the foreign port you dont get your tax back.

So yes and no

[Rowdy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Lets hope there kind and let me visit norway once a year then!

[steamer]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Yes, there is a foreign crew change each year.

[Faust]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

What are the facilities like aboard?

Just out of curiosity. I imagine it would vary ship to ship with some being thirty plus years and some less than a decade.

[Malim Sahib]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

OK, I've had a few emails about BPOS/Seacor whilst I've been away, let me try to answer a few questions:

1. Offshore is difficult to get everything signed off in the TRB
Utter rubbish-I've only been away for a month so far (off to next ship in a week or so), my TRB is full of sigs and I have learnt a lot-either from hands on experience or from second hand experience from crewmates.

I think one of the issues with the North Sea Ships is one of Celestial Nav.
For example, how often do the blokes onboard take compass errors?
Is there a Sextant onboard?

[Chiefy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Ermmm isnt a sextant a leagal requirement, not it's use just that the thing is on board, under the captains bed normally

[Malim Sahib]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Chiefy,
Only for ships over a certain size engaged on voyages of a certain length/geographical nature. If say your Rig Boat was built in the Far East or suchlike, then it'll probably have one onboard, however if it was built in Europe and the vessel only does North Sea work then it may not.
That's assuming anyone onboard actually knows how to use it - as you know, a good chunk of the Offshore legion are ex Fishermen/Coastermen/RTO's.
There are quite a lot of people out there who've served their time in the short sea trades, yet have unlimited tickets but have never used a Sun Gun in anger.

[steamer]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Compass error every watch, azimuth/amplitude every week and sextants are available yes.

[Chiefy]

Re: Boston Putford/Seacor

Chiefy,
Only for ships over a certain size engaged on voyages of a certain length/geographical nature. If say your Rig Boat was built in the Far East or suchlike, then it'll probably have one onboard, however if it was built in Europe and the vessel only does North Sea work then it may not.
That's assuming anyone onboard actually knows how to use it - as you know, a good chunk of the Offshore legion are ex Fishermen/Coastermen/RTO's.
There are quite a lot of people out there who've served their time in the short sea trades, yet have unlimited tickets but have never used a Sun Gun in anger.

Even vessels built in EU for North Sea are generally certified for World Wide Trading, many boats come and go through out thier life span (I have several friends currently moving boats from North Sea to Brazil). I would also suggest the proportion of ex-tralermen / costal only people is dropping quite quickly due in part to the increased size and complxity of the vessels, there are very few converted trawlers left doing EERV work, as they just dont make the grade any more.

But yes whether any one knows how to use the sun gun is debatable, but the same can be said of deep sea people, Nautilus has the numbers somewhere (as even cant find the buggers!)

Like many things we learn it, pass an exam and then dont ever use it (engineers are just as bad in certain areas )