Working on small boats / near coastal as a newly qualified OOW

[Unregistered]

Passed my orals a few weeks ago and have had no success in finding a job so far. Know a guy who might be able to get me a job on tugs etc and was just wondering if anyone has any advice on whether or not this is a good idea. I think it will be reduced tonnage and near coastal which is obviously going to impact on my eligibility for chief mate etc.

Just wondering how this would be viewed by other companies when applying for OOW unlimited jobs in the future? They all want experience which this would give me but I'm not sure if its really the right kind of experience.

So should I try and get a job doing this or keep trying to get a job on larger boats? What do people reckon?

Anonymous incase any recruiters see it.

[JoelR]

From what I hear working on the tugs can be a decent job. Good time off rotations and being local if you have family etc, decent money too. However it seems to be something people do later on after serving time at sea. Do you know what company it would be with. I hear positive things about working on Svitzer tugs.

[Unregistered]

Yeah I'd rather not say though incase I do decide to apply for it. Its not Svitzer though.

[Lewisscott22]

Have you had a look at this thread? http://www.officercadet.com/showthre...Hunting-Thread

Carnival were also looking for newly qualified officers recently: http://www.officercadet.com/showthre...3466#post63466

[bridgemonkey]

From what I hear working on the tugs can be a decent job. Good time off rotations and being local if you have family etc, decent money too. However it seems to be something people do later on after serving time at sea. Do you know what company it would be with. I hear positive things about working on Svitzer tugs.

Couple of our crew in the yellow wellie brigade work on svitzer boats. Don't think they have any complaints other than the usual moaning and groaning anybody does. Pay is pretty decent if what i've heard them say is real

[Steve]

I think it will be reduced tonnage and near coastal which is obviously going to impact on my eligibility for chief mate etc.

I recommend you familiarise yourself with the limits from MGN 92

Sea service should normally be performed on merchant ships of at least 24 metres in length or not less than 80gt proceeding to sea.

"Proceeding to sea" means leaving categorised waters, which can be found in MSN 1776.

[Unregistered]

So if the boats are over 24m/80t and proceed to sea then it will count towards unlimited chief mate? Useful to know.

[chris]

Did you see my post about the Viking recruitment day for hal?

[Unregistered]

Yeah. They didn't even have the decency to respond to my email. I know someone who did get an invite to it though, although they had cruise ship experience. I don't.

[gadget123]

Yeah. They didn't even have the decency to respond to my email. I know someone who did get an invite to it though, although they had cruise ship experience. I don't.

It is pretty tough getting work when you don't have experience of that ship type.

And who wants a white guy on a bulk carrier/ container ship, not many people.

[GuinnessMan]

And who wants a white guy on a bulk carrier/ container ship, not many people.

Really? Lots of Eastern Europeans work on them...

[Lewis]

Container ships yes but bulkers? The only Europeans I've ever heard of on a bulk carrier have been cadets.

[Crawf121]

My company (carisbrooke) is a British flagged bulk company who employ eastern Europeans and British officers.

[Clanky]

I was offered a chief's job on bulkers last year, but the terms and conditions were not great.

[GuinnessMan]

Was it Meridian that used to run small bulkers as well with European Crews?