ECO or Bust!

**Ragin Cajun** · January 13th, 2013, 09:06 PM

Hey, forum members! Since I've been "outside" looking "in"... I finally decided to come in from the cold and join the group! I'm headed down to ECO in the AM to see if I can get signed on... that O/S position that I've been angling for has been a slippery devil to get a hold of... Nicky Collins told me last week just to wait till something opens up, patience is certainly a virtue... that I seem to lack. All I've got paperwise is a Master 100 Ton NC, radar observer, TWIC, BST, MROP... (my 200 Ton is sittin' somewhere in WV at the NMC buried in a pile no doubt...) I've racked up 1023 days of sea service on vessels over 150 GRT as engineer/mate/deck; and would like to get my 500 Ton Mate ticket as soon as I get a few more days under my belt. I've interview w/ Seacor, Aries, Oceaneering, Hercules, Kirby... and ECO.

**chris_os** · January 14th, 2013, 07:19 AM

Good luck I was emailing Laverne reed and she told me they weren't hiring at the moment

**Ragin Cajun** · January 14th, 2013, 08:07 PM

Good news to report; ECO is hiring... at least engineers, QMEDS & Cooks... another guy was picked up but I did'nt catch what his ticket was for. I do know that they sent 7 mariners to go take their physical while I was waiting so that's always a good sign.

**adefiniteproduct** · January 17th, 2013, 05:32 AM

When I was hired last Tuesday, they told me they need cooks bad and they aren't hiring OS until March. She did hire 2 deckhands last Tuesday, but they were cadets. I had to get my foot in by cooking, but at least I got the job.

**rigdvr** · January 17th, 2013, 06:30 AM

They hire as needed. If an OS or two quit/get fired tomorrow, they will be hiring....that's how it's done. They don't "stock up" on hands (or anything else) and most hires are as needed.

**mtskier** · January 17th, 2013, 08:42 AM

They hired two Mates the other day and both failed the drug screen - WTF!

**catherder** · January 17th, 2013, 09:08 AM

I'd say, what were they thinking, but thinking had nothing to do with it.

**Flyer69** · January 17th, 2013, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by mtskier

They hired two Mates the other day and both failed the drug screen - WTF!

So if it was a DOT 5-panel screen will those two now lose their licenses as well?

**captaint76** · January 17th, 2013, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Flyer69

So if it was a DOT 5-panel screen will those two now lose their licenses as well?

Yep. Sure will!

**BargeMonkey** · January 17th, 2013, 03:32 PM

How can you be dumb enough to take a test, knowing your not going to pass, and lose your job and license, how stupid do you have to be ? Its 1 year from when you surrender it, then pay out the ass, jump thru the hoops, and then its only a 50-50 chance you will ever get it back.

**beekerbetter** · January 17th, 2013, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by mtskier

They hired two Mates the other day and both failed the drug screen - WTF!

Did they hire on this week? I hadn't heard they are hiring mates right now.

**wmoser** · January 18th, 2013, 12:41 AM

The CG came and talked to us at Maine (at least six years ago) and the only thing I remember from it was that the vast majority of people caught with drug tests are pre-employment. Tests that they know they will have to take and really, if you don't show up won't go as a refusal either. "I'm not interested in the job anymore so I chose not to go to your physical." Really kind of strange and stupid.

**seadog6608** · January 18th, 2013, 09:26 AM

WTF indeed! Those guys really screwed themselves. The industry is better off without people too stupid to even pass a drug screen.

**Ragin Cajun** · January 23rd, 2013, 12:53 PM

The last group of new hires that took their physicals on Mon. and are currently going through training this week will be the last crop for awhile... ECO is closing their training center down for a few weeks to allow their instructors to get re-certified and then theres Mardi Gras... so no new physicals/safegulf/environ... probably till Feb.11th, maybe the 18th. It sucks for sure but that is straight outta the horse's mouth, there were a good mix of QMEDS, Wipers, O/S, Cooks... not too mention alot of guys that finished up their training last week and are staying in house quarters waiting for their ride to get in.

**A Chateau on the Bayou** · January 23rd, 2013, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

The last group of new hires that took their physicals on Mon. and are currently going through training this week will be the last crop for awhile... ECO is closing their training center down for a few weeks to allow their instructors to get re-certified and then theres Mardi Gras... so no new physicals/safegulf/environ... probably till Feb.11th, maybe the 18th. It sucks for sure but that is straight outta the horse's mouth, there were a good mix of QMEDS, Wipers, O/S, Cooks... not too mention alot of guys that finished up their training last week and are staying in house quarters waiting for their ride to get in.

Yes, two guys that stayed at my B&B this week that got hired as mates at ECO missed this week's orientation classes due to their physicals taking longer to complete.
Nicky told them to come back for Feb 12 to begin safegulf/environmental.......
So my understanding is that the school will resume on Feb 12.
Claudette L. Pitre
A Chateau on the Bayou B&B
3158 Hwy 308
Raceland, LA
(985)537-6773
Website: http://www.achateauonthebayou.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/A-...157165?fref=ts

**Ragin Cajun** · January 24th, 2013, 07:43 AM

Hey Miss Claudette! I believe ECO training center will be closed on the 12th... Mardi Gras holiday. I'm in the same boat as those Mates you spoke of; medical hold had to be cleared after our physicals... the sad part was that the Doc was not even there on Mon. when everyone went for their phys. exams... MLK day maybe the Doc was on his boat fishing or the back nine playing some golf... idk... but it bumped us all outta rotation this week b/c he couldn't "see" us till 1:00 pm Tues. (Safe Gulf day). I was told by Nicky to be back at ECO on Mon. 2/11 for Safe Gulf... Tues. (Mardi Gras)... then Wed. back on track w/ Environmental... Thurs/Fri- Rigging... get on boat.I can't stress this enough: when it comes to your physical exam paperwork you had better think long & hard before you check (no) on every question... they will check you up & down for any type of surgery scars... if you lie about having some minor surgery 20 yrs. ago (do not pass go, do not collect $200, no get out of jail free card, comprehenda?) Bring every stitch of paperwork from your doc that exists, and remember that you have to authorize the clinic to access all of your medical records as far back to when you got your first set of booster shots:-) As always honesty is the best policy... like the Doc said; ..."if you're straight with me from the beginning about any issue then we can get just about anything sorted out & cleared, but if you lie to me... well, then there's nothing I can do for you and if we find out later on... you'll be terminated no questions asked." So there's the gospel according to Dr. D..... fair weather to ya' & stay safe out there fellas!

**usmariner** · January 24th, 2013, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by captaint76

Yep. Sure will!

No shortage of idiots.

**usmariner** · January 24th, 2013, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Flyer69

So if it was a DOT 5-panel screen will those two now lose their licenses as well?

No shortage of idiots.

**A Chateau on the Bayou** · January 25th, 2013, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

Hey Miss Claudette! I believe ECO training center will be closed on the 12th... Mardi Gras holiday. I'm in the same boat as those Mates you spoke of; medical hold had to be cleared after our physicals... the sad part was that the Doc was not even there on Mon. when everyone went for their phys. exams... MLK day maybe the Doc was on his boat fishing or the back nine playing some golf... idk... but it bumped us all outta rotation this week b/c he couldn't "see" us till 1:00 pm Tues. (Safe Gulf day). I was told by Nicky to be back at ECO on Mon. 2/11 for Safe Gulf... Tues. (Mardi Gras)... then Wed. back on track w/ Environmental... Thurs/Fri- Rigging... get on boat.I can't stress this enough: when it comes to your physical exam paperwork you had better think long & hard before you check (no) on every question... they will check you up & down for any type of surgery scars... if you lie about having some minor surgery 20 yrs. ago (do not pass go, do not collect $200, no get out of jail free card, comprehenda?) Bring every stitch of paperwork from your doc that exists, and remember that you have to authorize the clinic to access all of your medical records as far back to when you got your first set of booster shots:-) As always honesty is the best policy... like the Doc said; ..."if you're straight with me from the beginning about any issue then we can get just about anything sorted out & cleared, but if you lie to me... well, then there's nothing I can do for you and if we find out later on... you'll be terminated no questions asked." So there's the gospel according to Dr. D..... fair weather to ya' & stay safe out there fellas!

Well, I got the official word from the ECO training center that school will start back on the Monday, Feb. 11 with Safe Gulf, close on the Tuesday, Feb. 12 for Mardi Gras, resume on Feb. 13 for the Environmental, and on Feb. 14 and 15 for Rigging.
Have a great weekend.

Claudette L. Pitre
A Chateau on the Bayou B&B
3158 Hwy 308
Raceland, LA
(985)537-6773
Website: http://www.achateauonthebayou.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/A-...157165?fref=ts