Vane Brothers

**mjohn1** · January 15th, 2013, 04:38 PM

Hey Guys:

Can anyone give me the rundown about Vane Brothers? I am a recent graduate of a Maritime College as a Third Mate and was looking into a few inshore companies particularly Vane Brothers. Before starting you as a Tug Mate I believe they make you a deckhand. What is the starting salary as a deckhand? Benefits? Work Schedule? Their seemed to be very limited as to what they were showing on their website.

Any other good companies inshore that are hiring I should look into?

Thanks!

**ForkandBlade** · January 15th, 2013, 10:06 PM

Vane Brothers is a very employee friendly company, with average tug pay scales. I wouldn't classify them as an inshore company as they do coastal towing, bunkering, lightering and have some ATB's. Most of their boats work 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off, but there are other schedules. I have a lot of friends that work there and I have heard them complain about the cost of medical ( I don't know the figure). They had a newbuild program recently and chances of getting on a newer tug are good.
Is there a reason you are looking to go into towing? I would think right now, the hot job is to get on an OSV and get DP certified, better pay, benefits and room for advancement into other areas of the maritime industry like drilling and such.

**Mullet Farm** · January 16th, 2013, 04:31 AM

Deckhands in NY Harbor with little commercial experience can target $200 a day, 2 weeks on 2 off (expect to be asked to ride over occasionally to cover staffing gaps), health/dental/401(k) after 3 months.

**Tugted** · January 16th, 2013, 04:53 AM

You'll be working deck for a good bit & then you need to complete a TOAR. You need to crawl before you walk

**z-drive** · January 16th, 2013, 05:07 AM

Unless someone there really likes you I'd avoid vane. That is unless you want to deck for years or don't have what it takes to steer. Know too many people who either didn't get the chance or waited years for it.

They seem to hoard licensed deckhands to allow an ample supply "someday."

The impression i got was I'd be on deck for a few years there too, even with tug captain time.

Not comfortable that very little of their new equipment is pinned either.

**ForkandBlade** · January 16th, 2013, 06:24 AM

I must know over 50 guys working there and have no interest on leaving. They must be doing something right over there. Most have advanced in positions also!

**z-drive** · January 16th, 2013, 08:11 AM

Most of the people I know there do like it but it just seems like a slow place to advance. Seems like most of the NE is that way though. Just speaking from personal experience

**Tugted** · January 16th, 2013, 08:33 AM

Most of those guys are from Tangier as well.

**Bayrunner** · January 16th, 2013, 07:53 PM

Go on down to the gulf and make the big bucks. Leave the tuggin to us hawsepipers. .

**Tampamariner** · January 17th, 2013, 08:14 AM

The health benefits are good but cost 375$ a month for family. I don't remember the 401k contribution. And its an awesome company to work for. Os make 227$ a day. Ab 247$. Mates and capn and engineer pay is based on the size boat they put you on. And they give sea pay also. Whenever your outside of Delaware or Chesapeake bay you get 10% more a day

**Tampamariner** · January 17th, 2013, 08:18 AM

And they do advance people. Most of the licensed deckhands I worked with didn't try hard to get up to the wheelhouse. They had all their stuff but didn't really put their name out there and were lazy too. So long as you actually do a good job and make a name for you and get your capn to talk to the port capn they will advance you

**chgonyer** · January 19th, 2013, 06:41 AM

I used to work there, pretty decent people and good to the employee. But it is a case of the tail wagging the dog, many many levels of managment and helpers to go thru if you need help with something. I was a tankerman so didnt worry to much about the advancment, but I do know you had to apply for the advancement program and that they oinly took a few guys a year to the program. Lots of deckhands with their tickets waiting and waiting and waiting for a shot at either tman or mate. but there are worse places to sit around waiting for the perfect job. Lots of tangerines work there, and they seem to be very clicky.

**matedogfish** · January 20th, 2013, 08:16 PM

I worked for them for 4 years until I got laid off last March. Great company to work for if they hire you at the position you want but very very slow advancement. If you don't have a connection there then you will be waiting a while. Not sure where you live but get down to ECO and they will hire you tomorrow. Oilfield is where the action and money is and will be for quite a while.

**Tampamariner** · January 21st, 2013, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by matedogfish

I worked for them for 4 years until I got laid off last March. Great company to work for if they hire you at the position you want but very very slow advancement. If you don't have a connection there then you will be waiting a while. Not sure where you live but get down to ECO and they will hire you tomorrow. Oilfield is where the action and money is and will be for quite a while.

I worked there for two years and went to eco after the layoffs. I didn't get laid off but decided to leave because of them. My brother did however get laid off also. And he's at eco now also. What boat were you on at vane bros?

**tugboat95** · January 21st, 2013, 05:34 PM

Been employed here for 6 years and have no intention of leaving. Wherever you go you need to deck for at least a year. Vane promoted grads too fast in the early years of the new build and paid the price with a lot of damage. You need to be a seaman first and academies do not teach that. After a year and a lot of persistence on your part you can move up. My mate is a grad and decked for 2 years and learned. You will have to prove yourself and take the initiative. As for environment. Great employee driven company. Good equipment with awesome shoreside support. I'm an engineer. Most tours are 2 and 2. I am in the carribean and work 28 and 28. Family medical is 477 a trip. Employee is free. 401 is a 5% match. We don't pay the best but your stress level is waaaay below other places I have worked. Insurance is very good and pays well. No headaches with travel. Get to the office they get you to the boat. Family emergency...no problem, go home. You do not have to find a relief. Crew changes is sacred they don't screw you on it. If you get off late you get paid and they make all the arrangements. We have an FSA plan and it is what you make it. Again I have no Intention of leaving. Management was culled in the layoff but I have never experienced A bad situation with it. You can talk to the bosses and they do listen ( to a point). All that being said there are certain personalities to avoid just like any other company. And you will have to perform. Nonunion company and They will fire you especially deckhands.