Has anyone here ever worked for a dredge company?

**10talents** · March 18th, 2009, 11:09 PM

I am looking for someone to tell me of their experience working for a dredge company. Any dredge companies to steer clear of? You may PM me with your reply if you desire.

**john** · March 19th, 2009, 03:54 AM

I've never worked for one but you can try the guys over at The Art Of Dredging. Also, Capt. Kelly at Maritime Headhunters worked aboard one last year. He charges for placements but his advice is free, might be worth giving him a call.

gCaptain's earliest competitor, MaritimeLinks.net, was run by Casey O'Donnell who is well connected in the Dredging community. Sad to see the site has gone belly up.

**Splash** · March 20th, 2009, 07:46 AM

10, Ive never worked for a dredge company but I've hauled alot of mud barges for Weeks and Norfolk Dredgeing. Looks like hard dirty work but from what I understand the pay is ok. I couldnt give any advice on companys other than Weeks and Norfolk both look ok to me. Ive heard employees with opinions going both ways as with most companys.

**argo** · March 27th, 2009, 04:10 AM

I worked on a hopper dredge in New Jersey and it was great. A lot of skills learned working on deck, and the occasional "artifact" or odd sea species dug up from the bottom. Plus having the right of way in the busy channels was kind of nice, though it didn't make it any less stressful dredging between inbounders 'n outbounders. I was supervised of course.

I cant think of any dredge company that is hiring, and I'd be surprised to hear of any that hasn't laid off people considering how linked it is with construction, at least the private ones.

The Army Corps of Engineers is also another shot, or only shot maybe, though they have different types of dredges.

**Jones Act** · March 27th, 2009, 09:49 AM

As John said, www.theartofdredging.com is a great site. Marc is from Belgium and he is the owner. He is an awesome guy. I have had to sue about four different dredge companies. Depending on your job classification, the work can be very dangerous if not for the actual work, then from the idiot weekend warriors that don't know their navigation lighting rules and leave out at night and/or return at night.

I Wish You Calm Seas

**Alex13** · March 27th, 2009, 10:31 AM

Argo,

Do you know where to get any info on getting on a dredge for the Army Corps of Engineers. I looked around on their website and a couple job sites, but I couldn't find anything. I'm at the point where I'll take any job on the water I can get as long as the pay is decent.

**Jeffrox** · March 27th, 2009, 01:14 PM

Here's a link to the USACE and other gov jobs;
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/jobsear...6&SUBMIT1.y=10

**caps** · April 19th, 2009, 08:30 PM

Hello everybody,

it's me http://www.theartofdredging.com/aboutme.htm
any specific questions on a dredging job, just mail me on artofdredging@gmail.com

**Alex13** · April 20th, 2009, 02:56 AM

"Dredging" is not "just any job on the water", mind you.

Oh, of course not, I didn't mean that it was. I would take it very seriously if I got a job on a dredge, or any vessel for that matter. I was referring to other jobs I've applied to, and the fact that I really need any work I can get.

**caps** · April 20th, 2009, 04:24 AM

(...) I looked around on their website and a couple job sites, but I couldn't find anything. I'm at the point where I'll take any job on the water I can get as long as the pay is decent. (...)

"Dredging" is not "just any job on the water", mind you.

www.theartofdredging.com

**EbbTide** · May 9th, 2009, 12:48 PM

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 25 supplies most of the help for dredges working on the East Coast. Deckhands, engine room, crane and excavator operators, crew boat & survey boat captains.
http://iuoelocal25.org/

United Marine Division Local 333 handles crewing for the larger tugs towing mud scows and tending dredges.
http://www.umdlocal333.com/
While you're at the 333 web site look at the menu bar on the left side of the page and click on "contracts"
This page lists all of the companies that employ 333 boat captains and crew. Click on a company and about half way through he companies contract you'll see the individual pay scales for each job category along with travel pay rates, grub money, etc.

**dplally** · October 26th, 2009, 05:08 AM

[quote=EbbTide;12156]International Union of Operating Engineers Local 25 supplies most of the help for dredges working on the East Coast. Deckhands, engine room, crane and excavator operators, crew boat & survey boat captains.
http://iuoelocal25.org/

EbbTide, I just put in my paperwork with Local 25...do you have any experience working for them? Anyone else here? Currently have 100GT and TWIC, I told them I'm willing to work on deck or on the crew boats as I don't have a towing endorsement yet. I know theres a huge dredge project up the hudson...anyone in on that??

**steelbeach** · October 27th, 2009, 05:59 AM

Ran a tug for a dredging outfit a few years ago.
I liked the work as it's usually informal with lots of rust and mud in motion.
We worked without union but at prevailing wage terms.
Worst moment occured on a night in winter and gale force when the scow captain decided to open the hoppers on the way to the designated dump site.
We arrived with an empty scow which made the corps. inspector pretty unhappy. He was relieved to be headed for home an hour sooner though!

**Concepts** · November 9th, 2009, 10:48 AM

Great Lakes is a pretty big outfit and union-ed. They seem to be a pretty good Dredging company from talking to the guys who are on the dredges working. We were tending the 54 before they went to Charleston, now we are tending the Dredge New York.