Obtaining a First Job

[MarcDS]

Recently I have become extremely interested in obtaining employment in the maritime industry. I am in the very early stages of research. Currently I am waiting on my passport so that I can obtain my TWIC and move on to getting my MMC and STCW 95 certification.

I have contacted an uncle of mine who is a Captain in the MM (which ship and with which company, I have no idea) to try and receive some advice, but he is extremely slow at answering emails. So, I found myself here today and figured I would ask a few questions.

My main concern at this time is on obtaining an entry level OS or Wiper position with no sea time or experience what-so-ever. My highest level of education is 2 years of technical school in automotive technology. From the accounts I have read around the internet, I have found many stories of people applying to companies for months and not finding a single position. Is this very common? I do not mind putting in the hard work and time of searching for a job, but hearing things such as this is a bit discouraging from the very start.

As a side note, I have heard that a day of "sea time" is defined by 4 or more hours out on a boat at a time. Do days working on a boat without a MMC count? I live 15 minutes from the New Jersey shore, and have been thinking about trying to find a job on a boat for the summer. If this experience would count toward sea time, does anyone have any advice on how to go about obtaining employment in this manner? Should I just hit the docks and ask around, or is there any other routes?

I thank everyone in advance for any advice they may be able to provide to a somewhat lost, complete newbie.

Marc

[MarcDS]

I've also read a bit on the 'net about SIU's Paul Hall training center, and more recently, The Workboat Academy. As SIU's school is booked up for what seems like forever, I was wondering if anyone had any information about the Workboat Academy and how they work. Their website is a bit lacking in a description of what their course is actually about, so I am a bit wary. Anyone with any information about it?

[10talents]

Newbie,
A day of sea time is 8 hours in each 24 hour day on the vessel depending on the type of vessel and hours of watch. Some crews that work 12 hour days receive 1.5 days of sea time for each 24 hour day, ie: tugboats. Any time spent working on any size boat can count toward entry level ratings and lower level licenses. Be deligent in your job hunt. In this market you can't leave any stone unturned. If you have other photo identification, ie: drivers license you don't have to wait on the passport to get the TWIC. Pre-enroll online and make an appointment for the TWIC ASAP.
https://twicprogram.tsa.dhs.gov/TWICWebApp/Welcome.do
There is an area on the enrollment form to acknowledge that you are also a merchant mariner, be sure to check this.
Once you have enrolled for the TWIC you can apply for the MMC using the receipt from the TWIC enrollment. This will speed things up for you.
The TWIC & MMC in hand may open some doors for you. The STCW-BST is only needed for working on larger vessels (>200GRT I believe) offshore and is not required in order to get the MMC. There are maritime jobs available inland that don't require the MMC or the STCW. There are comprehensive list of maritime companies listed on a couple of threads on gcaptain.

Best of luck to you.

USCG MMC original&#46.pdf
USCG-719B-F5_(03-04&.pdf
USCG Drug Test In&#11.pdf
USCG719ke..pdf

[MarcDS]

Not sure what happened to my last reply, hopefully I dont double post here. But here goes another try.

10Talents. I just re-read the requirements for obtaining a TWIC, and noticed that it says I need either one document from column A OR two documents from column B (not 1 AND 2). Thanks man, you just saved me about 5 weeks of waiting.

I also found a (reputable) cruise line that is advertising their need for deckhands, no TWIC, MMC, or STCW needed. 12 week contracts with no guarantee of renewal of that contract. Not getting my hopes too high, but I'll be sending my application in on Tuesday in hopes of finding something to do in the meantime until I get my MMC.

I would assume that having a STCW-BST certification would be beneficial even at the entry level positions. Am I correct in this assumption?

Again, any answers to my above posts are greatly appreciated. I am already starting to get a bit more confident that with a lotta hard work and percerverience, this will turn out to be the best possible career choice for me.

[captblighe]

It is my understanding and i could be wrong on this but you have to have the BST, at least for getting hired at most companies. If you go to USCG homeport and click on Merchant Mariner there will be a link
to help you with all the requirements for getting your MMC including the forms to fill out. I would apply online as soon as you can to get the process started for your TWIC, it's not required for your MMC but it is required when you start your job hunt. Good luck.....times are tough all over right now.

[cappy208]

Working on a dinner/mini cruise boat is a viable option for summer temporary employment to get your foot in the door. Just so you know the 'deckhands' jobs on these mini cruise shups are not so much deckhands as room cleaners, bed makers, waiters, hand holders, and window washers (maybe even cooks); (And from experience, passengers SUCK to deal with) When you start out as a deckhand on an actual working boat you'll actually be/ do all the above mentioned things, but you will only be doing it for your crew, not 50 to 450 whining, complaining grumpy old passengers who expect to be waited on hand and foot.

However if you want to be employed year round, with actual benefits, then you're going to have to go the MMC, TWIC route.

You are approaching a conundrum. You don't need anything but a TWIC card, and a MMC (as ordinary seaman) to look for a job in the industry. BUT, there is currently a glut of qualified (meaning experienced) mariners who are already looking for work. As mentioned, there are a bevy of other courses to take to become attractive to getting hired. They run starting around 2,000 bucks for the couple you would need most. 1. STCW, which comprises firefighting, first aid, social responsibility, and water safety training. 2. CPR. 3. BST B asic S aftey T raining

After re reading the other posts, let me make it clear to you. You MUST have at least applied for a TWIC to even show up at the USCG to apply for a MMC. Dont even go to the CG without at least the receipt from the TWIC place after you've applied.

[Jeffrox]

MarcDS,
Here is the link that should answer your questions about Workboat Academy: Diary of a PMI/Workboat Academy Cadet

These folks will be opening their Wiper and OS positions soon: http://www.sealiftcommand.com/resources/now-hiring

[MarcDS]

I've been doing some research into the Military Sealift Command, and have heard almost exclusively bad things about it. Does anyone here have any personal experience with them? Any clue how much they pay for an OS position? I might not mind taking a crappy job for two years if the pay is good and I get some good experience out of it.

[Kenny2428]

My first maritime 'job' was with NCLA. NCL's only American flagged vessel out in Hawaii. I worked with them for 3 years. I obtained my MMD, TWIC and BST STCW for FREE through them. They don't pay squat, but its a good way to get your feet wet and get some experience on a ship. They are always hiring year round.

Recently I have become extremely interested in obtaining employment in the maritime industry. I am in the very early stages of research. Currently I am waiting on my passport so that I can obtain my TWIC and move on to getting my MMC and STCW 95 certification.

I have contacted an uncle of mine who is a Captain in the MM (which ship and with which company, I have no idea) to try and receive some advice, but he is extremely slow at answering emails. So, I found myself here today and figured I would ask a few questions.

My main concern at this time is on obtaining an entry level OS or Wiper position with no sea time or experience what-so-ever. My highest level of education is 2 years of technical school in automotive technology. From the accounts I have read around the internet, I have found many stories of people applying to companies for months and not finding a single position. Is this very common? I do not mind putting in the hard work and time of searching for a job, but hearing things such as this is a bit discouraging from the very start.

As a side note, I have heard that a day of "sea time" is defined by 4 or more hours out on a boat at a time. Do days working on a boat without a MMC count? I live 15 minutes from the New Jersey shore, and have been thinking about trying to find a job on a boat for the summer. If this experience would count toward sea time, does anyone have any advice on how to go about obtaining employment in this manner? Should I just hit the docks and ask around, or is there any other routes?

I thank everyone in advance for any advice they may be able to provide to a somewhat lost, complete newbie.

Marc

[Jeffrox]

I've been doing some research into the Military Sealift Command, and have heard almost exclusively bad things about it. Does anyone here have any personal experience with them? Any clue how much they pay for an OS position? I might not mind taking a crappy job for two years if the pay is good and I get some good experience out of it.

M=Maintenance day worker, W=Watchstander Yearly Wage Hourly OT Hourly Penalty
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Lots of free Training Oppotunities wih MSC too. As far as "bad things" you've heard, I think he problem most folks have with MSC are the long hitches followed by too short a leave period. plus it's a big bloated Government Organization with all the common warts that go along with that.

[MarcDS]

Ive been doing further research into the MSC, and have become a bit more interested in applying with them when they re-open hiring for the OS to AB advancement program. A few further questions.

How do their "shifts" work? The standard 4-8-4?

How does overtime work? Are you allowed to put in overtime whenever desired, or is overtime only available occasionally? 7 Day work weeks?

Is overtime considered any hours over 40 worked in a 7 day week?

I hear of people doubling or more their base salary with overtime. Is this feasible?

If I was going to go with MSC, it would be for 2, possibly 3 years. When it comes time to quit, you do so when the ship is in a port, and then you provide transportation for yourself back home I'm assuming?

How hard is it to get hired with MSC if you meet their criteria for being eligible for hire. Do they receive a vastly larger number of applications than positions available?