Sorry I should of posted this before the MMD requirements as it is best to also take this class before applying for the MMD.
In February of 2002 the Coast Guard started requiring mariners to get a survival craft or life boatman’s certificate endorsed on their Merchant Mariners Document depending on the mariner’s position or type of boat they worked on.
The new requirement meant that engineers of boats from 200 tons up to ships had to have survival craft training endorsed on their Merchant Mariners Document. What was required was to purchase a study guide from a Sea training school. After you received the study material you had to go home and study. When you felt like you knew everything the United States Coast Guard wanted you to know you then had to set up an appointment to take the test.
It was very inconvenient as it was but got worse. At a significant cost to mariners you also had to have the training endorsed on your Merchant Mariners Document and STCW certificate. While all training is good this course is routinely practiced onboard all vessels as part of the ongoing training all mariners receive. No specific incident happened to prompt this requirement.
Everyone one else was required to take a full life boatmen’s course. Again this is better practiced onboard your vessel but was now required. A life boatman endorsement was the only real difference between an Able Bodied Seaman and an Able Bodied Seaman unlimited. A ship is only allowed so many Able bodied Seamen and the rest will have to hold a special or unlimited endorsement. This meant the only real difference between the grades was time at sea it takes to get the unlimited status.
Captains and Mates who have been teaching this same material for decades now also have to go to this school and get the training endorsed o their documents. Not all boats have the same safety equipment so what is taught on each boat is specifically the safety equipment onboard that particular vessel. The Code Of Federal Regulations had already mandated training in this area for decades. The records of training are reviewed on a yearly basis by the Coast Guard and ABS.
The life boatmen’s training course consists of 2 days sitting in a class room reading study material and taking a written exam on the material. This course is expensive, in the 500$ range depending on the school you attend. The same study material can be learned from a 10$ Life boatmen’s book easily picked up in any maritime book store. It consists of basic material you learn in a few training sessions you receive on every boat. You also have 1 day of class where you will see a model life boat pretend launched. At least here you will see what a frapping line is if you never work on a boat with this type of life boat. There is a pretty good chance you will never see one. That is about half a day’s worth of talking. The other half of the day is actually spent in a small non motorized rescue boat. This is where you will see that you will never have the precision rowing abilities as the navy personal in the videos. You will also have to opportunity to call out a few rowing commands from the sixteen hundreds. Yes this is not a joke, the Approved Coast Guard method of calling rescue boat rowing commands is from the sixteen hundreds.
Watch a few pirate movies before hand and you may remember some of them five minutes after you are done. Fortunately this is the 21st century and most modern vessels will have a motorized rescue boat. If you end up on a boat with a pre historic rescue boat that needs to be paddled, fear not. The captain on the boat will have a real world system on if you ever use the rescue boat or not. In most instances this type of rescue boat would be deemed too dangerous to actually use at sea. In most instances the boat you are on is going to be used in a rescue not the rescue boat. The rescue boat would only be used in water to shallow for the actual boat.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
GETTING A MMD TO WORK ON BOATS
While there is no easy clear cut line to explain what boats require you to hold a MMD a general rule of thumb is anything over 200 tons or bigger than a tug boat, a crew boat or a utility boat. Even most of these companies will want you to obtain a MMD because most of these companies will also have bigger boats. You will also want to get this to open up opportunities on larger boat that pay you a lot more for the same job.
A Merchant Mariners Document in its basic form is just a picture ID from The United States Coast Guard. It is also endorsement from the Coast Guard stating that you also meet requirements to advance you career in the maritime industry.
The process for obtaining a MMD is fairly straight forward. You can download and print the application forms directly from the United States Coast Guard’s web site or simply stop by a local sea school. You fill out the forms which will ask basic information about yourself; it will ask about your criminal past, do not lie about it. You will also need to take a physical and your doctor must fill out the form included in the Coast Guard application package. You will also need to provide either a letter from a company stating that you participate in random drug testing or go and pay for a DOT drug test at your local clinic and send it in with your application. You will also have to at least have a receipt proving you have applied for a TWIC card. This can be done in many locations visit the TSA’s website for a location near you. After you have everything you need together and mail it off you will have to wait about a week. After about a week you will need to go into your nearest Coast Guard Regional Exam Center and have your finger prints taken.
If you have any pending criminal issues get them taken care of first. The Coast Guard will know about them as soon as they start the FBI background check. Also if you have something on your criminal or driving record that is hidden or expunged you still have to tell them about it.
There is a whole section in the Code Of Federal Regulations on how the Coast Guard deals with different criminal offenses. In general misdemeanors are not held against you if it has been at least a year since your last conviction. The Coast Guard takes DWI and Reckless driving offenses very seriously. They follow the CFR to the letter most of the time. If you have a DWI or a reckless driving offense don’t waste your time, wait 1 year after the conviction and complete all your fines, probation, safe driving classes and whatever else the judge makes you do. Keep copies of all the completion records, you will have to prove to the Coast Guard you did what the judge asked. If you have more than 1 the second to last one will have to be 3 years old and the most recent will have to be a year old. If you have waited the nessesary time and provided all the proof the Coast Guard requires they will issue a letter of clearance to you that has to be signed and returned to them before they will issue you a document.
The Coast Guard also takes drug offenses extremely serious. Depending on the drug charge it could take 10 years before the Coast Guard will issue you any documents.
Most felony convictions carry long time limits that have to pass before the Coast Guard will issue you any documents. It could be anywhere between a year for a felony DWI to 10 or 20 years for murder. There is nothing that will stop you for forever.
After you get your documents remember any time you upgrade your credentials or renew then as they are only good for 5 years another criminal background check will be done and the same rules apply. If you already have documentation and get a DUI let’s say. If it is not a year old and every requirement asked of you met, the Coast Guard will not issue you documents, they will suspend them. You can request an administrative trial or except what punishment they give you and lose you document for however long they want.
A Merchant Mariners Document in its basic form is just a picture ID from The United States Coast Guard. It is also endorsement from the Coast Guard stating that you also meet requirements to advance you career in the maritime industry.
The process for obtaining a MMD is fairly straight forward. You can download and print the application forms directly from the United States Coast Guard’s web site or simply stop by a local sea school. You fill out the forms which will ask basic information about yourself; it will ask about your criminal past, do not lie about it. You will also need to take a physical and your doctor must fill out the form included in the Coast Guard application package. You will also need to provide either a letter from a company stating that you participate in random drug testing or go and pay for a DOT drug test at your local clinic and send it in with your application. You will also have to at least have a receipt proving you have applied for a TWIC card. This can be done in many locations visit the TSA’s website for a location near you. After you have everything you need together and mail it off you will have to wait about a week. After about a week you will need to go into your nearest Coast Guard Regional Exam Center and have your finger prints taken.
If you have any pending criminal issues get them taken care of first. The Coast Guard will know about them as soon as they start the FBI background check. Also if you have something on your criminal or driving record that is hidden or expunged you still have to tell them about it.
There is a whole section in the Code Of Federal Regulations on how the Coast Guard deals with different criminal offenses. In general misdemeanors are not held against you if it has been at least a year since your last conviction. The Coast Guard takes DWI and Reckless driving offenses very seriously. They follow the CFR to the letter most of the time. If you have a DWI or a reckless driving offense don’t waste your time, wait 1 year after the conviction and complete all your fines, probation, safe driving classes and whatever else the judge makes you do. Keep copies of all the completion records, you will have to prove to the Coast Guard you did what the judge asked. If you have more than 1 the second to last one will have to be 3 years old and the most recent will have to be a year old. If you have waited the nessesary time and provided all the proof the Coast Guard requires they will issue a letter of clearance to you that has to be signed and returned to them before they will issue you a document.
The Coast Guard also takes drug offenses extremely serious. Depending on the drug charge it could take 10 years before the Coast Guard will issue you any documents.
Most felony convictions carry long time limits that have to pass before the Coast Guard will issue you any documents. It could be anywhere between a year for a felony DWI to 10 or 20 years for murder. There is nothing that will stop you for forever.
After you get your documents remember any time you upgrade your credentials or renew then as they are only good for 5 years another criminal background check will be done and the same rules apply. If you already have documentation and get a DUI let’s say. If it is not a year old and every requirement asked of you met, the Coast Guard will not issue you documents, they will suspend them. You can request an administrative trial or except what punishment they give you and lose you document for however long they want.
Friday, June 18, 2010
WORKING ON A BOAT TWIC REQUIREMENTS
With the ever changing rules and regulations in the maritime industry those seeking to work on a boat are now required to have a TWIC card to receive documentation from the United States Coast guard and to enter a port facility.
What is a TWIC card? A TWIC card is a Transportation Workers Identification Card. You must apply for the TWIC card at one of the many designated locations around the country. The TWIC card is issued by the TSA. I find only about half of the TSA workers in the airports have a clue what the card is.
A TWIC card is the same size as a driver’s license, and will include your picture and name on it. To obtain a TWIC card the TSA charges you 125$ although the prices are always subject to change if you do not already hold a MMD from the Coast Guard. If you already hold a MMD issued by the Coast Guard then the price is reduced to 105$ and is supposed to expire the same time as your MMD.
Mariners have been hijacked into part of the Department Of Homeland Security without being paid for it.
To receive the TWIC card one goes through a FBI background check to determine if he or she is a security threat. It is basically the same checks the Coast Guard does before they issue a MMD. The only difference I have been able to figure out is the Coast Guard concentrates mostly on criminal behavior that doesn’t necessarily affect national security. The TSA is supposed to determine if you a security threat.
In general it is another fleecing of mariners by the government. The Coast Guard could easily add any criteria to the MMD checks and save millions of mariners 105$ on their already burdensome fees to maintain the documents necessary to work in the maritime industry. Alas it is required to enter a port facility or receive any required documents to advance you maritime careers.
The TWIC card is good for 5 years, and then you have to renew it. You go to a TWIC office, apply and then after about 8 weeks you will receive an E-Mail or a phone call that your card is ready. You then have to go back to the TWIC office and pick up your card and choose a personal password for your card. The password will be programmed into the magnetic strip on the back similar to a credit card.
For the most part there is no escape from this process. If you work on a small fishing boat that requires no documentation and that small boat works out of a port facility, even if you are not required to have the TWIC you will have to get it anyway just to get to the boat.
The original plan was that every dock in a port facility and every boat would have to have a card ready onboard to increase National Security. As I understand it the plan is no longer to have the card reader on every boat but ships may still be in the plans. After 3 years to date, not 1 port facility in the US has a card reader. The prototypes did not work. We simply stop at a check point on the way to the boat, present our TWIC cards and sign in. The same could be accomplished with the MMD card which also has a magnetic strip that could be programmed if a card reader is ever produced by the government.
Alas the TWIC card does nothing for the security of our ports and only further burdens mariners but it is required. If you want to work in the maritime industry go get your TWIC card at your earliest convenience.
What is a TWIC card? A TWIC card is a Transportation Workers Identification Card. You must apply for the TWIC card at one of the many designated locations around the country. The TWIC card is issued by the TSA. I find only about half of the TSA workers in the airports have a clue what the card is.
A TWIC card is the same size as a driver’s license, and will include your picture and name on it. To obtain a TWIC card the TSA charges you 125$ although the prices are always subject to change if you do not already hold a MMD from the Coast Guard. If you already hold a MMD issued by the Coast Guard then the price is reduced to 105$ and is supposed to expire the same time as your MMD.
Mariners have been hijacked into part of the Department Of Homeland Security without being paid for it.
To receive the TWIC card one goes through a FBI background check to determine if he or she is a security threat. It is basically the same checks the Coast Guard does before they issue a MMD. The only difference I have been able to figure out is the Coast Guard concentrates mostly on criminal behavior that doesn’t necessarily affect national security. The TSA is supposed to determine if you a security threat.
In general it is another fleecing of mariners by the government. The Coast Guard could easily add any criteria to the MMD checks and save millions of mariners 105$ on their already burdensome fees to maintain the documents necessary to work in the maritime industry. Alas it is required to enter a port facility or receive any required documents to advance you maritime careers.
The TWIC card is good for 5 years, and then you have to renew it. You go to a TWIC office, apply and then after about 8 weeks you will receive an E-Mail or a phone call that your card is ready. You then have to go back to the TWIC office and pick up your card and choose a personal password for your card. The password will be programmed into the magnetic strip on the back similar to a credit card.
For the most part there is no escape from this process. If you work on a small fishing boat that requires no documentation and that small boat works out of a port facility, even if you are not required to have the TWIC you will have to get it anyway just to get to the boat.
The original plan was that every dock in a port facility and every boat would have to have a card ready onboard to increase National Security. As I understand it the plan is no longer to have the card reader on every boat but ships may still be in the plans. After 3 years to date, not 1 port facility in the US has a card reader. The prototypes did not work. We simply stop at a check point on the way to the boat, present our TWIC cards and sign in. The same could be accomplished with the MMD card which also has a magnetic strip that could be programmed if a card reader is ever produced by the government.
Alas the TWIC card does nothing for the security of our ports and only further burdens mariners but it is required. If you want to work in the maritime industry go get your TWIC card at your earliest convenience.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Different class's of boats and different rules
Boats can basically be grouped into 4 classes.
There is the unsuspected class. This includes most small fishing boats, some research vessels such as seismograph vessels, and small inland push boats and tugs. There really is no hard fast rule here but in general this will be correct. The uninspected class vessels have a less strict inspection criteria. Research vessels I have worked on were inspected by ABS and not the Coast Guard.
There is the under 200 ton class. These are smaller boats such as offshore tug boats, Utility boats and crew boats. These boats are inspected vessels but do to their relative small size the required documentation of the crew members is many times less strict than with the larger vessels.
You also have your 200 ton to 1600 ton vessels. This is the area I have spent most of my career and can give the best information on. These include pretty much everything bigger than a utility boat up to a ship. In general these class of vessels have the second strictest regulations for the boat and the crew. More on that later.
Lastly you have the unlimited class vessels. This would be the huge ships you see on TV, A military Aircraft carrier would be unlimited class if it was in the private sector, oil tankers like the Exxon Valdez, which is still around just has a different name now but the same ship. You also have the large cargo carriers, such as RORO ships that carry cars and other large cargo from port to port. You also see in the movies the container ships that are full of big steal boxes, they really do exist. The have LNG ships, very brave men work on those things, you will understand if you decide to work on boats and see what a BLEVE is in your STCW training.
Ok, next I will explain what you need to get a job on a boat. Most of what I explain will be geared toward the 100 ton to 1600 ton class vessels. Some of it will not apply to the uninspected vessels but in general if you don't go straight to the Unlimited class I don't recommend a lot of the uninspected vessel to start out with. I will explain why when I post about the uninspected vessels.
Give me a few weeks and then if you have any questions I will do my best to answer them. I am on a boat and it looks like I may be stuck offshore with Internet for the next 2 weeks.
There is the unsuspected class. This includes most small fishing boats, some research vessels such as seismograph vessels, and small inland push boats and tugs. There really is no hard fast rule here but in general this will be correct. The uninspected class vessels have a less strict inspection criteria. Research vessels I have worked on were inspected by ABS and not the Coast Guard.
There is the under 200 ton class. These are smaller boats such as offshore tug boats, Utility boats and crew boats. These boats are inspected vessels but do to their relative small size the required documentation of the crew members is many times less strict than with the larger vessels.
You also have your 200 ton to 1600 ton vessels. This is the area I have spent most of my career and can give the best information on. These include pretty much everything bigger than a utility boat up to a ship. In general these class of vessels have the second strictest regulations for the boat and the crew. More on that later.
Lastly you have the unlimited class vessels. This would be the huge ships you see on TV, A military Aircraft carrier would be unlimited class if it was in the private sector, oil tankers like the Exxon Valdez, which is still around just has a different name now but the same ship. You also have the large cargo carriers, such as RORO ships that carry cars and other large cargo from port to port. You also see in the movies the container ships that are full of big steal boxes, they really do exist. The have LNG ships, very brave men work on those things, you will understand if you decide to work on boats and see what a BLEVE is in your STCW training.
Ok, next I will explain what you need to get a job on a boat. Most of what I explain will be geared toward the 100 ton to 1600 ton class vessels. Some of it will not apply to the uninspected vessels but in general if you don't go straight to the Unlimited class I don't recommend a lot of the uninspected vessel to start out with. I will explain why when I post about the uninspected vessels.
Give me a few weeks and then if you have any questions I will do my best to answer them. I am on a boat and it looks like I may be stuck offshore with Internet for the next 2 weeks.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Pro's and Con's of working on a boat
Working on a boat has many pro's and con's, let me take a few minutes to highlight some of them to help you decide if this type of work is for you.
Lets start with the con's.
Working on a boat will require you to work in close quarters with other people that you didn't get to pick. Take for example a relationship. At first everything is great, so you move in together. After a while little thing's that never bothered you before start bothering you. On a boat when this happens you can't go hunting for the weekend to get away or go out, you are just stuck there. The company picks who works on the boat so there is personality conflicts that you have to deal with and there isn't much you can do about it. Sure you can go to a different boat but you will soon realise a boat is a boat, and there will be people you like and get along with and people you don't like or get along with no matter what boat you are on.
While on the topic of relationships that is a major hurdle for many. If you are a family man or women, working on a boat means time away from loved ones with little to no communications sometimes. This can put a lot of stress on your relationships. If you jealous or don't trust your counterpart than you will really have a tough time dealing with the time away with no Idea what is going on back home.
Parents sometimes have a hard time working on a boat. Lets face it you will be providing very well for you children with the money a seaman makes but you will miss a lot of your children growing up. Schedules differ from boat to boat and company to company but in general you are looking at half you life on a boat or 2/3rds. Thats a lot of missed school activities, first words, first steps, good report cards. This can be hard to deal with for many.
The toughest part of working on a boat is the relative lack of control you have over your home life. It is mentally draining worrying about what is going on at home. This is even tougher for those in relationships and or with children.
Working on a boat is a big sacrifice to make for the money. You do make a great living but you sacrifice you home life to do it.
The pro's and this is why I do it.
The money is probably the biggest pro about it. Different boats make different amount's of money but in general you start off at about 50,000$ a year to start out with. With experience training and schools you can increase your earnings to 125,000 a year to even 200,000 a year depending on what type of boats you work on.
Working on a boat is kinda like having a babysitter. It might seem strange to hear that but its true. As a young man starting out being on a boat helped me stay out of trouble. Cant get into any trouble when you are at work. It also helped me by basically having a place that took care of me. No matter how badly I managed my money all I had to do is have enough money to get back to work with the things I needed and I could star the process all over again. Many young men go through this. Spend all your money while you are off the boat then just stay on the boat until you had enough money to go home and do what you want to do.
Working on a boat allows you the freedom of travel. When the average person gets off work they can only go so far on the weekend. It always felt like I had 1 day off a week. Working on a boat means you have 4 to 6 months vacation a year. You can go anywhere you want and do what you want. This is probably the most important thing to me. Sacrificing so much to be at work pays itself off when I get off the boat and can go anywhere I want. Travel is one of my passions. I live part time out of the US in Asia. What other job will allow that.
Sometimes the job itself will provide travel, depending on what type of boat. I have worked out of Mexico, Trinidad, and soon I will be working in Brazil living in Asia on my time off. This may not be what you are looking for and you don't have to work out of the US if you don't want to but it is an option.
Lets start with the con's.
Working on a boat will require you to work in close quarters with other people that you didn't get to pick. Take for example a relationship. At first everything is great, so you move in together. After a while little thing's that never bothered you before start bothering you. On a boat when this happens you can't go hunting for the weekend to get away or go out, you are just stuck there. The company picks who works on the boat so there is personality conflicts that you have to deal with and there isn't much you can do about it. Sure you can go to a different boat but you will soon realise a boat is a boat, and there will be people you like and get along with and people you don't like or get along with no matter what boat you are on.
While on the topic of relationships that is a major hurdle for many. If you are a family man or women, working on a boat means time away from loved ones with little to no communications sometimes. This can put a lot of stress on your relationships. If you jealous or don't trust your counterpart than you will really have a tough time dealing with the time away with no Idea what is going on back home.
Parents sometimes have a hard time working on a boat. Lets face it you will be providing very well for you children with the money a seaman makes but you will miss a lot of your children growing up. Schedules differ from boat to boat and company to company but in general you are looking at half you life on a boat or 2/3rds. Thats a lot of missed school activities, first words, first steps, good report cards. This can be hard to deal with for many.
The toughest part of working on a boat is the relative lack of control you have over your home life. It is mentally draining worrying about what is going on at home. This is even tougher for those in relationships and or with children.
Working on a boat is a big sacrifice to make for the money. You do make a great living but you sacrifice you home life to do it.
The pro's and this is why I do it.
The money is probably the biggest pro about it. Different boats make different amount's of money but in general you start off at about 50,000$ a year to start out with. With experience training and schools you can increase your earnings to 125,000 a year to even 200,000 a year depending on what type of boats you work on.
Working on a boat is kinda like having a babysitter. It might seem strange to hear that but its true. As a young man starting out being on a boat helped me stay out of trouble. Cant get into any trouble when you are at work. It also helped me by basically having a place that took care of me. No matter how badly I managed my money all I had to do is have enough money to get back to work with the things I needed and I could star the process all over again. Many young men go through this. Spend all your money while you are off the boat then just stay on the boat until you had enough money to go home and do what you want to do.
Working on a boat allows you the freedom of travel. When the average person gets off work they can only go so far on the weekend. It always felt like I had 1 day off a week. Working on a boat means you have 4 to 6 months vacation a year. You can go anywhere you want and do what you want. This is probably the most important thing to me. Sacrificing so much to be at work pays itself off when I get off the boat and can go anywhere I want. Travel is one of my passions. I live part time out of the US in Asia. What other job will allow that.
Sometimes the job itself will provide travel, depending on what type of boat. I have worked out of Mexico, Trinidad, and soon I will be working in Brazil living in Asia on my time off. This may not be what you are looking for and you don't have to work out of the US if you don't want to but it is an option.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Who can not work on a boat
In most cases a person with a physical handicap can not work on a boat. This is due to the United States Coast Guards documentation requirements. If you have a minor physical handicap the Coast Guard may allow you to get the required documentations you need to work on a boat. In many cases a Coast Guard Medical review officer will require additional test to prove you are capable of performing the required duties on board a vessel. While this might not seem politically correct, every person on a boat has to depend on everyone else for their safety and well being.
An example or a minor physical handicap that requires additional testing is asthma. If a person has asthma the Medical review officer will require the person to go get a Pulmonary functions history test and he will review the results and determine if you are qualified for documentation.
There are so many possibilities that it is best to contact the Coast Guard directly and speak to them about your physical conditions to get an idea if you qualify.
Illegal drug users will not be qualified to work on a boat. All boat companies are required to drug test the people that work on boats. This is done pre employment, and then at random times. If there is any incident like a fuel , oil, or liquid mud spill the company and the Coast Guard will come to the boat and drug test everyone. If the boat is in any type of collision the company will drug test everyone on board and if 25,000$ or more of damage is done the Coast Guard will also get involved. If there is anyone injured on a boat the company will drug test everyone on the boat and if severe enough to cause death the Coast Guard will get involved.
There have been many scams over the years on how to pass a drug test. In my time on boats I have seen the people trying the scams come and go.If you are an illegal drug user it is best that you wait until you grow up and get it out of your system. Companies are required by law to report a person that fails a drug test to the Coast Guard. The result will be suspending your documents for a period of time and making you attend drug classes and what ever else just like if you were arrested for it before you can get your documents back.
People that take certain medications may not be qualified to work on a boat. For instance: Maybe you have a bi polar disorder but with your medication you are fine. The Coast Guard may deem a person under the medicine you take can not use it while working, and you need it for you to function. That could make you ineligible. Some medications can not be taken while at work and you might need them to function. It is best to contact the USCG and talk to them first.
Criminals can work on boats but it is complicated. I wont spend much time on this. The Coast Guard is very strict with felonies or DUI and Reckless Driving charges. Most misdemeanor's aren't held against you. If you have a DUI or reckless driving charge against you you will have to wait 1 year before the Coast Guard will allow you to get your documents. If more than 1 it gets complicated. Different drug charges and other serious offenses are all treated differently. I won't go into this unless you are already documented and need to know what will happen and how it works.
An example or a minor physical handicap that requires additional testing is asthma. If a person has asthma the Medical review officer will require the person to go get a Pulmonary functions history test and he will review the results and determine if you are qualified for documentation.
There are so many possibilities that it is best to contact the Coast Guard directly and speak to them about your physical conditions to get an idea if you qualify.
Illegal drug users will not be qualified to work on a boat. All boat companies are required to drug test the people that work on boats. This is done pre employment, and then at random times. If there is any incident like a fuel , oil, or liquid mud spill the company and the Coast Guard will come to the boat and drug test everyone. If the boat is in any type of collision the company will drug test everyone on board and if 25,000$ or more of damage is done the Coast Guard will also get involved. If there is anyone injured on a boat the company will drug test everyone on the boat and if severe enough to cause death the Coast Guard will get involved.
There have been many scams over the years on how to pass a drug test. In my time on boats I have seen the people trying the scams come and go.If you are an illegal drug user it is best that you wait until you grow up and get it out of your system. Companies are required by law to report a person that fails a drug test to the Coast Guard. The result will be suspending your documents for a period of time and making you attend drug classes and what ever else just like if you were arrested for it before you can get your documents back.
People that take certain medications may not be qualified to work on a boat. For instance: Maybe you have a bi polar disorder but with your medication you are fine. The Coast Guard may deem a person under the medicine you take can not use it while working, and you need it for you to function. That could make you ineligible. Some medications can not be taken while at work and you might need them to function. It is best to contact the USCG and talk to them first.
Criminals can work on boats but it is complicated. I wont spend much time on this. The Coast Guard is very strict with felonies or DUI and Reckless Driving charges. Most misdemeanor's aren't held against you. If you have a DUI or reckless driving charge against you you will have to wait 1 year before the Coast Guard will allow you to get your documents. If more than 1 it gets complicated. Different drug charges and other serious offenses are all treated differently. I won't go into this unless you are already documented and need to know what will happen and how it works.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Boat Jobs ; What kind of people work on a boat
When I first heard of working on boats way back around 93 I had no idea what to expect. At the time all I knew was that it paid pretty good and I wanted a good paying job.
With movies and shows like Discovery Channels Deadliest Catch and Swords, to pirate movies and military type shows there is no clear Idea of what kind of people actually work on boats.
The best way to explain it is the movie Armageddon. You know the one with Ben Afleck and Liv Tylor. A killer astroid is going to crash into earth and the only way to save us is to land on it and drill a hole in it and blow it up. As much as that may not sound like a good explanation of the type of people that are working on boats it is actually perfect.
There are different positions and different levels on a boat. Take the big black guy for example, he seemed a little on the wild and crazy side but a big strong worker. There are many jobs available that are perfect for guys like him. The big dumb white guy could do some of the lower level jobs just fine but didn't appear to be smart enough to ever advance.The white guy with the big nose seems a little weird but could probably manage alot of the lower level jobs available. You have the weird looking guy that is super smart, he wouldn't do to well in the lower level jobs but as he advanced and worked more with his brain than his back he would start to do very well.You have the guy with the gambling problem that could probably do anything he wanted if he focused on it. You have the hot shot kid that is good and smart that thinks he knows more than the boss. And obviously Bruce plays the boss. Throw in a few Forrest Gumps and you have a pretty good Idea of what kind of people work on boats.
Boat jobs do require a higher degree of physical standards than many jobs but in general most anyone can find a place on a boat that they can do well in if they apply themselves.
Women in the past had only worked as cooks or stewards but that is now changing. Now women can hold any position they care to try. Women do have a harder time finding jobs on boats due to living quarters regulations. Most large companies meet the standards and have no choice but to hire women. In general a women will have a tough time getting excepted on a boat. For an example the company I work with currently had about 8 women employees in the past, I believe only 1 remains and she has a Captians license. Out of the 8, 6 of those have tried to sue for sexual harrasment.
As with any work enviorment harrasment of any kind is not allowed. The 2 women I have worked with are the only 2 that are not trying to sue someone. I do not know if the claims of harrasment are true or not but mention this to help explain why women have a hard time getting excepted on a boat. The first thought men on a boat have when a women is joining a crew is what does she look like. Well after all men are men. The second thought is, is she going to sue me if she is working under me and I have to give her a bad evaluation. In general a woman can not carry the same physical work load as the men so there is going to be hard feeling in general. A women will feel pretty isolated on most boats. In some instances a boat has more than 1 lower level position held by a woman but the women will have no choice but to work opposite times of the day due to the physical work load so there is no time for the women to get together and talk as the rest of the men do.
Women do get excepted if they are on a boat as a cook. It still makes life less comfortable for the men but a cook on a boat is basically a loner due to the work schedual. they wake up around 3am get breakfest ready and after breakfest they clean up , do some prep work for lunch and take a nap. After lunch they repeat the same for dinner and after dinner is done they go to bed so they can wake up at 3am and do it all over again.
People with most physical or mental handicaps are not allowed to work on boats. In a politicly correct world this seems to violate some kind of laws. This may seem wrong to some as most large companies are required to hire a certian ammount of people with disablities.
Keep in mind a boat is a floating house or city depending on the size. The things most people never really think about, like sewage, water electricity are provided by the crew of the boat. Unlike a house where if something goes wrong like you fall down the stairs, you can't call an ambulance or drive to the hospital. If there is a fire, unless you are tied to a dock you may be 1000 miles from help, the crew on the boat is the firemen.There is also little chance of your house sinking and you drownding or being eaten by fish.
It is not the companies refusing handicap people from working on a boat it is the United States Coast Guard. It is done because every person on the boat plays a vital role in the rest of the crews safety. Picture an emergancy where you life depends on someone elses actions and you would not want your life depending on someone that is not capable of saving it.
With movies and shows like Discovery Channels Deadliest Catch and Swords, to pirate movies and military type shows there is no clear Idea of what kind of people actually work on boats.
The best way to explain it is the movie Armageddon. You know the one with Ben Afleck and Liv Tylor. A killer astroid is going to crash into earth and the only way to save us is to land on it and drill a hole in it and blow it up. As much as that may not sound like a good explanation of the type of people that are working on boats it is actually perfect.
There are different positions and different levels on a boat. Take the big black guy for example, he seemed a little on the wild and crazy side but a big strong worker. There are many jobs available that are perfect for guys like him. The big dumb white guy could do some of the lower level jobs just fine but didn't appear to be smart enough to ever advance.The white guy with the big nose seems a little weird but could probably manage alot of the lower level jobs available. You have the weird looking guy that is super smart, he wouldn't do to well in the lower level jobs but as he advanced and worked more with his brain than his back he would start to do very well.You have the guy with the gambling problem that could probably do anything he wanted if he focused on it. You have the hot shot kid that is good and smart that thinks he knows more than the boss. And obviously Bruce plays the boss. Throw in a few Forrest Gumps and you have a pretty good Idea of what kind of people work on boats.
Boat jobs do require a higher degree of physical standards than many jobs but in general most anyone can find a place on a boat that they can do well in if they apply themselves.
Women in the past had only worked as cooks or stewards but that is now changing. Now women can hold any position they care to try. Women do have a harder time finding jobs on boats due to living quarters regulations. Most large companies meet the standards and have no choice but to hire women. In general a women will have a tough time getting excepted on a boat. For an example the company I work with currently had about 8 women employees in the past, I believe only 1 remains and she has a Captians license. Out of the 8, 6 of those have tried to sue for sexual harrasment.
As with any work enviorment harrasment of any kind is not allowed. The 2 women I have worked with are the only 2 that are not trying to sue someone. I do not know if the claims of harrasment are true or not but mention this to help explain why women have a hard time getting excepted on a boat. The first thought men on a boat have when a women is joining a crew is what does she look like. Well after all men are men. The second thought is, is she going to sue me if she is working under me and I have to give her a bad evaluation. In general a woman can not carry the same physical work load as the men so there is going to be hard feeling in general. A women will feel pretty isolated on most boats. In some instances a boat has more than 1 lower level position held by a woman but the women will have no choice but to work opposite times of the day due to the physical work load so there is no time for the women to get together and talk as the rest of the men do.
Women do get excepted if they are on a boat as a cook. It still makes life less comfortable for the men but a cook on a boat is basically a loner due to the work schedual. they wake up around 3am get breakfest ready and after breakfest they clean up , do some prep work for lunch and take a nap. After lunch they repeat the same for dinner and after dinner is done they go to bed so they can wake up at 3am and do it all over again.
People with most physical or mental handicaps are not allowed to work on boats. In a politicly correct world this seems to violate some kind of laws. This may seem wrong to some as most large companies are required to hire a certian ammount of people with disablities.
Keep in mind a boat is a floating house or city depending on the size. The things most people never really think about, like sewage, water electricity are provided by the crew of the boat. Unlike a house where if something goes wrong like you fall down the stairs, you can't call an ambulance or drive to the hospital. If there is a fire, unless you are tied to a dock you may be 1000 miles from help, the crew on the boat is the firemen.There is also little chance of your house sinking and you drownding or being eaten by fish.
It is not the companies refusing handicap people from working on a boat it is the United States Coast Guard. It is done because every person on the boat plays a vital role in the rest of the crews safety. Picture an emergancy where you life depends on someone elses actions and you would not want your life depending on someone that is not capable of saving it.
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