There are numerous opportunities to turn a person’s dream of living on the water into reality. While many goods are moved by truck or airplane, there are times when the simplest, most affordable, and effective mode of transportation is by river or sea. As a result, there is a high demand for and importance of these vessel workers in the economy. However, the work itself can be grueling, and quite dangerous. Knowing the realities of working on a tugboat before changing careers can help you decide if a life at sea is right for you.
How to work on a tugboat
The following four steps can help you find employment on a tugboat:
1. Begin as a deckhand
People often begin their tugboat careers as deckhands. A specific level of experience or college education is frequently not necessary for this entry-level position. To work as a deckhand, you might need to possess a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) referred to as an Ordinary Seaman (OS). To become an OS, you typically have to pass a physical exam, a drug test, a background check, and possibly a safety course and skills test. A Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) certification may also be needed by some employers, especially if you plan to work abroad.
If you choose to enroll in a maritime college, which is not typically necessary, you might be able to start working at a higher rating than a new deckhand. When you possess the required qualifications, you can look for a deckhand position. You might be able to call tugboat companies and inquire about available work in your area, or you could go directly to a dock and inquire about open positions. Additionally, some businesses might promote job openings online or in maritime publications.
2. Accumulate hours at sea
You can gain work experience and sea time once you start working as a deckhand. By doing this work, which functions as an apprenticeship, you can pick the brains of more seasoned crew members. Through practice and close observation of competent sailors, engineers, mates, captains, and other crew members on the tugboat, you can improve your physical abilities, interpersonal relationships, and leadership abilities.
3. Apply for your AB rating
You can apply for an AB rating after you’ve had experience working at sea. Depending on how many years you’ve spent working at sea and the types of vessels you operate, there are different levels of this MMC. A minimum of three years of experience on a ship at sea or on the Great Lakes is required to earn the AB Unlimited credential. Other AB certifications exist, such as Limited, which needs 18 months of service, and Special, which needs 12 months. You can increase your pay and responsibility levels on the tugboat by becoming an AB.
4. Advance to supervisory roles
Once you have some experience working as an AB, you can apply for mate or captain positions, which are higher-level positions. Based on the tugboat’s tonnage, these positions have unique credentialing requirements and call for experience relevant to the type of water environment that their tugboat operates in. Both mates and captains need an STCW certification.
Why work on a tugboat?
Towboat employment may be an option for you for the following reasons:
Tips for working on a tugboat
You can use the following advice to decide if working on a tugboat is right for you and to get ready for the position:
Understand the environment
Working on a tugboat may be your choice if you want a physically demanding outdoor job. You may be better prepared for the various working conditions if you are aware of what to anticipate before working on the tugboat. It’s important to keep in mind that tugboats can operate in bad weather and at any time of the day. You might come across trip hazards like ropes, slippery surfaces, heat, and cold.
Build your practical skills
It can be beneficial to practice some of the practical abilities you might need prior to working on a tugboat. You could, for instance, learn when and how to tie common knots. You can also get some practice using ropes, even long, heavy ones, and throwing them over long distances. Developing your physical fitness to be able to stand still for the duration of a shift and climb ladders is a different strategy. Learning to cook will enable you to assist in preparing meals for the other tugboat crew members.
Develop interpersonal skills
When you work on a tugboat, you frequently spend a lot of time with the same coworkers every day. Before beginning your first tugboat job, it can be beneficial to improve your communication, leadership, and conflict-resolution abilities. Additionally, gaining experience and getting to know your coworkers will help you improve these skills.
Get high-quality personal equipment
Although your duties on the tugboat may require you to use specific tools, you may find it more comfortable to purchase your own. For instance, you can purchase cozy, properly-fitting waterproof clothing such as jackets and boots. Depending on the climate where your tugboat operates, you may want to choose a different thickness and level of warmth. Additionally, you can purchase items like pocket knives and work gloves.
Tugboat jobs
Here are three jobs you can get on a tugboat. Please click on the links below to view the most recent Indeed salaries:
A tugboat deckhand’s primary responsibilities include handling cargo, docking the tugboat, and rigging it. Deckhands also take care of cleaning, keeping watch, lifting and moving heavy equipment, and performing minor maintenance on small tools and machinery. On some tugboats, deckhands also prepare meals for the crew.
Primary duties: Able-bodied seamen have similar responsibilities to ordinary sailors. But because the AB has more expertise, they might also help with tasks like steering and bridge watch. If there are OS on the tugboat as well, they might assist the AB with their responsibilities.
A tugboat captain’s main responsibilities include overseeing all operations on the tugboat. They have the authority to decide definitively on any tugboat operation. Tugboat captains serve as the team’s leaders and manage interactions with other vessels. They steer the tugboat, often alternating with the first mate.
How To Work on a Tug Boat
FAQ
How much do people make on tugboats?
Salary Ranges for Tugboat Mates The median annual salary for tugboat mates in the US is $53,450, with salaries ranging from $29,839 to $134,950. The middle 60% of Tugboat Mates makes between $53,450 and $76,780, with the top 80% making $134,950
How many days do you work on a tugboat?
Tugboat captains usually work about 180 days per year. They spend chunks of two weeks on the water, then have the following two weeks off.
How much do deckhands make on tugboats?
A deckhand on a tugboat makes $13. 91 dollars an hour on average. They can also get paid an overtime salary of $19. 25. Total annual salary can range from $25,437 to $72,300. The average salaries across the United States were used to calculate these tugboat deckhand salary estimates.
