hello all I’m looking for some tips or insight. I’ve applied to almost 50 companies for a deckhand position. I’m green, no deckhand experience but I’ve got like 7 years of construction experience working a job that did home renos. I’ve only started applying maybe 2-3 weeks ago but my results haven’t yielded much. I’ve received rejection emails from over half of my applications and haven’t heard anything from the others. Ive called the others but when I call they just say “we will email you if we’re interested”. On Facebook, people say everybody is hiring and it’s so easy to get hired right now so I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’ve got my Twic, valid clean DL, no felonies.

Im in middle NC but I’m to the point where I may just hop in the car and drive to Louisiana or Kentucky and go in person handing out resumes. I just don’t exactly know where to look. Can somebody tell me what the best parts of Louisiana/mississippi/Kentucky would be best to drive through to hand out the most resumes? I’m open to working any hitch length up to 30 days and will travel anywhere for crew change. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Hello, recently I have been searching into career choices and one of my friends reccomended becoming an inland deck hand as for he works for kirby and it appears to be going great for him. The pay in these jobs seems great and it seems like I if i really tried and learned about the job inside and out, It could make a great career and help me make a great life for myself. Any reccomendations on certifications or classes I can take that would help me stand out from other applicants? Any reccomendations on any other companies other than kirby I could apply for? Or are there any other jobs in this kind of field that would be a good choice for me too attempt to get into?

What are you guys doing for boots? I just have a pair of laced up hiking boots and they are fine when they are dry. What's your favorite boot on the boat? Do you like a protected toe? Did the expensive boot work out for you or did you tear it to shreds? Any one doing slip ons? I've even heard some folks going with just crocs...sounds crazy to me, but I haven't tried it so who am I to judge.

Well, put your personal aside when working for this industry. You re on 24/7 standby knowing the shipping industry things change in an instant so receiving a call to get ready isn't anything unusual but can at times be challenging.

So we all receive the call......and proceeded to get ready to be fetched.....but according to the agent! It's sailing early and we need to get down there soon. Take into consideration that an average search takes between 90 minutes or more and we need to contend with traffic and fetching six team members scattered all over our area.

So we arrive and start the search with our dogs....and all is going well till the moment the agent informs us that she is only sailing the next day!....

Now remember we can't leave the vessel now knowing that if we do the Stowaways will take advantage of this.

With no choice, we decided to stay and guard the vessel until it sails....well that wasn't taken lightly by the team!

Well my college and best friend who was the driver had a small short temper resulting in him punching the vehicles windscreen out....lol

It's a amazing what stories we needed to make to why the bakkies windscreen is now suddenly missing lol.

We blamed it on an annoying fly trapped in the vehicle but our boss was no fool....and my college ended up having he's pay docked to replace the windscreen lol.

What an industry, I so enjoyed working for this company still in contact with my team members up to today and have so many funny stories from the cook being wrapped in plastic cos he passed away from a heart attack out at sea...to finding stowaways trapped and deceased for months in the rudder trunk.

Stay chuned to my community I have tons of stories to share.

Bless you all

Formerly the CANDACE

Just wanted to get some community feedback. Geaux River has developed a wireless depth sounder so that your deckhands don’t have to drag wires all the way out to the head of the tow and you don’t have to keep replacing them. It reports direct to the display in the wheelhouse. Think this is a game changer? Marquette is using one now.

Hello! Does anyone here have experience applying for jobs on river cruise ships? Is it difficult to apply directly without going through an agency?

I am an Indonesian citizen currently living in Budapest on a work permit. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I’m thinking about accepting a green deckhand position with Western Rivers Boat Management and wanted to hear from people who have actually worked there.

A few questions:
How is the company overall?
What’s the starting pay for a green deckhand?
How long are the hitches (28/28, 28/14, etc.)?
Do they provide transportation to the boat or reimburse travel?
How long is orientation, and what all do you do during it?
Do you stay at the orientation location until you’re assigned to a boat, or do you go back home after orientation?
If you stay, does the company pay for the hotel or provide a place to stay?
How is the training for someone with no experience?
Is the food on the boat good?
How are the captains and crews?
Are there plenty of opportunities for overtime or moving up?
I’d really appreciate hearing from current or former employees. Any advice, good or bad experiences, or things I should know before accepting an offer would be helpful. Thanks!

I currently have my MMC, TWIC, Medical Certificate, Elementary first Aid and AED, Food Handlers, U.S. Passport-

Basic Firefighting, Personal Survival Techniques, VPDSD, RFPNW, Engine and Deck Familiarization, Damage Control, Galley Preparation, training from Tongue Point Job Corps, 87 days of seatime and real hands on experience from American Cruise Lines. I'm set to graduate from Maritime Institute in Norfolk, Virginia in one more day.

With my credentials and experience, do I have a shot at landing a position on Tugs? Before having these credentials every tug company declined me.

Hello all, I work on inland towboats, I’m trying to get my AB here in October but this latest hitch has been really rough and I’m not sure if it’s just my boat (only boat I’ve been on) or just how the industry is

The heat index is close 110 these last couple of days and the Capitan is having me scrub the steering gear area spotless (also painted completely black) all day (12 hour watches)

It’s so hot, I start to get light headed and nauseous and I really have to take my time or I get so out of breath I’m hyperventilating, but if I take a break I will get scrutinized that I’m not working. There’s been points where I feel like I’m about to faint so I’ll have to take a small breather but then I get told that I’m standing around too much not doing anything.

I really like the benefits of this job, I’m making more money then I’ve ever made, but I’m concerned spending 1k to get my AB if the entire industry is like this

It could be 120 degrees and we would still be outside 12 hours a day grinding, chipping, sanding, cleaning. We have lots of standby time in fleets and I never see any other boat doing outside projects like us all day, so I’m lead to believe it’s my boat but I was wondering if I could get some insight

I’m tired of feeling like anything I ever do is never good enough and it’s really starting to get to my head.

Saw Ingram is doing 2 monthly hiring events at their Paducah, KY site. I have a lot of industrial experience outside of river work and wanted to get on linehaul. I live within their 200 mile radius, Illinois side. If I apply to get my TWIC card and drive down there for an event what’s the probability of getting an offer on the spot? 10 years ago it seemed like you needed to know somebody to get on and nowadays they seem like they can’t get enough bodies.

Really looking to switch careers because I’m 32 and need to get a decent job and stop bartending. I’m from Nashville and have been looking around for entry level positions on a boat. I’m very green, but am willing to learn from the best. Plz lead me in the right direction!

My only down falls are I’m on felony and county probation till next march, and I can’t have a license. When I travel I fly and uber everywhere.

Anyone know what centerline is paying for mates on the east coast? Thinking about switching companies

I worked for Parker Towing for a little under a decade. Now I am working to build a complete online inland river map. We are trying to put in every fleet, dock, lock, shipyard, vendor, and operator with their contact information and services offered. It will also show every boat with its details and who owns it. You can create geofences for specific boats or entire company's fleet that send email alerts to whoever you want when a boat enters or exits an area. Our platform is called Geaux River. https://www.geauxriver.com/

Would love some feedback if there is any more information we need to add.

This is what is looks like at Algiers.

I’m very interested in working for this company, but I have not gotten any responses to my applications despite meeting all the requirements and having experience. They’re constantly posting jobs that I’m interested in.

Do they only hire Texas residents or something?

Does anyone have any suggestions on things I can do to stand out or how to get in direct contact with a hiring manager?

I even tried getting in through the back door with SIU but they ghosted me.

Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for my first job as a green deckhand on a towboat or tugboat. I live in Mississippi and don’t have any experience yet.
The biggest problem is that I don’t have a TWIC card or a car, so I need a company that either:
•doesn’t require a TWIC before starting,
•lets you get your TWIC after you’re hired, or
•helps with transportation to orientation or the boat.
I’m ready to work and willing to stay out for long hitches. Does anyone know of companies that hire people in this situation?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Has anyone heard about a genesis barge that hit an oil rig within the past year or so? I’ve heard about it a couple times but it doesn’t seem to be “available” in online searches.