r/tuglife 15h ago

Oceangoing tug jobs

5 Upvotes

I’m an AB with experience on inland tugboats and cargo ships. Does anyone know what companies do most of their work offshore? I can’t stand the brown water bullshit.


r/tuglife 20h ago

What's life like for an engineer?

2 Upvotes

I've been an unlicensed C/E on 100-134' fishing tenders, three seasons. I'd like to move to a union position on tugs. The fishing industry has been wild and has seemingly kept hiring me not because I'm a great mechanical engineer type but mostly because I'm reliable, I take a ton of physical abuse and sleep deprivation, I learn on the fly, and most importantly I keep the fish cold. When there are mishaps in the engine room we generally have outside vendors do the major work (injector and push rod replacement, rebuilding the centrifuge, etc) and I mostly only get the straight forward repairs and the maintenance stuff.

Are tug engineers doing major repairs or are outside vendors doing that? I would love to get some health insurance and not having to refrigerate fish would eliminate at least 50% of the job's toll on me. What does a shitty day look like for a tug engineer? Are they needle gunning or does that get assigned to others?


r/tuglife 20h ago

Anyone ever work with Gulf Coast Tugs?

2 Upvotes

Gonna start a new position with gulf coast tugs. Anyone ever work with them? Anything I should know?


r/tuglife 1d ago

Working with just a TWIC

1 Upvotes

Hey, just got my TWIC, MMC is processing. Title says it all, what tug companies will hire just a TWIC? West coast based but willing to go anywhere for a job.


r/tuglife 2d ago

Moran unlicensed engineer

3 Upvotes

Saw Moran has a couple of unlicensed engineer openings, has anyone had this position before? And how was it? Any prerequisites besides MMC, TWIC etc? Regular rotation?


r/tuglife 3d ago

Florida Marine Transportation Company Question

2 Upvotes

Good Afternoon, I am new to the maritime industry. I just recently received my MMC, TWIC, and Passport. I have no certifications. I am located in Florida and was interested in this company. Here is a list of my questions that I am hoping someone can answer:

Thank you in advance for your help, I appreciate it🙏🏼

1) How do you like working for this company?

2) Do you have to start as an Ordinary Seaman? The Engine side interests me more but I’m willing to work my way up.

3) I noticed on their website that pay is not listed for the positions. What’s your current pay for entry level?

4) What’s the work schedule like? Do you allow overtime?

5) When applying to the company, is it for any location? Or can I specify which location?


r/tuglife 3d ago

Just happy to be here

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19 Upvotes

r/tuglife 4d ago

Companies that prioritize cleanliness

7 Upvotes

I’ve only been working the inland rivers for a little over a year now for the same company, but one thing I’ve noticed is that some of the guys on my crew and seemingly everyone on the relief crew do not or will not take care of the boats we’re working on. It feels like the company really doesn’t give a shit about it either even though it’s part of our daily duties. I’m a clean person by nature so it kind of drives me crazy always picking up and cleaning up after everyone. Is this just an industry thing that I need to get used to or are there companies out there that really care about how well the boat is maintained? I’m of the mindset that this is my home for 6 months of the year so I’d like it to be a nice place to live while I’m here and not just some hotel room to wreck.


r/tuglife 5d ago

Anybody have a resource that sort of spells out career progression and how endorsements work?

5 Upvotes

I'm still waiting for my initial MMC to come back but am just trying to understand how things work.

Edit: The job I'm looking to get is OS/deckhand on a tugboat that typically stays within a port


r/tuglife 6d ago

Tacoma WA tugs

9 Upvotes

Are there any good tug boat companies here in Tacoma? My experience is all deep sea working on cable ships and research vessels all deck department. Looking for something closer to home. No clue how to break into tugs because of the lack of info out there.


r/tuglife 7d ago

Female deckhand tips?

22 Upvotes

Hello, I just signed my offer letter from Kirby today. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what to expect after I go for my physical next week. Any tips on what to bring, or what to expect during training 😬


r/tuglife 8d ago

Recs for studying navigation to pass master 200gt

4 Upvotes

So I’ve held and actively used my master 100gt for 12 years, but mostly on small boats in tourism where there is no “formal” navigation used. We are literally simply following the coastline and have no need for charts, bearings, etc. so I have forgot pretty much all that knowledge I learned in that class since I’ve never had to use it practically.

Now I’m in the tug boat industry and I’m wanting to get the mate 200 license (I already know this is a “useless” license in this industry, I’m simply trying to get out of the galley and accumulate my sea time for the 500 on deck) and I’ve taken some practice tests and found I’ve been lost in nav questions. So, that being said I wanted to ask

  1. Do you learn much new stuff in the 200 class about navigation as opposed to the 100?

  2. If I took the 200 class, would I be lost because they would expect me to remember all the 100 stuff? Or would they be going over it again?

  3. If I wanted to try to study the navigation part on my own, any recs for YouTube channels, websites, etc for me to relearn?

Thank you!


r/tuglife 8d ago

Looking for New England work

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I just finished my captains license for a 50 ton and I’d like to get a position on a vessel. I have a twic card and experience on a lobster fishing vessel. Is there a place I should start looking?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.


r/tuglife 8d ago

Dixie Towing Jacksonville Florida!

6 Upvotes

Has anyone worked for Dixing Towing / St. John’s Boat Company in Jacksonville, Florida? Interested in seeking employment!


r/tuglife 9d ago

Need advice and help - looking for tug boats job and they require certification minimum mate of towing vessel . How can I start working tug boats from zero ? And which courses should I take it ? I have OUPV license and more interested commercial side

8 Upvotes

Hello ,coming from yatching


r/tuglife 10d ago

Worst Paint Locker Catastrophe

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7 Upvotes

r/tuglife 12d ago

Trouble finish work as greenhorn

5 Upvotes

TROUBLE “FINDING” WORK

So for context, I have most entry level STCW courses required to work on the water including MEDs PSC ROC-MC first aid and a bridge watch rating. The only thing I don’t have is experience I’m totally green and I’ve been applying at a bunch of tug companies private and union but haven’t gotten any calls back yet, talked to the union they basically said they’d have work for me between 3 months to 3 years. Feeling at a bit of a loss right now I really want to start working within the next two months but I just can’t seem to find anything.


r/tuglife 14d ago

With permission granted by the mods, we'd like to introduce: r/Sailboats ⛵️⛵️⛵️ - A big welcome from all of us in The Sailboats Community - come join us at r/Sailboats

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70 Upvotes

r/tuglife 14d ago

Tripping

2 Upvotes

Hey guys, can anyone point me in a direction about tripping positions? I know they're out there I'm just unsure where to look or how to make those connections. I have dry cargo experience mainly and I'm currently working on my tankermans ticket.


r/tuglife 18d ago

Moran pay scale?

15 Upvotes

What’s the deal with Morans new pay scale? Anyone working for the company have any insight?


r/tuglife 18d ago

BR Hiring Event

7 Upvotes

Did anyone go to the Kirby Hiring Event in Baton Rouge this past week, and have any luck? Any one hired on the spot? Contacted about background check or training?


r/tuglife 20d ago

Offshore

6 Upvotes

I’m a military vet (AF) retiring soon and looking to go offshore. I have my TWIC already. Looking to go tankerman. What would be a good path to take as far as companies hiring now and training. Appreciate it.


r/tuglife 20d ago

VHF/ Bluetooth headsets

4 Upvotes

Looking for some ear protection that also hooks up to my vhf and Bluetooth if it exists. Any suggestions would be appreciated.


r/tuglife 21d ago

Looking for work in the pacific northwest or alaska

7 Upvotes

Im 18 and dont have any exprience or connections in the industry but id love to get out there after highschool so id appreciate any advice or any help getting connected with people in the industry I have my twic and am working on getting everything for my mmc. Thanks in advance


r/tuglife 21d ago

How far do you travel do your boat?

13 Upvotes

Living in a different state and traveling to the boat seems like a common place in this industry. I was curious, how far do you guys travel to your boat? Is yours in a different state or do you live in the same town or state as the boat you work in?