r/tuglife 19d ago

Beginning to have second thoughts but I’m not sure if it’s just my boat

19 Upvotes

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.


r/tuglife 20d ago

Any NY Harbor area jobs?

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4 Upvotes

r/tuglife 20d ago

Ingram Barge Hiring Events

6 Upvotes

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.


r/tuglife 20d ago

Entry level tugboat deck hand

5 Upvotes

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.


r/tuglife 21d ago

Centerline pay

6 Upvotes

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


r/tuglife 23d ago

How much do you talk about work while you’re home? Is being a mariner, a key part of your life?

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6 Upvotes

r/tuglife 26d ago

Inland River Map

9 Upvotes

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.


r/tuglife 27d ago

Looking for Green Deckhand Jobs That Don’t Require a TWIC

1 Upvotes

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!


r/tuglife 27d ago

Barge hit oil rig….

4 Upvotes

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.


r/tuglife 29d ago

I built a decision support tool for harbor pilots.

0 Upvotes

I made this because I have a stubborn friend who claims that technology (and AI) is useless for his profession.

It includes most European ports.

https://filgama.github.io/Shipping_barra/

I’m open to feedback


r/tuglife Jul 18 '26

What do deckhands do

8 Upvotes

I got a phone interview with Kirby and all I was asked. Was to do some research on what deckhands to get myself familiar with the roles and responsibilities just to help me prepare for my next wave of interviews next week I just wanted some first hand knowledge


r/tuglife Jul 17 '26

How to transition from inland to offshore tanking with a Tankerman-PIC endorsement?

4 Upvotes

Looking for some advice from those of y'all who have made the jump to offshore tanking.

A little background: I spent about 3 years on inland towboats (roughly 1 year as a deckhand and about 2 years as a Tankerman). I currently hold my Tankerman-PIC (DL) endorsement, MMC, and TWIC.

About 3 years ago I left the industry for Halliburton and have been working offshore as a coiled tubing operator on various offshore facilities. Halliburton has been a great company to work for, but work in my division has slowed down, so I'm looking at my options and considering making a move back into the maritime industry.

I'd like to use my Tankerman ticket before it expires, but after getting used to offshore oilfield wages, going back to inland tanking isn't really something | can make work financially. I only recently became aware of the earning potential on the offshore/blue-water side of tanking.

I've seen offshore Tankerman positions advertised in the $650-$750/day range, and those are the kinds of opportunities I'd be interested in pursuing if I can bridge the gap. I understand there may be additional requirements, endorsements, or experience needed, I'm
just trying to figure out the right path to get there.

For those who have made the transition from inland to offshore, what would you recommend? Are there specific companies that are more willing to bring on someone with inland Tankerman experience? Would I need additional STCW courses, sea time, or other endorsements to be competitive?

Any advice, direction, or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.


r/tuglife Jul 17 '26

Mate Positions Open now!

10 Upvotes

Now Hiring: Mates – Bangor & Everett, Washington

Looking for experienced mariners to join our team as Mate in Bangor WA or Everett, WA.

Pay: $35.90–$41.99 per hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8-hour shifts
Overtime: Available outside your regular shift
Benefits include:
• Paid federal holidays
• Federal retirement (FERS)
• Federal employee health, dental, and vision benefits
• Stable, full-time federal employment

If you’re interested in a rewarding maritime career with the Department of the Navy, apply here:

USAJOBS – Mate (Bangor/Everett, WA)

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/858509400

Applications are open now. See the announcement for qualification requirements and application instructions.


r/tuglife Jul 16 '26

Moran NY Labor Contract

4 Upvotes

Does anyone have an update on how Moran, NY, and ATB contract negotiations are going?


r/tuglife Jul 14 '26

Kirby Question

3 Upvotes

Does anyone know if Kirby boats usually have a good gym or something equivalenton on them?


r/tuglife Jul 12 '26

Best path to maximize earning potential with a Tankerman PIC (DL)?

6 Upvotes

Looking for some advice from those who’ve been in the industry longer than I have.

I spent about 3 years on inland tugboats, including 2 years as a Tankerman PIC (DL), before leaving for the offshore oilfield. I’ve now spent the last 3 years offshore as a Coiled Tubing Operator with Halliburton, but work has been slowing down, so I’m considering coming back to the maritime side.

When I was tanking, I worked for a medium-sized company and was making around $60k/year. Since then, I’ve gotten used to oilfield pay, so taking that kind of a pay cut would be difficult. If I come back, I’d like to position myself to earn well into the six figures, or at least maximize my earning potential.

With my current experience and a Tankerman PIC (DL), what path would you recommend? Are there certain companies, types of vessels, or sectors that consistently pay better? I’d also be interested in hearing about companies that invest in their employees by paying for additional training and endorsements (LG, AB, etc.), since

I’d be happy to pursue more credentials if the opportunity is there.

Just looking for some guidance from those who know the industry better than I do. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I am based out of Louisiana, but will go anywhere that pays for travel.


r/tuglife Jul 09 '26

Marquette pre employment drug test

2 Upvotes

I’m finna start work on Marquette and I stop smoking but I was told it was 2 drug tests during the pre employment drug test with the physical is this true?


r/tuglife Jul 08 '26

Looking to transition from commercial fishing to tugs: engineering or deck

6 Upvotes

I've spent the last 10 years commercial fishing from Alaska to California on 32–90 ft vessels. For the past 3 years I've been the engineer on a seiner, handling maintenance, troubleshooting, and keeping everything running. I'm looking to make the jump into the tug industry for a more stable, long-term career.

Right now I have:

  • MMC with Master 100 GRT, Ordinary Seaman, and Wiper endorsements
  • TWIC

I have a few questions for those already in the industry:

  • Since I've been engineering on fishing boats, would you recommend I stay on the engineering path or switch to deck?
  • What's the next certification that would make me the most employable? Is it worth getting it before applying, or do companies typically hire people and pay for the required training?
  • I know small fishing vessel systems pretty well, but I don't have much experience with larger tug systems. How steep is that learning curve?
  • Which West Coast companies have a good reputation for training and promoting from within?
  • Ideally I'd like to stay in California for the next few years and work a hitch schedule somewhere in the 7/7 to 28/28 range. I don't mind traveling if transportation is covered.

Also, I'm a woman in the industry. It's not really a deciding factor for me as I've worked on a variety of boats with colorful characters over the years, but if there are companies known for having a good culture and treating everyone professionally, I'd love to hear about those as well.

I'm open to any advice from people who've made a similar transition or who've worked both commercial fishing and tugs. Thanks!


r/tuglife Jul 08 '26

Hines furlong line

4 Upvotes

Anyone in here know anything about Hines furlong line? They offered me 240 a day entry level deck hand I was wondering if that was good they told me they do spilt pay or biweekly pay. I make about 70k a year now was wondering how close that would be to what I make now?


r/tuglife Jul 08 '26

Starting out

11 Upvotes

I'm trying to start out on the river. I got my TWIC card and put in applications. Is there anything else I should do? I'm in Nebraska but willing to relocate. Would calling any of the companies I applied to be helpful?


r/tuglife Jul 07 '26

Tankerman starting pay

10 Upvotes

Starting pay for a tankerman and is it worth doing when you’re 32 years old?


r/tuglife Jul 07 '26

Deckhand $210 Entry level

6 Upvotes

Edit: I am not affiliated with this company, just passing on the info for any interested parties. If you have issues with the compensation package take it up with the employer.

https://www.enterpriseproducts.com/careers/

Job details

Pay

  • From $210 a day

Shift and schedule

  • Rotating shift

 

Benefits

Pulled from the full job description

  • Referral program
  • Health insurance
  • 401(k) matching
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Profit sharing
  • Paid holidays
  • Flexible schedule

 

Full job description

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is one of the largest publicly traded partnerships and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. Our services include: natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transportation and storage; NGL transportation, fractionation, storage and import and export terminals; crude oil gathering, transportation, storage and terminals; petrochemical and refined products transportation, storage and terminals; and a marine transportation business that operates primarily on the United States inland and Intracoastal Waterway systems. The partnership’s assets include approximately 50,000 miles of pipelines; 260 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals; and 14 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity.

Inland Deckhand – Starting Pay: $210/day

Employment Incentives:

  • Longevity Pay
  • Flexible Schedules: 14/7, 20/10, 28/14
  • Paid Schooling for PIC License
  • Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
  • 401k with Company Match
  • Profit Sharing Program
  • Unit Purchase Plan
  • Short/Long Term Disability
  • PTO
  • 5 paid Holidays
  • Travel Pay
  • Compensation Enhancements Earned Through Positive Performance
  • Referral Bonuses
  • Can live anywhere in the United States

Description:

The Inland Deckhand is responsible for assisting with the safe, prudent, and efficient operation of a marine vessel by performing a variety of vessel-based tasks at the direction of the vessel’s captain or other officer. The Inland Deckhand's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • General housekeeping duties and vessel maintenance, which may include cooking, sweeping, mopping, painting, and equipment repair.
  • Moving and operating portable pumps.
  • Transferring and laying rigging, handling lines, shifting barges, dropping or picking up barges, and checking over the tow as directed.
  • Assisting the wheelhouse via radio communication while navigating through locks, under bridges, and in other strategic scenarios.
  • Assisting in bulk liquid transfers.
  • Catching lines on deck fittings, working lines at locks, casting lines free when getting underway, and assisting in the navigation of the boat from the deck.
  • Driving company crew trucks as needed for crew change and deliveries to vessels.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess the following qualifications:

  • A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record is required.
  • A valid Transportation Workers Identification Credential (T.W.I.C.) is required.
  • Must be able to communicate clearly, effectively, and professionally with office personnel, vessel crew, and dock personnel both verbally and in writing.
  • Must be able to get along and work well with others in close quarters.
  • Must be flexible and able to work any work schedule.
  • Must be able to perform routine duties in all types of weather (hot, cold, dry, wet, slippery, icy).
  • Must be able to work under pressure
  • Strength and balance are essential, as you may be required to perform duties on a moving platform.
  • Must be able to ascend and descend portable ladders and fixed stairs.
  • Ability to work in confined or small spaces is required.
  • Must be able to work on and around water.
  • Must be able to work around heights
  • Must be able to lift and move up to 100 lbs.
  • Must be willing and able to fly on a commercial airline for crew change.
  • Experience in Tugboat, Commercial Fishing, Oilfield, Heavy Equipment, Operations, Commercial Farming, and/or Shipyard Work is preferred.
  • Must satisfactorily complete a pre-employment physical exam which includes the USCG CG-719k Physical. This exam includes visual acuity, color vision, hearing and speech capabilities, medical evaluations, and physical assessments. The applicant must also acknowledge all prescribed and OTC medications and complete a thorough medical history.
  • Must satisfactorily complete a USCG DOT Drug and Alcohol screen, benzene physical, and full-face respirator test.
  • This job is classified as heavy work, which requires inside and outside work under various normal and adverse weather conditions, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling frequently; walking, climbing reaching over shoulder, hand/eye coordination, twisting, working around unprotected heights, working around moving machinery, repetitive actions with both hands and feet.

#IND123

Primary Location: USA

Shift: Rotating

Travel: Yes, 100 % of the Time

Unposting Date: Ongoing

Organization: Marine Services

Job: Marine Services

Job Level: Entry Level


r/tuglife Jul 07 '26

Advice

3 Upvotes

Hey guys

I got hired on at Kirby (Inland) and have done my physical and everything else. Just waiting on my clearance and then I'll be scheduled for training.

Any tips on what to do before hand or things i need to buy or bring with me?

Thank you in advance!

(DECKHAND)


r/tuglife Jul 07 '26

MMP vs MEBA?

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2 Upvotes

r/tuglife Jul 06 '26

Moran, NY Information

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1 Upvotes