Jobs with a 100 ton captains license?

Question

My boyfriend just got his 100 ton captain's license from the U.S.C.G.? He wants to work in the gulf doing the offshore work. What are some good companies to investigate? I know there are a lot of them but i cant find them online when i search!

Answer 1

I have a 100 ton with Aux. Sail and I can tell you from personal experience that Captain's Licenses are just about as thick as fleas on a dog, down on the gulf coast.

Up until the last year or two, there were still some small supply boats being used, but most of those are gone... many to the ship breakers... so most supply and dive boats in the Gulf, START at 500 tons.  A 100 ton license is good up to about 90 feet, depending on the draft and appendages on the hull.  With his 100 ton license, his best bet would be to use it to get a job as a DECK HAND or a COOK or one of the lower level jobs.. and use THAT job to build up sea time to get his ABLE BODIED SEAMAN (The AB) ticket and then build up more time to go on up in tonnage.

A 100 ton works for me because I do charters for up to about 25 people and deliveries.. and the occasional gig driving the boat for a Parasail. I even ran a small supply boat out of Port Fourchaon, LA,  But, in his case, he needs to consider using it as an ENTRY LEVEL into commercial boating and build up his hours to get something REALLY good.

Answer 2

It depends on what type of 100 ton master's license he got. If it's Inland, for the Gulf he'll be limited to 12 miles offshore, which eliminates many of the crew-boat jobs he might be looking for. Near-Coastal will give him pretty much the entire Gulf. Most of the major towboat companies are looking for a 1600 ton Oceans license, even though their boats may be under 100 tons. Don't know any of the smaller operators in your area, but he might look into various charter-boat companies; they're usually pretty happy with 100 ton licenses.

And I agree fully with Garrisonbight. 100 ton Master's licenses are a dime a dozen, but an Able Seaman MMD is a meal-ticket. An AB Special (the lowest AB rating) only requires  360 days service on deck on oceans, Great Lakes or navigable waters of U.S. which is the same sea-service requirement he had for his 100 ton Master Inland. He may have a tonnage restriction, but it's a start. Sailing as a cook or a deck-hand on larger tonnage vessels will get him his AB Limited.