What are the requirements to work on a tugboat?

Question

Whats the minimum age? Do you have to go to a tech school?

Do you need to have a high school diploma? Will be working in the gulf of Mexico, New Orleans to Brownsville. Looking to start out as a deckhand and work my way up. Thanks.

Answer 1

18 y/o typically (although you could get your papers at 16 with parental consent).  There are many tech schools for potential merchant mariners (i.e. www.seaschool.com).  No high school diploma (at least for the lower ranks).

You'll typically start as an "ordinary seaman" for which your captain may require some certification by the local U.S. Coast Guard examination center (drug test, background checks, etc..).  You can then work your way up to Able Bodied Seaman (AB/Z-card).  As you gain more time on board (sea service) you can take various Coast Guard tests and increase your certifications and rank.  In the Merchant Marine, the top rank is Master of all Oceans, all Tonnage.  

The regional Coast Guard office in New Orleans can be reached at [phone], 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday.

Good luck!