Related Links
Ian Jones
Tugboat Captain
Samson Tug and Barge
1997 Sitka High graduate
1. How did you become interested in your job?
I thought I wanted to be a fisherman, but it didn’t seem practical trying to get into the industry at the time. I was looking for something more reliable, financially, that was still on the water. I had a little pressure from my parents to go to college, so I looked for a school where I could get some maritime training along with a regular degree.
2. What do you do on a typical day?
On a typical day, I usually stand watch from 6am until noon and then from 6 pm until midnight. In addition to driving the vessel, I also supervise the other employees, make sure we have all the parts that might be needed at sea, help maintain the boat, oversee loading and unloading of the barges, and more! I’ve been on the same vessel, the Samson Mariner, a 100-foot tugboat with 3,000 horsepower, for all of my six years with the company. The barges we tow are 350 feet long, stacked high with containers and freight. I’m ultimately responsible for the boat, the crew and the cargo.
3. What Training or education have you had for your job?
I went to Maine Maritime Academy and earned a Bachelors of Science in Marine Transportation. I took all the general academic classes, plus specific marine courses and labs. Each summer, we were required to work in the industry for at least 60 days. When I finished, I also had a Coast Guard license to work in the industry. The four years of college helped me progress from deckhand to captain fairly quickly, although a person could get to my position without a college degree!
4. What is your favorite part of your job?
I like the hard work and the challenge of being responsible for the boat, the crew, and the cargo. I never get bored because of all the different things I encounter with the weather, the scenery, and the wildlife. I also like seeing all the different parts of Alaska. I get to see things most people don’t. It’s like taking a cruise along the Alaskan coast every day!
5. What is the starting pay for someone in your position?
Depending on which boat, company, or how often you work, the starting salary for a captain is around $90,000 a year (plus good benefits, including health care, vacation, 401K, etc). It can go up significantly from there. The company will usually pay for your travel to and from the job too. Becoming a skipper, you have to face a bunch of regulations like having four years of sea time, basically earned through a 5-year progression. For deckhand positions, starting wages are around $19 an hour, plus overtime, and good benefits! It’s a lot of hard work though - 12-hour days, sometimes 18. The schedule is typically 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off.
6. What advice would you give a teen thinking about a similar career?
For starters, you should be a hard worker, and someone who loves the outdoors and being on the water. Before getting on a vessel, you’ll need to get a Merchant Mariners card (Z-Card) from the Coast Guard, which is about a 3-6 week process. You must go in person to a port, such as Juneau, and you’ll need to get your drug tests, physicals, and all the other required things. The first thing to do is to call the Marine Safety Officer in Juneau and ask for a “things you need to know” packet with the paper work. You also might want to consider getting the STCW credential, which is a week of training in Seattle on water safety (firefighting, lifesaving, getting into your survival suit, etc. and medical training).
The maritime transportation industry is screaming for people - everywhere in the country, not just Alaska! Get the training, have the right attitude, and you’ll find work!
On-going support for Alaska Energy Careers is provided by
- committed to Alaska's next generation of workers.© 2006 Sitka Energy Project. A project of Sitka Works!
This project was funded by a grant awarded under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative,
as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration
and the State of Alaska,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Site designed and built by Red Bear Network Services.
Site maintained by Shelter Cove Publishing
Revised:
July 25, 2008 3:43 PM
Please refresh your page if you've been to this website before this date!