The Realities of Working on a Tugboat

Some people fantasize about a life on the water, and there are many opportunities to make that fantasy a reality. While many goods are transported by truck or airplane, sometimes the easiest, cheapest, and most efficient means of transport is by river or sea. Therefore, workers for these vessels are crucial to the economy and are in high demand. However, the work itself can be grueling, and quite dangerous. Before making a career change, it is wise to know the realities of working on a tugboat, to help determine if life at sea is right for you.

What is a Tugboat?

A tugboat is a vessel that is designed to push or pull other vessels, such as barges or rigs. The largest types are seagoing tugboats (sea tugs), which are designed to operate at sea for long periods. Harbor tugboats are smaller, lighter, and more maneuverable. They are mainly used to move barges in and out of the harbor. Towboats, also known as river tugboats or push boats, are designed for use in rivers and waterways.

What Kinds of Jobs are Available on Tugboats?

As a towboat can have a crew of 8-10 people, there are multiple roles on every vessel. Deckhands and oilers perform most of the day-to-day work, including cleaning and maintenance, loading and unloading cargo, helping with docking and rigging, and standing watch. While the functions are similar, deckhands work with tasks above decks, and oilers below, primarily in the engine room. If there is no cook onboard, deckhands will handle the cooking for the crew as well.

The more advanced positions include the engineers, mates, and captains. Engineers maintain and repair the vessel’s machinery and various systems, such as the electrical, hydraulic, and plumbing systems. The supervisory roles include the captains, pilots, and mates. They manage the helm and crew operations, as well as communication with other vessels. The mate is the second in command to the captain, and the pilot assumes the captain’s role when they are off duty.

Working Conditions

Life aboard a tugboat is not for everyone. The boat operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the crew works in shifts. Often, this is six hours on, six hours off. Workers remain on the boat for the entire length of their tour, which can last weeks or even months, followed by a length of shore time. While on the boat, they are living in close quarters with constant noise, so being able to maintain good relations with crewmates is vital.

There are duties the deckhands perform every shift (called a watch) and other tasks assigned as needed. There are a multitude of cleaning responsibilities, both of the ship and the captain’s quarters, as well as basic maintenance: changing batteries and light bulbs, repairing smaller machinery, sanding, and painting. While maintaining the vessel requires constant upkeep, it is superseded by attaching or removing barges (building and breaking tow), which is time-consuming and strenuous.

The work is very physical, and the hours are long. There are drills performed periodically, which can interrupt sleep breaks. In addition, the work doesn’t stop due to inclement weather, so working in the midst of rain, ice, and snow is common. With numerous wet surfaces and ropes and wires everywhere, there are numerous slip and trip hazards. The work can be dangerous, and injuries are not uncommon.

Advantages of Working on a Tugboat

There are many who enjoy life on a tugboat, being out on the water, traveling to new places, and the camaraderie with their crewmates. Rather than being in a stuffy cubicle, they get to work outside and get plenty of physical activity. A new deckhand is continuously learning new skills, such as rope handling and knot tying. As tugboats are an integral part of the world economy, they have great job security. Many also find the work quite rewarding.

Many also like the schedule and pay, which can include bonuses and overtime opportunities. While the hours on the boat are long, between tours, it is common to have a week or even a few weeks or months off to do as they please. This gives them the freedom to take trips and to live someplace different from where they work. In addition, unlike many jobs, they are completely off work during their shore leave -- no being on call, no answering emails. While the starting pay for deckhands is modest, there is a lot of room for advancement, and it can be quite lucrative once one moves up to more supervisory roles. The larger companies also offer generous benefits packages to full-time employees.

Disadvantages of Working on a Tugboat

As previously noted, the work is grueling, wet, and dangerous, and it is not for someone who is not in good physical condition. A mistake can literally get someone killed. It is also not for someone who has sleep issues, as time to rest is limited, and there is constant noise. There is a lot of yelling, in order to be heard over that noise. There are also regular drug tests and a zero-tolerance policy for substances while on board. In fact, a failed drug test is one of the few things that can get someone fired.

Being onboard a ship for weeks and months at a time can also make it difficult to maintain relationships or family life. It is common to miss at least some birthdays, weddings, or graduations. To take extended time off outside of their normal shore leave, deckhands have to switch with their crewmates and take on some of their schedules. Still, many with children are able to make it work, especially captains who are often paid enough that their partner may not need to have a job.

Starting Your Career

Unless you already have an engineering degree, your tugboat career is likely going to start as a deckhand. You don’t need any sea time or experience to start out, although some companies will require you to get an Ordinary Seaman license, an entry-level rank of the Merchant Marines. To obtain this license, you must prove your enrollment in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, which will run a background check. If you are planning to work on vessels that travel outside of U.S. territory, you will need Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) certification as well.

With the right licensing and certifications, it shouldn’t be difficult to land your first deckhand job. While you can see open positions on online job sites, the industry isn’t as digital as many others. It is acceptable to cold call companies to ask what positions they have available, and if they have no openings, they may be able to refer you to someone who does. In addition, if you live near a major port city like Houston, deckhand opportunities are plentiful and you can show up to the docks to inquire in person.

Once you are a deckhand, you will be building up your sea hours and your skillset. You will be taking regular drug tests in order to maintain your license. After three years of experience, you are qualified to apply for the next level of certification, the Able Bodied Seaman, which will increase the wages you can earn. With additional experience and training, you can eventually move up to mate, and then to captain.

Salary Information

The starting pay for a deckhand varies by company, but 2018 estimates from inside the industry report that it is usually between $12.50 - $30 an hour with an Ordinary Seaman license, or $45,000 - $60,000 a year. Once you have the Able-Bodied Seaman certification, that increases to $20 - $30 an hour, or $55,000 - $80,000 a year.

Mates and engineers generally make between $33 - $50 an hour, or $80,000 - $120,000 a year.

Captains usually earn between $41 - $58 an hour, or between $130,000 - $180,000 a year.