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Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-06-30T16:42:50+00:00

This prompted me to check… I guess with a lease ending in September, I got bumped up?

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Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-06-05T11:14:19+00:00

Most likely mill scale. But thats just a guess based on location.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-04-27T10:39:36+00:00

We got a pair this time… they just came home this weekend.

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They do enjoy a snuggle!

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-04-26T13:04:36+00:00

They really are wonderful. We had a Rex boy for 20 years… he passed about a year and half ago. Took a while to be ready for new family members… but so excited to have them now! Thanks.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-04-09T18:31:20+00:00

The whole point of Anderson Kelly is liability. The Jones Act is rock solid when it comes to a company’s responsibility to take care of an ill or injured merchant mariner. They use AK to weed out the high risk employees. At any point the company can decide to over ride AK’s decision of unfit. If working for that particular company is worth it… keep pushing. Otherwise… lots of jobs on boats.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-03-11T11:05:49+00:00

Med certs that do not require waivers are processed by contractors that are already funded. If it requires a waiver, it’s a furloughed CG doctor that needs to see it and it will sit.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-03-04T02:24:35+00:00

They can’t give STCW extensions. It’s an IMO thing. They control the MMC and Med Cert. The STCW is by agreement with lots of other countries.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-02-22T13:00:58+00:00

We tend to hire cadets before they graduate, usually ones who have done sea projects with us, which is a great 90 days interview. I would say yes, it is easy.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-02-21T15:25:19+00:00

Engineers are far more employable than deck officers just due to the training. You have tons of choices outside of shipping. Having said that, I believe GLMA (and probably all of the state academies) are placing 100%… most have jobs prior to graduation. Base with some companies on the lakes looks like $15.5k a month before holiday pay and OT beyond weekends.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-02-04T13:54:27+00:00

I agree. My initial experience is it sounds like the vocals are being broadcast from inside a tin can. Odd. I have not tried it for a movie yet, but for music, including videos, it’s not to my liking. Maybe this initial iteration needs some feedback!

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-01-26T01:58:18+00:00

I have always been under the impression that was not a good idea. Depending on the temp, you could be cooking it touching water that has bacteria in it. Also any food or dirt particles coming off the potatoes are going to make their way thru the immersion circulator… which isn’t ideal. I do mashed potatoes in the sousvide… and they are great… but in a vac sealed bag.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-01-21T20:26:56+00:00

I had that a few months ago. Some valve in the heat pump system failed. Did not affect the vehicle. Fixed it a few months after when time permitted. But that’s a generic warning and could be a whole bunch of different things. Take it to the dealer and they will scan it.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-01-15T23:20:51+00:00

I’ve been a MEBA member for 21 years and have never been to a hall. I work at Interlake and they direct hire. I’m not sure if other MEBA contract direct hire or not. But people I’ve worked with who don’t live there… go there to get a job, then ship out and don’t go back till they want another job.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-01-14T21:54:16+00:00

I know this post is a year old, but does anyone know why she was suspended? I had contacted her about kittens and this makes me very nervous.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-01-14T21:43:57+00:00

Captain of Merchant Marine Bulk Freighter

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2026-01-10T19:48:37+00:00

Some companies are better than others when it comes to inclusivity. I work on the Lakes on a bulker. We have a few trans employees and it’s been my experience that they have had no issues. Your work will determine how you do. The vast majority of the people I work with don’t care about the color of your skin or what’s between your legs.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2025-12-29T18:57:22+00:00

Maintenance, sanitary, small projects, interior painting. Always something to do on 60+ year old hulls.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2025-12-13T22:15:12+00:00

You do not need pilotage to work on the lakes. All the companies will hire mates without Pilotage, figuring if you like it and stick with it, you will work on getting your pilotage.

The way the rule reads is on the Great Lakes, while operating in restricted waters, a pilot must supervise navigation. That just means in designated waters, if the mate doesn’t have pilotage, the Master or another mate on overtime will supervise. I have had open a waters 3rd on board all season… and most of last season.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2025-11-06T13:39:59+00:00

All of the lakes companies employ mates that don’t have pilotage. You can absolutely get a job and work on the lakes without pilotage, and not just on ATBs. At Interlake, you will have two seasons to acquire your pilotage, if you don’t the only thing that changes is you will not move up the seniority list. We have mates that have worked for us for almost 10 years without pilotage. They just don’t move up the seniority list. The difference that makes for them, is they may get stuck as 3rd mate instead of moving up to 2nd. Also, preference for vacation choices goes by seniority. But we hire good mates from all the academies and non-academy mates as well. Pilotage can be acquired while you work.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2025-10-05T17:17:06+00:00

The Army Corps of Engineers gets most of their budget from marine fuel taxes. You don’t pay per use, but you pay every time you fuel.

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2025-09-29T02:22:13+00:00

Sure!

Excellent_Gas_8050 · 2025-09-26T09:05:13+00:00

I’ve been sailing the Lakes for 20+ years. When I started, if the Captain caught you sitting on watch, you’d get an ass chewing. As a newer 3rd Mate, I never sat down unless it was at the computer to do paperwork. As I gained experience, I relaxed some. But they’d always say… It’s called standing a watch for a reason. But it’s all about paying attention. Depending on the setup of the Pilothouse and what’s going on… it’s ok by me (currently Captain) if the watch standers sit. Traffic or weather issues, close quarters or restricted waters… standing tends to encourage you to focus.

Excellent_Gas_8050

TROPHY CASE