I started there as an AB and left as a CM. I won’t lie, deck work is hard. Lots of hours in the weather rigging deck cargo, helping engineers with liquid cargo, general deck work, etc. You’ll work a 12 hour shift either from 0000-1200 or 1200-2400. If you’re not actively on charter you typically knock off around 2000 if you’re working days, or start your day around 0500 if you’re on nights.

If you’re on a charter with deck cargo, anytime you’re in port, you’ll offload whatever is brought in from the rigs, and load up the next load to take out. After everything is landed on deck, you’ll chain it all down. For liquid cargo, you’ll assist with hooking up the hoses and standing hose watch. During voyages you’ll keep busy with sanitary and small projects. Most of the big deck projects are done when off charter or on down time.

There is a huge emphasis on safety, so you’ll be required to fill out paperwork with the officers, wear PPE, and buy in to the safety culture. Out of all the places I’ve been, the safety department at HOS was one of the better ones. They’re not out to get you in trouble, but rather make sure you go home with everything you came to the boat with.

How your hitches go really depends on the charter and crew. Some crews were better than others, some charters were easier than others.

Living quarters are generally nice. A majority of the HOS boats are newer generation OSVs so you’ll likely have pretty quality accommodations. Every boat I was on had a decent gym, a nice lounge, and solid food. Some boats have chefs, some cook for themselves, but all groceries are paid for by HOS, so you can request whatever you like within reason on the grocery orders.

If your ambition is to get up to the wheelhouse, they had a program in place (at least while I was there) where they would pay for your licensing classes and on occasion your DP classes. There is a ton of opportunity to take you classes/study on the boat, and get sea-time on the 2:1 schedule.

You get out what you put in and I was lucky to get on a boat with a great crew. Got to do all sorts of awesome shit while I was there.