By Lisa Fattori
The life of a tugboat captain, navigating B.C.’s rivers and the western coastline of North America, poses its own challenges and rewards. Whether operating as an inner or outer tugboat captain, the job holds tremendous responsibility, including ensuring the safety of all on-board personnel, maintaining and repairing a vessel’s mechanical systems, navigating tight courses in inclement weather, and meeting strict landing schedules. The position is not for the faint of heart and, although it offers the exhilarating freedom of being out on the open water, the job can be very dangerous and unpredictable.
“Life on a tugboat can be extremely exciting, but also extremely boring,” says Thomas Brown (not his real name), who has been a tugboat master for the last seven years. “You certainly get an adrenalin rush, and you can take pride in making a difficult landing. You’re only as good as your last landing though, and you can go from hero to zero just like that. This is a dangerous industry, where things can go bad very quickly, so you are always interacting to stay on top of the situation.”
Tugboat captains can recount many harrowing tales of near misses, engines that suddenly cut out, and wind and current conditions that threatened to capsize their vessels. As a river skipper for example, tugboat captains may have six to eight swing bridges that have to be negotiated. Shooting a bridge that is 90 feet with a barge that is 72 feet-wide requires a deal of skill and finesse. Miscalculating a maneuver or coming to a dead stop, with a barge in tow, can have devastating consequences.
Tugboat Captain Bill Ford
“I just went to Nanaimo and it was a beautiful ride there and back, but I’ve also done the trip in very rough weather,” says Ron Thibeault, a tugboat captain with FMW Towing, who has been a master for 22 years. “The biggest concern is losing an engine. One time, I lost both engines and had debris stuck in one of my propellers. We called Victoria Marine Communication Traffic Service and another tug came and rescued us.”
Becoming a tugboat captain is also a lifestyle choice that is very unique, when compared with other occupations. Outer boat schedules are typically two weeks on the boat working 12-hour days, and two weeks off. Riverboat captains work 12-hour days for seven days and then have seven days off. For those working the coastline for a two-week time, the job is particularly challenging for personal relationships with workers often missing out on family functions and regular visits with friends. Until a person gets used to the noise of the engine, there is also sleep deprivation and, as skipper of the craft, the captain may get his sleep interrupted to deal with an issue or to land the tugboat.
Since the devastating oil spill of the Exxon Valdez in 1989, tugboat captains hauling oil barges and refined products have experienced more rigorous regulations and more scrutiny by customers. Tugboat companies are expected to have impeccable records, which has led to regular audits of a boat and its crew’s performance, and a lot more paperwork to ensure that guidelines are being met.
“The biggest change over the years has been the increase in regulations following the Exxon Valdez oil spill,” says Bill Ford, port captain with Island Tug and Barge Ltd., a specialist in refined petroleum transportation. “Management systems are much more sophisticated and we have to do a lot of reporting. A little bit of damage, such as a fender bender or a small injury, used to be part of the business, but now we have to report all safety stats to our customers. We strive to exceed best working practices and were the first B.C. tugboat company to become a member of ECOPRO, which is an exceptional compliance program.”
In becoming a tugboat captain, typically, a person got hired on initially as a deckhand and collected hours, experience and schooling before achieving mate status. Achieving captain requires more sea time and additional education to secure various levels, such as a 60 tonne, 350 tonne or 500 tonne master’s ticket. Some can go on to become B.C. Coast Pilots, an elite group that moves large tankers. While courses provide education about ship stability, the Canada Shipping Act and the legalese of the job, accumulating multiple hours of hands-on experience is essential to progressing from deckhand to master.
The B.C. tugboat industry is a small industry that pays well, which is attractive for a lot of people. Not too many occupations offer the opportunity to earn $60,000 to $100,000 a year for 163 days of work. Today, the industry is much more competitive and, while it may be difficult to get into, a person’s perseverance and patience will pay off in the long run.
“What I love most about this job is the water, the freedom and, of course, the boats,” Ford says. “This is a good industry to get into. My advice to anyone wanting to become a captain is to apply to smaller companies and to have some patience.”
hi my name is arpit and i hold a second mate licence from india n have sailed on container ships for 4 yrs.i want to shift to tugboats in canada but i don’t have formal training in tugboats what should i do to start my career in tugboat industry in canada
hi i have being working on tugboats for the pass 13yrs i came on as a deckhand, i then went to a marrine school and studies navigation, i now have a STCW Reg.II/I certificate, i now work for a small company as Captain but using my Reg.II/I certificate…what would i have to do now to obtain a Master’s certificate of compitence for tugs in Canada? i am a Jamaican
The best advice I can give you is be humble. Tickets are great to hold, but this industry is very specific and local knowledge and exp is very important. You will have to sail as a deckhand to learn the industry. Some guys pick it up very quick and some dont. You cant learn this stuff in a classroom. The only good skipper was a great deckhand!! I know this from first hand exp. I suggest getting a d/h job and paying alot of attention. Be patient and soak it all up. If you think its something you like, then go for it. I decked for 13 years. 9 of them I was ticketed and ready, I just had to wait my turn. In the long run I am very happy. You cant rush this job. An old saying says” it takes 10 years, to get 10 years exp” this is very true. Ive been a Capt fulltime for 5 years now, and I still learn something almost everyday. Good luck
It depends which certificate of competency you would like. Where you want to work, and what job you would like to pursue. There are many different ways to go about it. Where are you and what do you want to do? What exp do you have??I will tell you that exp is waaaaaaaay more important than tickets. Although you do need tickets to aquire jobs
I am 44 and considering a career change. I love the outdoors and think tug boat life may fit me. Am I too old to go to a company as a deck hand at 44? What can a deckhand make? Will a company not want me since they see a 15 year work life left??
I am currently looking into taking B.C.I.T’s bridge watchman course in the hopes of getting into the tug boat industry. I am finding it difficult however to find information on what job opportunities are out there once I complete the course. I need this information in order to apply for course funding because if I can’t show that there are employment opportunities after I graduate they won’t approve funding for the course. Every listing I see asks for multiple years experience. Would anyone have any info on how somebody new to the industry can get into it? I am 23 years old and looking for a new career and love to be in the water and was thinking a tugboat job in the greater Vancouver area would be perfect for me. Thanks
What is required of obtaining a pilot’s license with a past felony on record?
im also 44 and would value a reply as to certificates needed to start a career as deckhand to work up to captain . thank you
well, i am 16 years old and was recently “inspired” to try to become a tug boat captain. I’m currently still in highschool and to be honest I don’t feel college is for me. I was wondering if I should fall through with trying to become a captain. Should I change my mind? I need help from an experienced captain to tell me if its worth it or not. I just want to have a good future. And believe me i know what hard work and patience is. Thanks.
It doesn’t take much or education to know what hard work is..neither does patience. Sacrifice, on the other hand, takes experience! Get your degree and you won’t have to work hard forever! @Robert Oubre
Im master 3000NC and i whant to work on tugbot i have 6 yrs. Experience on towing bsrges ph 604 897 7735
Ive been around boats all my life and now im looking into a career that is around boats and hope to have few few boats myself. first off im 15 now a sophomore and still looking at different things to do with my life. I believe being a tugboat captain will be challenging but i just want to know if its worth it or should i take a different path to still be involved with boats? also how much do Tug Boat captains make on average? thanks for your time!