When you get a job offshore, your thoughts will turn to what it is going to be like working in what will be a very strange environment for most people. From your first hitch out, life will change dramatically. Not only will your starting salary be on par with middle management onshore, but you will also be living in your place of work, completely surrounded by water (and BIG fish), with no sight of land.
You will also have questions and comments from friends and relatives like "Is it really like the T.V. shows and movies?"..."I bet the food's good out there isn't it?"... "Boy, you're out there make'n the big bucks now"......that sort of thing.
Unfortunately, the offshore industry has an above average turnover due in part to people being unable to adjust to the lifestyle. Don't get the wrong idea, working offshore is not as hard or as dangerous as some think it must be, conditions have improved dramatically and are continuing to do so. People working offshore are exactly the same kind of people who work in any heavy industry. They would not be there if they did not enjoy it to a certain degree.
Most of the time, people leave their job offshore before doing three hitches. This is a mistake for a lot of people because it really does take longer to adjust. Having said that, some personalities are just not suited to the environment. If on a big rig in the Gulf of Mexico, or on an Inland Barge in one of the bayou's of South Louisiana, you will likely be working with a lot of just plain "Good old country boys" and damn few "city boys". You will certainly need a good sense of humor to put up with the jokes that WILL be pulled on you. It's all good natured and nobody's trying to intimidate you and NEVER will you be put in a dangerous situation. From the first day out, every person on the rig will die to save you if need be. We are all brothers from the first day. This brotherhood is one that you will carry with you your entire life.
On arrival at the rig you will be issued with a hard hat, safety glasses and coveralls. You will then be given a guided tour of the whole installation. Alarms, drills and muster points among other things will be explained to you.
A positive attitude will make life offshore much more enjoyable and may increase your chances of promotion. Keep focused on why it is that you are working out there and the plus points of the job. Everyone has different reasons and goals that bring them to the offshore industry.
You will work a twelve-hour day with a break in the morning, lunchtime and afternoon. Smoke Shacks are at various places throughout the rig and most of the time there are snacks and sandwich fix'ns in them.
At meal time, you will take off work gear and go into the galley. The food is usually good quality with a wide selection at every mealtime. You can count on certain things... On every rig, you will have steak at least once a week (Saturday's) and Momma's fried chicken every Sunday!
Offshore installations operate 24 hours a day, so depending on your job you may have to do night shift. With some jobs you may have to do a combination of days and nights. There are different systems used usually dependant on helicopter arrival times and company policies. Often you will start your hitch on day shift and then move to night shift half way. For example if you do two weeks on-two weeks off, you may do a week of days and a week of nights.
When you are working, you are "on-tower". When you are off-tower, there's more to do than just read or play cards... Today, all rigs have a T.V. room with large screen television with a satellite connection and a selection of videos or DVDs. Also, most the bigger rigs have T.V.'s in every room. Some rigs have a gym with weight-lifting equipment. Others have computers with Internet links and computer game consoles. Some have Pool tables... but mostly, you will have good friends to visit with.
Overall, life out here isn't bad at all. Sure you will miss your family, but the whole time you're missing them, you will know that what you are doing is for THEIR betterment. The work is hard sometimes, but at the end of the day, you will know you've done a mans days work, and that's something to take pride in...
Barry L. Mathews~~~ |
