Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Jul 14, 2008 17:10:17 GMT -8
Part of the problem is that they do not promote from within. I wish I could direct you to a job posting for a terminal manager's position at Horseshoe Bay that I saw a few weeks ago. One of the requirements: A university degree in marketing, or other financial discipline. There was no stipulation about any marine experience, or training, whatsoever. That is why they have incompetent managers. Once the BCF site comes back online I will try to find it. I just checked the website re: my above post, and the posting I was referring to is gone. Also, there aren't any management positions posted currently to compare to.
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Post by kerryssi on Jul 14, 2008 18:25:20 GMT -8
Not promoting from within is a large part of the problem. They do want to hire from other countries in the hope they will be grateful for their jobs and not rock the boat. Unfortunately a lot of the knowledge needed to run the ferry system smoothly and efficiently is only gained through years of experience with it. They used to have company sponsored programs where a person could gain the necessary experience and training and have a career path. They got rid of those programs in favour of hiring from outside. No experience, no training, no knowledge. That describes management. For years the subsidy provided by federal and provincial governments has been absorbed in management costs with little or nothing for operations.
These are , of course just my opinions and experience.
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 7, 2008 11:35:15 GMT -8
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Aug 7, 2008 12:09:37 GMT -8
Hey Id go for the Second Engineer outta Prince Rupert or the First Engineer outta Swartz Bay.
Both would be pretty cool.
Cheers,
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Post by kerryssi on Aug 9, 2008 17:15:33 GMT -8
B.C. ferries will keep you as a casual for as long as they can. Nearly half the work force is casual. They do not want secure, full time employees. They want insecure part timers that they can take advantage of.
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Post by dkcc on Aug 9, 2008 19:13:24 GMT -8
I have a couple of questions concerning employment with BC Ferries. The first question: I have heard they are so desperate for employees that they are taking on staff that do no have the required qualifications as posted on thier website and training them. These jobs would be for jobs like deckhands and lower level jobs in the engine room. The second question is that I heard they now have a hiring freeze on due to the drop in ridership. Has anybody heard anything?
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Post by kerryssi on Aug 12, 2008 18:59:18 GMT -8
They might hire you, If they do......be afraid.....BE VERY AFRAID!!!!!!!
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Post by Douglas on Aug 13, 2008 20:32:59 GMT -8
The reason why the company is desparate for employees is the reason of the long timer employees retiring early.
Until the company improves employee relations BCF will always struggle with finding employees.
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Post by kerryssi on Aug 14, 2008 7:28:25 GMT -8
That is exactly right. Many employees are leaving early because of the working conditions. It is so bad some are leaving after 10 or 15 years without getting a decent pension. New employees are leaving all the time. It is still a good job but what use is a good job if you are constantly harrassed and demeaned by management?
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Post by Douglas on Aug 14, 2008 19:26:26 GMT -8
Employees can only take so much and say thats it time to get out.
The company has lost lots of experienced staff to them wanting to take early retirement quick as possible. Any of the employees I know say they would have stayed longer if the manangment wasn't so bad.
Many employees out there counting the months till retirement and working every angle to get early retirement using up banked time etc.
That isn't enjoyable counting the days till you can get away from the h*ll hole. Employees that liked their jobs they have been doing the job for 20 can't quit or they loose the pension they have invested into.
The bad thing is BCF screams labour shortage but they don't say the real reason for the shortage.
Now that BC is going to experience a recession comming this year and past 2010 its going to force alot of BCF employees to stay with a job they want to get away from.
You want a job that feels like a prision sentence get a job with BCF ;D
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 10, 2008 9:14:37 GMT -8
This may not be working with BCFerries per se, but I noticed an ad on craigslist looking for someone to be a parking host/traffic control person at the Tsawwassen terminal parking lot.
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Post by kerryssi on Sept 11, 2008 9:10:02 GMT -8
They used to have Commissionaires at Tsa to direct and control traffic before it got to the ticket booths. That was when they had regular lineups down the causeway. They would pull out the gulf islands traffic and make sure it got to the ticket booth in time. They also answered a lot of questions for the people in line. When they asked for a raise they fired them all. That caused several problems in the terminal with a lot of gulf island traffic missing their sailing. They may be looking for someone to do the same job now or it may be a parking lot attendant outside the terminal.
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Post by Scott on Oct 19, 2008 22:11:15 GMT -8
I know a couple people who are interested in applying for BC Ferries next spring, and I was wondering if there's any strategy they could use. Is there a better chance of getting an on-board job at Tsawwassen or Departure Bay rather than Horseshoe Bay or Duke Point? I'm just thinking that the extra vessels are crewed out of Tsawwassen, Swartz Bay, Departure Bay, and Langdale, so I assume that's where the higher demand for seasonal workers would be. And is it harder to get on with BC Ferries on the island? I though I'd heard before that it's harder to get on in Nanaimo than in other places.
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Post by kerryssi on Oct 20, 2008 16:22:03 GMT -8
The bigger the terminal the higher the turnover and therefore more available jobs. In the islands alternative jobs are fewer so there is less turnover and fewer openings. The bigger the terminal the better the chances.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 20, 2008 16:31:25 GMT -8
Duke Point and Departure Bay are also combined, seeming there's only about a 20 minute drive between the two terminals. A friend of mine who's seasonally employed with the Ferries would constantly be working back and forth between Route 2 and Route 30.
I tried applying for the Ferries again a few weeks ago at Departure Bay. I was however that it's easier to apply for a job there now. They have a booth setup at the main administration office to fill out the application form, and then once it's filled out you stick it into a box at the booth. Much easier than going well out of your way to get down there in the timeframe that Human Resources is open at during the week.
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Post by Barnacle on Oct 25, 2008 8:08:38 GMT -8
I hear Washington State's taking applications... ;D
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Post by rockyram on Nov 22, 2008 21:46:02 GMT -8
What certs are needed for employment both on and off the ship.I have MED level 1.Took the course in 2001 hoping to change careers but financial needs made it impossible.Is OFA a must?I'm hoping to get on part time at the Tsawassen terminal next year since I live in Ladner.Been stuck at the same job for the last 19 years,time for a change.Thanks in advance.
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 23, 2008 13:47:38 GMT -8
Hey rockyram.
I can relate to your situation, since I also hold MED A1. I am going to be adding on to that in early Spring 2009 with B1 and B2, Marine Advanced First Aid, and a bunch of other programs included in the Bridge Watchmans program.
You just might have an issue with your MED A1 certificate - it could be expired. In order for that certificate to be any good, you must be working in an environment which keeps you 'up to speed'. For example: If you took MED A1 in 2001, but didn't work on the Ferries, Tugs, etc for any amount of time longer than 2 years upon recieving the certificate, then you must renew your certificiate. Otherwise if you've worked in a marine related field at least once every 2 years, for the past 8 years, that certificate is still valid. I could be wrong on that though, I'm pretty sure that's what I learned from when I took MED A1 back in September. I'm not sure if OFA is a must, but it definitely is an asset.
Good luck!
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Post by ferrytraveller on Nov 23, 2008 15:43:53 GMT -8
yah i know for any position that if you have your OFA level 3 (i think thats it) they would love it, and you get paided an extra 200 a month i think to have it and a extra 50 every time you work as a OFA. hope that helps ask if you want to know anything else
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Post by Scott on Nov 26, 2008 17:23:27 GMT -8
Yeah, your MED A1 is likely expired unless you have the experience Ferryman outlined. I have MEDs from 1997 and they're no good anymore. There's a transition going on now from MEDs to new courses. MED A1 and B2 are being combined into Basic Safety Training (BST) which I think is one week or 7 days of training. MED B1 is being replaced by Survival Craft (SC) which is basically the same thing under a new name... 3 days I think. BCIT still offers the original MED courses but less often than the new ones. BC Ferries and Seaspan will accept the new courses even though their websites still use the old MED certificates as qualifications.
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Post by eosman on Apr 9, 2009 16:38:38 GMT -8
Out of curiosity what would be the education path, time in years of experience and cost in tuition to get the position as a BC Ferries' captain.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 9, 2009 17:28:45 GMT -8
Starting off as a Deckhand for 3 years of seatime, and then moving up to an Officers position for a number of years, before eventually ending up as a Captain. The amount of time it takes would vary, depending on how you acquire your seatime. I'm finishing up my training as a Deckhand at two maritime schools here in BC, but have yet to be hired for work.
So when it comes down to it, it all depends on the amount of tickets you've acquired, and how much sea time you've also earned. Seatime is only good on vessels over 25 GT. But the value of the seatime depends on what type of water the vessel operates on, ie sheltered or open water. The open water being the more valuable scenario.
Cost of tuition isn't exactly cheap, but reasonable. So far just to be a full qualified Deckhand, it costs around $7000, plus 3 months of time off from work if you co-ordinate the timing of all the classes perfectly. The Nautical Sciences Program at BCIT costs around $40,000 for the 4 year program all said and done. But you're all set as an Officer at the end of it all.
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Post by Canucks on Apr 9, 2009 17:39:31 GMT -8
Thanks for the info Chris, it is helpful because this is one of the jobs I am considering becoming. I am wondering what kind of courses/marks you need in high school to gain entry into these courses. Any help is much appreciated.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Apr 9, 2009 17:49:46 GMT -8
BCIT requirements are not all that high, according to their website, but from what I've heard it's harder to get in than this indicates. According to their website, for entry to the Nautical Sciences program you need: - High School Diploma
- Math 11 (C)
- English 12 (C)
- Physics 11 (recommended)
- Chemistry 11 (recommended)
- Physically able to pass Transport Canada medical exam
Information taken from www.bcit.ca/study/programs/2535dipts#REQUIREMENTS.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 9, 2009 18:11:40 GMT -8
BCIT has very high expectations of you. I went through their interview process for the Nautical Sciences program last year, and made it to the final elimination process against 35 other people, and they would only accept 18. 50/50 chance of being accepted at that point, and the odds were apparently against me. I speculate I didn't quite have the high enough marks (straight A's in the above mentioned subjects). They rank everyone who signs up with the level of marks from high school. I have a good mark in Math 12P, but a not as great of a mark in Physics 11.
But if you go the way I'm going right now, sign up for the Bridge Watchman program. You'll get your MED's, First Aid, and ROC-MC (Radio operators certificate) that way. The math I've had to do is quite basic, borderline Grade 9 math with basic formulas to use. I hear the formulas that you use later on for an Officer ticket and Captains ticket is basically equivalent to Grade 10 or 11 math. So if you can master Algebra, you'll master these courses. But the things you learn in Bridge Watch is less focused on the math, and more focused on ship knowledge. So you need an ability to retain alot of information all at once, especially if you do it through the VIU, which has everything crammed all together. But the benefit of going through the bridge watch at VIU, is the fact that you'll acquire 4 months of seatime from them, and you'll only need another 2 months (60 days) of 8 hour shifts, or 40 days of 12 hour shifts before you can write the final transport Canada Bridge Watch certificate.
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