How do you get a job on a river barge? The Ultimate Guide to Launching Your Deckhand Career

For adventure seekers seeking a hands-on, blue collar job that will take them across the country‘s inland waterways, becoming a deckhand on a river barge just might be the perfect gig. This comprehensive guide is designed to set you up for success by providing insider knowledge from maritime experts. Whether you‘re wondering how to get that first deckhand job or want to know what life is really like working on the river, this guide will cover it all. By the end, you‘ll be fully prepared to launch an exciting new career as a barge deckhand!

What Does a Deckhand on a River Barge Do?

Deckhands are the backbone of any barge crew. They are responsible for virtually all aspects of operating, maintaining, and cleaning the vessel. Here are some of their most common duties:

Cargo Operations

• Load and unload cargo with cranes and winches
• Lash down cargo and secure it safely for transport – improper securement leads to loss of cargo overboard
• Check cargo against shipping papers to ensure the right goods are loaded
• Act as lookouts during loading/unloading to spot any issues

Line Handling

• Handle mooring lines when docking and departing
• Tie barge strings together to assemble the tow
• Regularly check lines for wear and retighten as needed – loose lines can cause barges to break away

Maintenance & Repairs

• Chip rust and paint to keep the barge looking shipshape
• Make minor repairs and adjustments – deckhands are the fix-it folks keeping things running
• Clean the deck and living quarters to maintain sanitary conditions

Navigation Assistance

• Serve as lookouts scanning for obstructions and other vessels
• Monitor equipment such as gauges and radios
• Help connect tow during lock transits – guide lines and control barges as water levels change

Emergency Response

• Conduct man overboard recovery operations
• Fight fires using water pumps and extinguishers
• Plug leaks and control flooding
• Contain oil or chemical spills

The work is very hands-on and physically demanding. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 35,000 people work as deckhands, switch operators, and barge mates in the US inland waterways industry. Deck crews work long 10-12 hour shifts while underway, sometimes for weeks at a time between ports. But for those who don‘t mind hard work, love the water, and enjoy close-knit crews, the lifestyle offers great rewards.

"To succeed as a deckhand, you need to be willing to pitch in on any task to keep the boat moving safely," says Capt. Mark Davis, a 30-year veteran of the rivers. "We handle everything from slinging cargo in port to scraping rust and painting. It‘s not glamorous work, but it‘s deeply rewarding."

What Qualifications Do You Need to Work on a River Barge?

Legally, these are the minimum requirements:

Credential	Details
Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC)	Issued by US Coast Guard after passing exam and physical. Needed to sail on commercial vessels.
Basic Safety Training (BST)	Covers firefighting, first aid, survival skills – required within 90 days of hiring.

In addition, barge companies greatly prefer to hire deckhands who:

• Have prior maritime experience – fishing, offshore work, naval service
• Are First Aid/CPR certified
• Have a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC card)
• Possess physical strength and endurance for heavy labor
• Have experience with power tools, rigging, and machinery
• Display strong work ethic and positive attitude

Many companies offer paid training programs to get new hires ready for work. But arriving with certifications and credentials already in hand gives you a major leg up in the hiring process.

"We look for folks eager to work and learn," explains Capt. Anne Lewis. "Green deckhands who show dedication can work their way up the ranks. But you must be drug-free and physically able to handle the demands of the job."

What is the Work Environment Like on a River Tow?

Life as a barge deckhand is not for the faint of heart. You‘ll need resilience and grit to handle these common realities:

• 12+ hour shifts doing manual labor in all weather – rain, snow, heat, and cold
• Weeks or months away from home at a time
• Tight communal living with crew – very little privacy
• Limited access to communication – no cell service, minimal internet
• Isolated setting with little opportunity to leave vessel
• Strict safety protocols and hierarchy
• Very physically demanding – heavy repetitive motions
• Constant noise and vibration from engines
• Potentially hazardous conditions – storms, extreme heat, ice buildup

In return, you‘ll be part of a tight-knit crew, earn a decent living with just a high school education, and have adventures across America‘s rivers and inland waterways – lakes, bayous, canals, and more. Pay typically starts around $35,000 per year and rises quickly as you gain experience. Deck bosses on the largest barges earning well into six figures.

"It‘s grueling work and you sacrifice a lot of comforts, but I love being out on the water and no day is ever the same," says Sarah D., 3-year barge veteran. "We see amazing sights – eagles, gators, herds of deer – that people on land never experience. You‘ll make lifelong friends out here."

How Do You Get a Job as Deckhand?

If the deckhand lifestyle appeals to you, here are tips to land that first towboating job:

Apply with barge and towing companies directly

• Kirby Inland Marine
• Canal Barge Company
• American Commercial Barge Line
• Campbell Transportation

Check their websites for job postings or visit offices along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Illinois Rivers.

Search online job boards

• gCaptain.com
• workboatjobs.com
• MaritimeJobs.com
• craigslist.org

General transportation and oil/gas job sites also frequently post inland maritime openings.

Attend maritime job fairs

Many held annually including:

• Houston Maritime Career Expo
• Jobs Refloated Career Fair (Paducah, KY)
• St. Louis Maritime Job Fair

Earn essential certifications

Having credentials like your MMC, TWIC, first aid training, and CPR looks very attractive to recruiters and skips training employers would otherwise have to provide.

Be persistent and dedicated

As a green deckhand, you‘ll likely need to start as a tankerman assistant or ordinary seaman to get your foot in the door. Take those jobs seriously, prove yourself to move up the ladder. It may take visiting multiple company offices and job fairs before landing that first opportunity.

A Day in the Life of a Deckhand

Let‘s look at what an average day working on an inland towboat might entail:

6am

Rise before dawn to start your 12-hour shift. Quickly tidy your shared cabin then head to the mess hall for coffee and breakfast with the crew.

7am

Report for duty on deck. Get handover notes from the previous watch. Do a full lap checking all lines, winches, fluid levels, and equipment.

8am

Vessel arrives at a lock to transit to lower water level. Carefully sling cables and control barges as water drains using your knowledge of locking procedures.

10am

Arrive at a port to unload fertilizer cargo. Operate crane to safely offload product. Lash down any cargo remaining aboard and carefully clean any residue off deck.

12pm

Break for lunch in the mess hall. Enjoy some downtime chatting with your mates before tackling the rest of your shift.

1pm

Depart port pushing fully loaded liquid petroleum barges. Rig up the tow into formation before navigating downriver.

3pm

While underway, one of your crew reports a hydraulic line leaking on the crane. Troubleshoot the issue and make repairs to get it operational.

5pm

As lookout on watch, keep eyes peeled for floating debris and monitor the depth sounder and GPS. Call out any hazards to the captain.

7pm

Grab dinner with the crew, then take over steering in the wheelhouse while another deckhand takes his meal break.

10pm

Occupied two massive barges loaded with liquid asphalt, carefully navigate a narrow bend in the river channel using searchlights.

12am

Your shift ends. Conduct handover with relief and get some shut eye. The work is nonstop but deeply rewarding.

Deckhand Roles and Advancement

Entry level deckhands are called tankermen assistants. With experience, they can progress into these leadership roles:

• Tankerman – Certified to load/unload hazardous liquids and gases. Higher pay and more skilled.
• Head Deckhand – Take charge of line handling, maintenance, and directing other deck crew.
• Wheelman – Graduates from deck roles and takes the wheelhouse operating the tow.
• Relief Captain – Fully qualified to take command when captain is off duty. Highest deck role.

Becoming a pilot, captain, or engineer officer requires additional certifications, exams, and sea time. But deckhands can advance steadily through hard work and dedication.

"We‘re a family out here," says 10-year veteran deckhand Roy S. "Bosses recognize and reward those who take initiative to learn and grow. It‘s a great feeling when your captain trusts you to take charge of a watch."

Life in the Towing Industry

Inland towing is an essential US industry that keeps cargo moving across the country. According to American Waterways Operators, barges transport over 600 million tons of cargo annually – including petroleum, coal, grains, ores, fertilizers, chemicals, and raw materials. Over 50,000 miles of inland and intracoastal waterways serve 38 states.

The industry directly employs over 50,000 operators, crewmembers, and onshore staff. New applicants are needed to replace retiring workers. Projected growth in manufacturing and construction also points to rising long-term demand. Opportunities to join this tight-knit river community abound.

"I‘d never even seen a barge before I started, but this life just clicked for me," reflects Susan D., who came from an office job background. "If you‘re willing to work hard, prove yourself, and embrace the barge lifestyle, the possibilities are endless."

Conclusion

Does the adventurous deckhand life appeal to you? This complete guide outlined everything you need to know to get hired and excel in your barge career:

• Deckhand duties and work environment realities
• Qualifications and credentials needed
• Tips and strategies to land your first deck job
• Advancement opportunities and industry outlook

Working on America‘s rivers and waterways demands sacrifice and grit but offers incredible experiences and close camaraderie. With the right mindset and persistence, an exciting new career awaits as part of a barge deck crew!