Oceaneering ROV Pilot

[Andy123]

I want to apply to Oceaneering for an ROV Pilot position, but I am not sure if I would get enough offshore days. Can anybody that works for Oceaneering as an ROV Pilot in the US tell me about how many days per year they work offshore? Also, is the pay rate of 250 USD on the pay rate table correct?

[TEAMJBR]

See this what ticks me off about the Location on the profile section you fill in when you join.
James if you made the field to be shown left manditory for Nationality and Based with current location optional to change i.e at home on Semi GOM/North Sea/ Nigeria etc. etc.
It would save a post for this info to be given.

If you are a UK ex-pat with experience and they want you you can choose your currency no matter where you live in the world.
If you are anything else the norm is US $ and you convert. Oceaneering do this for Europeans, South African guys also any GOM boys that come over to Dubai etc.

So the initial enquiry depends on your personal details/status!!!

[Andy123]

I am in the United States and I have some previous experience, I would like to get a position here.

[TEAMJBR]

Unfortunately for you my friend you come over here with baggage as I’ve had the pleasure of your fellow nationals who have "Come over for the change" read the GOM cast offs that are virtually un-employable anywhere in the world!! So we get the GOD bothering, change of scene, silence is not golden, I have a blacker cat back in the states etc. etc. pleasure of your company for a hitch.
Then you find out with a quick conversion GBP to US$ that an Aberdeen trainee fresh out earns more than you and a large dummy is spat out.
Don’t get me wrong I love you all with a passion and hope you have all the success you deserve!!
Missing you already!!
See there you go if you had USA as your location/Nationality I would have ignored your post as reasons above, amazing eh!!
Please read above as a piss take and not a personal attack but maybe a little hint of irony or hidden truth when you do pop over for work and no doubt hear said stories/failures/funnies etc.
You will be short changed day rate no matter what, its the reason why you rarely see Brits in the GOM at $750 a day standard rate/conversion etc.

[Scott Beveridge]

😕 😕 😕

Can anyone tell me why the guys working in the GOM are paid so little?? There’s ME companies paying more! Serious answers / assumptions only please.

[James McLauchlan]

For some reason working offshore is viewed as a last option in many of the states and as a result offshore appears to be populated by many of those unable to hold regular jobs on land. I suspect that is why the rates there are depressed.

[Scott Beveridge]

James,

That holds true for some occupations offshore, however, I’ve met and worked with some lads who are very capable / qualified with ROV’s here in the GOM. There are only a few who are willing to "venture out" in the world / elsewhere perhaps due to committments and contracts. Is it the tail wagging the dog routine???

Yes, I’m "home" for this hitch…

[DJansen]

250 USD a day ? Haha.. After watching (cringing) through a few episodes of ‘Oil, Sweat and Rigs on the Discovery channel I’d have to say most of them are ovepaid.. (you’re excused Scott cos you’re almost Thai 😛 ) Like Jim Says in The US of A working offshore has no kudos what so ever and is only seen as a last resort.. Something to turn to if the military and the local security guard companies have nixed your application.. 😆

NB: Americans reading this.. Please look up ‘Sarcasm’ online 😉 before flaming me … 😀

[Scott Beveridge]

Hey Djan,

I agree that a majority of "offshore workers" in the GOM are most likely overpaid, but there really are some ROV guys / gals and scurvey guys / gals that could cut the mustard with us crusty dudes (I did say some).

[ROVRatt]

I have discussed GOM working procedures with other ROV guys.

Apparently in the GOM, pilots only pilot and don’t tech. When pilot breaks ROV he calls in tech from onshore. Techs come in varieties like Mechanical (MT) and Electrical (ET). MT’s do not do ET work and vice versa. They fly in, fix and fly out.

Elsewhere pilots do tech and ET, MT and general dogs body as well. Apparently this is why elsewhere they are paid more. Anyone know how true this is?

[Scott Beveridge]

Ratt,

Just worked there and due to competency schemes, the ET’s must learn Hyd / mech and the Hyd / mech dudes must learn ET. I can see where it (competency schemes) would work for this aspect. On the job the guys were supervised closely when working out of their discipline.

[ROVRatt]

Thanks Scotbeve for the info. I have never worked GOM and it looks like I may have been listening to second hand hearsay. Or are there systems/companies that work as I described?

[ROVHD]

Well I have worked in both locations. There don’t seem to be enough cross training in the states you’re either a MT or ET, heaven forbid if you ask for a chance to fly in the GOM before reaching the two year mark. As far as fixing your own equipment they do it but use on shore support in more severe cases. Working in Africa for (Dubai) I do see more cross training which is a better thing in my opinion but in saying this I see better techs and pilots come out of the US, I’m speaking of the Sr. guys not the new hires. The pay in the GOM is a disgrace and I would not get out of bed now for what they get paid. In saying this the ROV crews in the GOM need to get off their butts and quit complaining for they are the only ones that can get the pay increased!! We should all get the same pay according to the job not the location you choose to live.

[Roman]

I can say this much about Oceaneering. If your good at what you do, you will be in demand and stay offshore. It takes time to make real money- they just don’t give raises out. There is plenty of work for qualified personnel. The company will burn you out. You will be working on the equipment.

[Nexusdeepwater]

Well after reading all the post on here i see both truth and lies with what some have said about the GOM ROV Techs. I have worked in the Gulf Of Mexico for 12 years in all aspects of the Industry from Supply Boats, Diving and Now ROV work. I will say that for certain companies that they will fly in techs to do repairs if anything happens but at the same time smaller companies like mine require there tenders, Techs and Pilots to multi-task and understand and know all aspects of the ROV and its internals. We started out with a small unit that was easy to trouble shoot and repair on site, We then moved up to larger units that was more complex and have quickly learned to handle all of our repairs. We have ET’s that can handle and troubleshoot Hydraulics as well as MT’s that can handle and troubleshoot Electronics. This goes the same for our pilots. From a stand-point our tenders are experienced and can and have handled alot of the repairs to the units with little to no supervison. Everyone has there voices if this is safe or not but the way you learn is by doing hands on not by watching. I myself can pilot, troubleshoot and repair all aspects of our systems without any tech help from shore. This comes from alot of experience having to do on spot repairs to complete the job or project that we are working on. In the end it is about getting the job finished, not who is better than who. As far as pay goes well i have heard how the North sea gets paid better and they have a better class of workers as well as other parts of the world. This may hold true for the pay but i will not agree with the saying that they have a better class of workers. The GOM has a strong working history, Without ROV’s the GOM would not and could not be expanding the way it is. The pay sucks yes i agree but we still come out here and get the job done. This isnt because this is the only job that we can hold. Yes that may hold true for some but for the most part the GOM ROV crewmembers are here because they love what they do and in the end if you dont love what you do then dont do it and go somewhere else. After the hurricanes hit the gulf the ROV crews are out inspecting and repairs platforms from shallow water to deep water to get the production back up and running. Other parts of the world doesnt have issues like this. Why is the GOM the only area that is talked about for being a joke. If people would open there eyes more and understand that the GOM relys on the work of ROV’s then maybe they would show more respect for the work and workers here. Just remember that not all companies are alike. My company is by far one of the best companies as far as Cross Training there employees in all aspects of work and repairs. The company that i am starting will be the same way but instead of trying to compete against other companies i am going to be helping all companies providing repairs, representatives, consulting and other services. To get a job done requires support and teamwork from everwhere. Not one person in this industry can say i am better than you or he is better than him because they are not any better they just have there head to far above the clouds thinking they are something they are not. In closing i want to say that before people talk down on the GOM ROV crews and workers they need to look a little deeper as to what goes on down here. I work here day in and day out. I am not a contractor and temp and i am not a student. I have the experience to go other places but i choose to say in the GOM because the work is steady and i am happy.

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