Ocean and harbour towing and EXPERIENCE is often mentioned in the same sentence. It’s an industry where you have to learn the tricks of the trade on the job. So how to get a towing job? Where do you start looking for a traineeship or position in this line of work? Nowadays our towing clients are working around the globe and they are offering their services to countries worldwide. The demand for towing experts is growing and TOS, specialist in ocean and harbour towing professionals since 1992, is always looking for seafarers who are in for a challenge.
The basics
When you have a degree at a Marine College you automatically obtain your CoC (Certificate of Competency) and valid STCW’95 documents. This is the basic requirement to start as an AB or Maritime Officer in the towing industry. However it is an advantage when you have an affinity with the industry as well. Interested? Register through our website!
The start of your career
There are different ways to start your towing career at TOS and even better ways to circulate jobs from ocean towing, to harbour towing, terminal projects and/or anchor handling tugs and become a towing professional at TOS. Check out the possibilities and plan your future!
Ship deliveries: TOS is a key player in this exclusive market and we sail ships worldwide for various clients. A great way to start your towing career is to join a ship delivery crew in the position as Maritime Officer on a (ASD) tug. This type of work on a ship delivery voyage allows you to familiarize with a typical tug and enables you to work without the skills that are normally needed for the vessel’s line of work. When you are more experienced we can offer you a job with our towing clients like for instance Fairplay Towage.
ASD Training Program: With this program you’ll learn the tips and tricks from experts: our TOS captains. TOS has its own ASD (tugboat) simulator and training program. Based on our comprehensive experience with ASD tug boats, we have developed a training program together with our most experienced ASD captains. When you are of duty and eager to expand your ASD skills, you are more than welcome to visit our head office and make use of our facilities to take your career to the next level. We have the tools and the job opportunities, do you have the ambition to excel?
Harbour towing: Eager to start directly at a harbour towing job after your graduation? No problem. You’ll start in the position as Trainee/AB in a work rotation of 2 week on / 2 week off. Together with the Captain and the Chief Officer you will have to get the job done. You’ll have to work closely and rely on each other at all times. In the main time it’s up to you to gain experience and become a skilled harbour towing AB with maneuvering practice. And when you are trustworthy and ready for the job, you will become an AB/Cook, Officer and eventually a Captain!
Ocean towing: Do you prefer to start on an ocean going tug? You’ll start in the position of 3rd Officer, working worldwide in a rotation of 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off. It’s up to you to gain experience and to become a skilled officer with maneuvering practice. TOS will offer you the possibility to work on a variety of tug boats. When you have the right attitude and interest in an ocean towing career you’ll be given the opportunities to become a 2nd Officer, 1st Officer and so on. A permanent contract at TOS is possible after a trial period.
How to excel
Are you already an experienced towing professional? We will discuss with you your wishes about training, work area and/or voyages. Since the early start of TOS we’ve worked closely with the largest towing services companies in the world like Svitzer, Smit, Kotug and Fairplay. TOS is also a key player in the exclusive market of ship deliveries so finding the right and desired job for you won’t be a problem. That is, if you’re able to choose.
Do you need to expand your ASD skills for a TOS job or TOS voyage? We will discuss with you the possibility to make use of our ASD trainings simulator. Interested? Contact our Division Maritime.