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How to get a job as a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat?

  • 10-12-2018 12:25am
    #1
    Just a Monaghan tinker
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭


    Heya so bit of background might help I suppose haha. I’m a 18 year old lad from Monaghan I am currently working as a welder for a structural steel engineering company since I left school at 16 years old. But I would absolutely love to become a fisherman (working on a trawler) and would appreciate any advice or help anyone could give me.
    I know I have to do safety training and stuff and when I look on the BIM website I’m not really sure which courses to apply for as there seems to be different safety training for different sizes of boats and such.
    Yes I do realize I would have to move to a fishing village such as Howth or Killybegs but I would love to move to somewhere in Galway (for some personal reasons also) and would love some advice on how to actually get a job as a deckhand on a boat.
    After that I suppose if anyone would like to share some personal experience at this type of work that would be so amazing. Thank you . Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong forum I am new to boards.ie


Comments

  • #2
    cannotlogin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭cannotlogin


    I would change your username for a start :-)


  • #3
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,770 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    BIM had a training college up in Killybegs years ago if I recall correctly. That would be my first port of call for information.


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    realistically itll be killybegs ahead of Galway. more likely again abroad, tbh!

    the stint i did was down to contacts rather than experience or courses, so im not much good to you there, sorry. websites for the info, but getting yr feet on to a busy pier and asking about the place is a better bet for making something happen imo.


  • #5
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users Posts: 81,055 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    BIM, you need to complete BIM Basic Safety Training or no trawler can legally take you onboard, it's like a Safe Pass on a building site.

    Courses are run around the coast, their main training centre is in Greencastle, Co Donegal.
    Next course scheduled:

    30 October - 01 November, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    07-09 November, Howth, Co. Dublin, contact Declan Donohoe on 087 2334620
    13-15 November, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    13-15 November, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    14-16 November, Howth, Co. Dublin, contact Declan Donohoe on 087 2334620
    04-06 December, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    04-06 December, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, contact 087 2334620
    11-13 December, Rossaveal, Co. Galway, contact Declan Donohoe on 087 2334620
    11-13 December, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, contact 087 2334620
    18- 20 December, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, contact 087 2334620
    14-16 January 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    15-17 January 2019, Rossaveal, Co. Galway, contact 087 6837134
    21-23 January 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    22-24 January2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    03-05 February 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    12-14 February 2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    04-06 March 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    19-21 March 2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    25-27 March 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    15-17 April 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    16-18 April 2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    14-16 May 2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    20-22 May 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    10-12 June 2019, NFC Greencastle, contact sandra.harkin@bim.ie on 074 9381068
    18-20 June 2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230
    09-11 July 2019, NFC Castletownbere, contact della.osullivan@bim.ie on 027 71230

    http://www.bim.ie/training/safety,training/

    Forget about 9-5 hours, you basically work according to when the net goes out and is retrieved, you don't get any wages unless fish are caught, if you can't accept this first, don't go fishing.


  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    username checks out


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  • #7
    Just a Monaghan tinker
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭Just a Monaghan tinker


    Thanks I appreciate the advice I think I’ll head up there ASAP try and get speaking to some skippers around there. U mentioned you did a stint at it out of curiosity and I know it all depends on how much you catch and I money is the last reason I want to start at it but what sort of money could I be expecting to make as a pretty much green deckhand?


  • #8
    Zzippy
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,166 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    BIM, you need to complete BIM Basic Safety Training or no trawler can legally take you onboard, it's like a Safe Pass on a building site.

    Courses are run around the coast, their main training centre is in Greencastle, Co Donegal.



    http://www.bim.ie/training/safety,training/

    Forget about 9-5 hours, you basically work according to when the net goes out and is retrieved, you don't get any wages unless fish are caught, if you can't accept this first, don't go fishing.

    Does that apply to Egyptian and other nationality crew that the government "doesn't know about"?


  • #9
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users Posts: 81,055 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    Zzippy wrote: »
    Does that apply to Egyptian and other nationality crew that the government "doesn't know about"?


    Yes when the Irish Navy board an Irish vessel at sea they are supposed to police this, nobody should be on an Irish registered trawler who hasn't underwent this training. 50% of the crew of an EU trawler must be EU citizens.


  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    Just a Monaghan tinker wrote: »
    Thanks I appreciate the advice I think I’ll head up there ASAP try and get speaking to some skippers around there. U mentioned you did a stint at it out of curiosity and I know it all depends on how much you catch and I money is the last reason I want to start at it but what sort of money could I be expecting to make as a pretty much green deckhand?


    depends on everything

    the size of the vessel, what the share is normally for a starter (usually half until you prove yrself), what the catch is, how quick you get filled (if ye do).

    besides which, i was below deck and working out of Holland, I'm afraid

    so if I were to tell you that back fifteen years ago, the money for the work (6 hours on 6 hours off for three-five weeks at sea) varied from good to bad depending on the trip, I'm afraid you'd be no wiser!


  • #11
    Banjo1234
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭Banjo1234


    I am currently looking for day trips myself. I have previous experience with prawns.

    Does anyone have any contacts or advice?


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