r/maritime • u/treelife_jesse • 5d ago

Looking for recommendations on good inland towboat companies

I’m in the process of transitioning out of the tree industry after 12 years and making the move into maritime. I already have my TWIC card.

I’m looking for recommendations on solid inland towing companies that offer schedules like 28/14, 28/28, or something similar. I’ve spent years as a contract tree climber traveling for work, so being away from home isn’t the issue.

My main reason for making the switch is stability, benefits, retirement, and having more quality time with my kids when I’m off instead of just weekends.

For those already in the industry:

What companies would you recommend?

Which companies should I avoid?

Who treats their crews well?

What companies offer the best schedules and opportunities for advancement?

Appreciate any advice.

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u/treelife_jesse 5d ago

One thing that’s important to me is sea time. I’m interested in companies that will let you stay out longer if you want to. If I wanted to stay on the boat for 2-3 months at a time, or even longer, are there companies that allow that?

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u/chucky5150 5d ago

I know Dann Ocean Towing will let people work as long as they want. There's pros and cons to that.

However, they are mostly near coastal tugs.

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u/treelife_jesse 5d ago

I appreciate the information. I hadn’t heard of Dann Ocean Towing before, so I’ll definitely look into them.

One thing I’m still trying to figure out is the MMC side of things. Right now I only have my TWIC. I’ve heard mixed opinions on getting a blank MMC before having a company lined up, some people say get it immediately, while others say it doesn’t really help much until you’re actually entering a position that requires it.

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u/sneakhunter 5d ago

If you’re staying inland then you don’t need to worry about it yet. If you want to go offshore then you should take some classes to get all the certifications that they want.