Maritime jobs in Portland? Is the Port in a decline? (Canby: employment, living)

[coolbeans2000]

Some day I'll be leaving the service but will still likely be young enough work in the Maritime industry. I'll obviously have a Captains Licenses and many many thousands of underway hours and years of experience. So I'm interested in Portland as a city that may offer continued employment in my field. Ship pilot, tug operator, ferry captain etc..

Here in the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, this is the busiest Port in the United States, covers 7,500 acres of land and employs untold number of people from Ship Pilots to longshoreman. There are great jobs here. But I can't picture myself living here into my 50's and 60's.

I've heard that the Port of Portland has been on a long steady decline as much of the commercial maritime traffic has shifted from Portland north to the Port of Seattle.

Is this true? Are there even many jobs in the Port of Portland? Are Longview and Vancouver similar in size?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Nell Plotts]

I take it you aren't interested in a seagoing billet but will add a thought or two along that line.

Pilot's positions are few and require a long apprenticeship even with 1st Mate Unlimited Tons licence - but no harm in inquiring.

There is a spill response co-operative, may be http://www.mfsa.com/about-us.

I am not sure about tug openings, with the departure of our container shipping service their bookings may be down. Our ocean cargo is going to Tacoma.

Take a long look at the Alaska Tanker (ATC) union contract before signing on there.

Now if you are an Engineer I think there are opportunities.

You could look around Puget Sound. Foss has operations in Long Beach and Portland, headquartered in Seattle.

[Nell Plotts]

Continuing...

We don't have any ferry's (maybe with the exception of the Canby ferry which is dinky and the Ferry Wahkiakum between Westport, OR and Puget Island, WA). WA State Ferry system is large but most of of the Officers have limited licences and start out as Ordinary Seaman. Keep in mind the fact that there are a lot of Navy seamen who stay in the vicinity of Bremerton so don't know what the applicant flow looks like.

The Port of Longview is really a Warehouser log operation.

Deck operations in the Navy or Coast Guard are quite different than what you will find in merchant fleet. Visit Cal Maritime, ask where your skills might fit. In all honesty there is a real need for competent engineers/mechanics, the skill set that can maintain engines and systems on a merchant vessel/tug operation. Most of the workboat engine techs have dated skills.

[coolbeans2000]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Continuing...

We don't have any ferry's (maybe with the exception of the Canby ferry which is dinky and the Ferry Wahkiakum between Westport, OR and Puget Island, WA). WA State Ferry system is large but most of of the Officers have limited licences and start out as Ordinary Seaman. Keep in mind the fact that there are a lot of Navy seamen who stay in the vicinity of Bremerton so don't know what the applicant flow looks like.

The Port of Longview is really a Warehouser log operation.

Deck operations in the Navy or Coast Guard are quite different than what you will find in merchant fleet. Visit Cal Maritime, ask where your skills might fit. In all honesty there is a real need for competent engineers/mechanics, the skill set that can maintain engines and systems on a merchant vessel/tug operation. Most of the workboat engine techs have dated skills.

Nell thanks for all the great information, you've been a big help.

[58rhodes]

the Port of Portland is a bulk and auto port
the largest wheat port in the western hemisphere
the largest export port for Ford Motor
thats it
end of story

[58rhodes]

google is your friend