Laurence M. Gould

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Anyone ever worked/lived on the Gould? I’m pretty sure my application for a job on it was too late in the process, but I’m still curious what it’s like. How long at sea, what the living spaces are like, etc.

Thanks!

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@Sciencetech wrote:

This is important: Have you worked at sea before? What job are you applying for? If you haven’t worked at sea, it may be a bit of a shock. I don’t want to be discouraging but you should be aware that the LMG rides kind of sloppy in high seas (rounded bottom ice-breakers often do). If you have a cast-iron stomach and a die-hard 12-hour-a-day work ethic, you’ll do fine.

I’ve never worked at sea before. Would you think that’s enough to disqualify me right away? I’ve wanted to work at sea, just never have. I applied for the Marine Computer Instrument Specialist position, but having never worked on a boat before, I have no idea how realistic it is to get an interview. I guess it’s a big unknown, but I can’t convince myself it’s something I don’t want to do so I have to give it a shot I guess.

That schedule is interesting to look at. It seems like most of the time between ports is less than a week long… and it does a lot of crossings of the drake passage; does that sound accurate?

It sure is a good looking ship.

[Sciencetech]

I went looking for some pictures of the berthing but didn’t find any. Huh. But I did find some others…

[attachment=5:12kr0hdu]lmg_computer_room1.JPG[/attachment:12kr0hdu]
[attachment=4:12kr0hdu]lmg_computer_room2.JPG[/attachment:12kr0hdu]
[attachment=3:12kr0hdu]lmg_back_deck.JPG[/attachment:12kr0hdu]
[attachment=2:12kr0hdu]lmg_galley.JPG[/attachment:12kr0hdu]
[attachment=1:12kr0hdu]lmg_lab_area.JPG[/attachment:12kr0hdu]
[attachment=0:12kr0hdu]lmg_lounge.JPG[/attachment:12kr0hdu]

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@Sciencetech wrote:

If you’re interviewed, it probably means they don’t have any old hands who want to come back, so your chances are good.

I haven’t interviewed, my status is sitting at “Resume Submitted”, sorry of I mislead there.

@Sciencetech wrote:

Working on a ship is a love/hate thing — people either take to it and keep coming back, or find out immediately that it isn’t their cup of salty tea. Thus the frequent turnover of personnel. Also, people burn out fast because of the work schedule, so it tends to be a transient sort of position.

I would imagine that’s how it has to be. I figure I can risk doing something I hate for a few months if that’s what it takes to find out I love it. I used to work the ramp at an airport. I left a cush work-at-home software job in order to do it, and friends and family were sure I’d only last a few months “doing real work”. Turns out it was an amazing job that I loved for many years, but I have to admit I had no idea what I was getting into. I guess that’s part of the fun when one tries these things.

@Sciencetech wrote:

The marine computer tech position is a good one (and one I’ve applied to in the past, but they had repeat offenders take the job). That position doesn’t have the turnover of some of the other jobs because it *is* one of the better positions. All the more reason to apply. It would also be an inroad to working on the NBP, or at one of the stations if you wanted.

Is the NBP more “fun”? Also, regarding your last statement, should I infer from that that it’s easier to get a job on a ship than at McMurdo or Palmer?

And what job did you do on the NBP?

Thanks for posting the photos (especially of the E-lab). The ship looks pretty nice inside, better than I expected. Also, for anyone interested, I found this link that shows the current position of the Gould:

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=WCX7445

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