CTI owns five freighters, ranging from 242’ to 260’ long. We deliver cargo from our terminal in Seattle to towns in Western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, such as Sand Point, Chignik, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, and Dutch Harbor.

Each vessel has a captain, chief engineer, mate, A.B., deckhand, and cook. The A.B. needs a Merchant Mariner’s Credential (MMC) from the Coast Guard. Deckhands, wipers, and cooks do not need a MMC.

To find out more about the jobs of AB, deckhand, and wiper, watch video to learn about the jobs or this video for more about life aboard as an AB, deckhand, or wiper.

A.B.s, deckhands, and wipers all load cargo on and off the boats, act as lookout, and perform maintenance work such as painting and splicing rope. Wipers tend to work more in the engine room when the boat is traveling, but they work cargo as much as anyone else. Cooks do not work cargo. You should have cooking experience at sea to be a cook on our boats. For the A.B., deckhand, and wiper each work day is at least 12 hours long. During cargo operations (which take up a third of the voyage) the hours can be far longer.

Two-thirds of the trip is underway time, standing watches, doing cleaning, and maintenance. One-third of the 25-day voyage is spent in cargo operations. Cargo operations are rough physical work in an extreme environment. You must be able to lift heavy weights, up to 100 pounds. Main duties of cargo operation are: driving yard-and-stay cargo gear; operating lift trucks; slinging loads; working with lashing chain, chain binders, and dunnage; and sweeping and cleaning cargo holds. This is a fast-paced job, suitable for high-energy individuals. Carefully read the physical requirements of the job below.

Scheduling: Crew members are placed on an annual schedule, showing when they will sail, and when they will have time off.

Most trips are about 25-days long, though some may be longer or shorter. ABs, wipers, and deckhands usually work a set of one, two or three voyages in a row, with 1 to 5 days off in Seattle in between. At the end of the voyage-set the crew member gets one or two voyages off (28 to 56 days, on average).

Criteria- Individuals go out on 25-day voyages in what could be rough waters on a vessel making random and severe motions. They can be sedentary for the first nine days, then perform physical labor.

Prospective employees must be able to lift 100 lb. to shoulder height.

Prospective employees must be able to stand, suitably clothed, exposed to arctic conditions for long periods of time. They must be able to breathe in a freezer hold with an air temperature of -10 deg. F.

Prospective employees must be to stay on their feet for long periods. Due to the rough seas encountered, the individual must be able to move about a cluttered engine room without an unusual chance of stumbling. The individual must be relatively insensitive to vertigo.

All employees undergo rigorous fire-fighting and respiratory protection training throughout their employment. Persons with respiratory problems, or suffering from claustrophobia while wearing respirators, should keep this in mind when applying.

How to Apply