Every month, hundreds of men and women file through the hiring hall at the Sailors Union of the Pacific Building in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood hoping to join one of the region’s union-manned ferry crews.
BY BILL PICTURE
Published: May, 2011
You should see it! A few hundred people show up every week looking for jobs. Out of those, maybe 15-20 will qualify.
What types of people are applying for ferry jobs?
Nowadays, all types. There are a lot of newbies [people who’ve never worked aboard a vessel before], of course. But I also have people in my class that already have a lot of experience under their belts—able-bodied seamen, captains, ocean masters.
All ages, too—20 to 55.
On the first day of class, I ask my students to tell me something about themselves and why they’re here. It’s interesting to hear their stories. I’ve seen professionals give up good-paying jobs to….
...To feel the salty Bay wind in their hair, instead of sitting in an office all day?
[Laughs.] Exactly. But everybody starts at the same level. Even if you’ve worked on a ship for 10 years, working on a ferry boat is totally different.
What do the recruits learn in your seamanship class?
I call it the “rules of the road.” We begin with a three-page list of A-to-Z vessel terminology, after which they have to pass a test. A big section of the course is what to do in the event of a fire. We take them through fire drills, and man-overboard drills. We teach them how to rig gear, and how to stow it. We teach them knots and basic engine mechanics, CPR, first aid. It’s pretty intense, especially for the newbies. But they have to pass a test at the end. And now we include a whole big chunk on homeland security.
What do you teach during the homeland security section?
A lot, A-to-Z! We teach them to be observant. The Department of Homeland Security put together a list of things to be on the lookout for. And there’s a separate list of physical characteristics to take note of in the event of an incident that help the authorities identify [a suspect]—scars, shape of nose, shape of ears. A cop on the force for 20 years probably couldn’t remember all of these little details, but I teach my students to.
Have there been any standout students in your class recently?
The classes I’ve had recently have been some of the best I’ve ever had. They’re really sharp. This one student, Celeste, was the quickest I’ve seen get seniority.
You’re nearing retirement age. What are you going to do after this?
I’m gonna’ play some rock-and-roll. [Laughs.] I mean it. I don’t have much time for that these days. As soon as I retire, that’s all I plan to do.
