CTI owns five freighters, ranging from 242' to 260' long. We deliver cargo from our terminal to Seattle to towns in Western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, such as Sand Point, Chignik, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, and Dutch Harbor. Our cargo is palletized rather than in containers. Most of our cargo is associated with commercial fishing.
A typical voyage is 25 days long. We deliver cargo from our terminal in Seattle to towns in Western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.
We accept applications year-round.
| Positions & Descriptions | Watch a video to learn more! |
| Captain | |
| Chief Engineer | |
| Mate, Second Mate | Being a Mate |
| Able-Bodied Seaman, QMED | Being an AB |
| Deckhand/Wiper | Being a Deckhand & Being a Wiper |
| Cook | Being a Cook |
| Position | Entry Level Pay (Starting wage may be more, DOE) |
| Chief Engineer | DOE |
| Second Mate | $550/day |
| Able-Bodied Seaman, QMED | $350/day |
| Deckhand/Wiper | $200/day |
| Cook | $310/day |
The captain is completely in charge of the operation of the vessel, which means he or she must accomplish a myriad of tasks that cannot be listed in full here. Exceptional knowledge of coastal piloting and the Inside Passage is a must. Captains must be able to make landings alongside docks and other vessels in all weathers. Attention to detail in cargo stowage is imperative. Also, the captain must be able to complete paperwork in a detailed and orderly fashion.
A license of Master 500 tons Uninspected Fishing Vessel, or greater, is required.
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.
Because our trade is so specialized, we very rarely hire captains from outside the company. Instead, we prefer to promote our mates, who have learned the trade and are extremely competent and proficient at the job.
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.
These are full time jobs.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.
Ship’s cook prepares three to four meals a day for a crew of nine people. The cook does not work on deck. Cooks do not work cargo operations nor do they tie up the ship. The average voyage is 24 days long. For approximately seventeen days out of the voyage, cook will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast generally occurs between 0530 and 0630, lunch between 1130-1200, dinner between 1730-1830; HOWEVER, meal hours can change quickly based off of cargo operations. During cargo operations, which take up approximately seven days out of the voyage, cooks prepare a meal called night lunch which is eaten approximately at midnight.
There is only one cook aboard each vessel. The cook needs to prep all meals, cook all meals, do light baking, clean the galley, and wash the dishes. There are no steward’s duties to perform, such as laundry or cabin cleaning. During times of maximum cargo operations, the cook is also expected to keep the main passageway and ship’s head clean. This is approximately four days out of a voyage.
Cooks must be completely insensitive to sea sickness. Our ships roll and pitch heavily on the open sea. If you have a tendency to get sea sick, do not apply for this job. The quality of meals can make or break a voyage. We expect our cooks to be as excellent at their job as our crewmembers working cargo.
Watch this video to learn more about being a cook aboard our freighters.
FOOD ORDERING
All food is purchased by a food vendor working from an order sheet from the ship’s cook. Cooks are responsible for taking a galley inventory at the middle and at the end of the voyage. Food orders are sent down by the cook halfway through the voyage to our food vendor. On the day before the next voyage sails, the cook will receive the food order.
SCHEDULING
The average cook sails eight 24 day trips a year. Some cooks sail as few as four to seven 24 day trips a year. Occasionally we hire relief cooks, who only sail one or two trips.
Criteria- Prospective employee would cook for a crew of about 9 people aboard a small boat.The cook has no help with his/her job and prepares all meals alone. Likewise cleaning of galley spaces and dishwashing. The cook usually works about 10 hours a day, with frequent long breaks. Except for the often wild and random motions of the boat while at sea, the position is much the same as any other cook’s job.
Cooks are not usually asked to work on deck, i.e., hauling on heavy ropes, or performing strenuous manual labor. A cook must be able to lift 50 lb. to waist height, and conduct this up an eight foot flight of stairs, if only by dragging it up. A cook must be able to do this twenty times in six hours, once a week. The job doesn’t require walking for long distances. However, the candidate must be sure-footed, due to the severe rolling and pitching motions of the vessel while underway, and the dangerous proximity to stoves, etc.
A cook must be able to work over a smoky grill and must be free from tuberculosis or other severe communicable respiratory diseases.
The prospective cook must be capable of donning a USCG-approved survival suit in reasonable time, jumping off a vessel or structure at a height of twelve feet off the water, and swimming in the survival suit 100 feet to a fixed ladder. The length of swim time is not important. The candidate must be able to climb the ladder 12 feet back up to the jumping point. You will be tested on this at CTI.
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.
The chief mate’s job while underway consists of standing watch, navigating the Inside Passage and the waters of the Gulf of Alaska. During cargo operations, the mate supervises and participates in the loading and unloading of cargo.
On the Inside Passage, the Second Mate stands a watch under the tutelage of the captain or chief mate, learning the details of the route. Underway on the open sea, the second mate is in charge of his or her own watch. In port, a Second Mate participates in the physical work of cargo operations.
Two-thirds of the trip is underway time, standing watches. One-third of the 24-day trip 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.
MINIMUM LICENSE REQUIREMENT: USCG uninspected coastwise 500 tons. Fishing
WORK SCHEDULES: Most mates work one voyage on, one voyage off. A voyage is usually 25 days long. Between voyages, the crew generally gets 1 to 5 days off in Seattle.
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 and the same weight overhead by partially resting it on another object, for many hours.
Prospective employees must be able to stand, suitably clothed, exposed to arctic conditions for long periods of time. They must be able to breath 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.
Our freighters are considered uninspected fisheries tender vessels. The vessels are about 260 feet long and just below 500 gross tons. All of our vessel shave refrigerated cargo holds. Crew size is 8-9 persons. CTI carries palletized general freight from its terminal on Seattle’s Ship Canal to various ports in Western Alaska, the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands, and Bristol Bay. Palletized frozen seafood is carried southbound to Seattle. We operate all year, with seasonal highs and lows.
Chief engineers must have experience with refrigeration plants and hydraulic systems.
For main engines, our vessels use Caterpillars ranging between 2000 to 3084 combined HP.
The Chief Engineer is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ship's propulsion machinery, refrigeration, various mechanical and electrical systems, during the voyage. The Chief Engineer is also responsible for fueling, pollution control, ballasting, logs, procurement and inventory control. The Chief Engineer reports directly to the shoreside Port Engineer and is supervised by the Captain.
Underway watch rotation with the unlicensed assistant is 6 on/6 off, or 12 on/12 off, depending on the chief's preference. This is a job for a working chief but no non-engineering deck work is required. Work during cargo operations in Alaskan ports consists of maintenance and repair. Chief engineers must be prepared to perform maintenance tasks with little or no assistance.
You must have a drug test and pass a physical examination. Medical/Dental insurance and a 401k plan are offered after a trial period.
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.
Applications may be faxed to:
ATTN: Vessel Operations Assistant
206-283-9121