So I finally got a ship and I'm going to work on a construction derrick in Mexico for two weeks or something like that after I get a physical and take a helicopter operations class in new Orleans.

This is what a construction derrick looks like:







The one I'm going to work on for a lil while is stationed in mexico and apparently when I get into mexico I can't bring a computer or flashdrive which is the suck because thats mostly what I do when I'm shipping and in between work hours. I'm gonna bring an ipod and a psp but I'm wondering if they'll take a psp too because its got a flashcard in it.

Basically I'm gonna be gone for awhile starting next week and I'm going to need some requests for some interesting books or something I can pickup because mexicans don't like computers or some stupid shit.

Oh about the ship. The dude said I'll have to sail as an Ordinary seaman on it for a awhile probably because they only keep Green ABS onboard or some dumb crap like that and I'm blue. I'll also get to work maintenance and he said they work 12 hours a day but I don't know if I'll be getting overtime or not but 12 hours a day for 28 days isn't that bad. I start out at 14$ an hour which is good for an ordinary and I'll be getting a shitload of hours so thats ok for now.

Ah dude..

I'm so fucking jealous. That shit looks tight.. and here I am finally with a summer job at PIZZA HUT as a cook.

Anyways good luck have fun.

yeah its pretty low but I think thats because they bumped me down to ordinary which is only entry level. But after awhile of working there I'm pretty sure they'll give me any open AB position and that should def put me over 20$. Dude said I'd still be making about 52k a year and thats pretty good.

but if its looking shitty and like they won't bump me up after a year or so I'll go back unionside or something when I've got the money saved up to do that.

It seems kind of strange that they're dictating what you can and can't do in your free time, especially considering that you'll be on a ship with little to do. Have they given you a reason why you can't bring computers? Also yeah, bring a PSP (don't tell them it's got a flash card in it; the flash card probably isn't compatible with any of their computers anyway) and lots of books.

its the mexican government or port authority thats doing that, the guy from the company said when the derrick goes back into the gulf I can bring whatever I want. They won't even let me bring a cellphone onboard, dunno why though. The only reason I see is security but its a construction ship so thats kind of dumb imo but whatever.

heres the list of stuff I can't bring:

Prohibited items offshore:
The following items are prohibited from taking offshore by Mexican regulations.  If you have them in your possession when you arrive in country please mark them and turn over to shore based coordinator, they will be returned to you when you depart (with the exception of firearms and drugs).  Please check your bags carefully before departing from home, carrying even one spent firearm cartridge can entail 2 years in prison.  If asked to surrender any item to a security officer at the heliport please do so, they are allowed to make the final determination on allowing any item to go offshore. 

1.  Alcohol
2.  Firearms
3.  Illicit Drugs
4.  Knives
5.  Cameras
6.  Cell Phones
7.  Lighters
8.  Lighter Fluid
9.  Pornography
NEW ITEMS PROHIBITED AS OF 1 APRIL 2009
10. Computers
11.  Flash drives
12.  NO TOBACCO PRODUCTS – THIS MEANS CIGARETTES, DIP, OR CHEW!!

dumb yeah but they sell cigs on the ship, not that I smoke regular cigarrets but whatever. I'll just get some books and listen to music/workout till I get off in two weeks.

why pornography?? what??

Also, swine flu.

get with the times, swine flu is no longer a big problem at Mexico. It is at other places.

Working on an oil derrick? Shit... good luck bro.

Anyways, those measures are for security reasons. It not only happens with oil derricks but with many other manufacture structures. But yeah, some are shitty measures (no pornography? Wtf).

Nah its a construction derrick I think its used to build oil rigs though but I'm not sure about that, I'll find out soon enough though.

I just signed the contract for my reclassification.  I'm officially nuclear power now, and ship out Sept. 16.  I'll hit you up here soon when I get my Jeep back and we can go out for brews.

sure thing hit me up, I leave monday though. But I'll be back in august I'm pretty sure. I'll be working 28 at sea and then like 13 off on rotation so just hit me up and I'll let you know when I'll be home.