Week 5
30 July 2006

Marine Technicians -
Rick Lichtenhan and Andrew McKee

Rick Lichtenhan

Rick was born in New York, but grew up in Pennsylvania. He has worked for the Raytheon Polar Services Company for 9 years, 4 of them as a marine technician. Prior to that time he worked with cargo at Palmer Station.

Andrew McKee

Andrew is from Bellingham, Washington. He has been a marine technician since February.

	Question: Which state is larger, Pennsylvania or Washington?

Training: Most of Rick’s marine technician training has been on-the-job. However, he had prior experience working in the Antarctic climate from his time at Palmer station. Andrew began his marine career sailing on tall ships. He worked on the Maryland tall ship The Pride of Baltimore II. He also worked as a deckhand on the sailing ship the Lady Washington, used for educational programs for school children. Andrew began working on ships when he was in high school and has attended maritime training classes.

Lady Washington Site	The Pride of Baltimore II Site

Question: Look up the Lady Washington on line. How tall are the masts on that ship?

Job duties: Marine technicians need to be able to take the equipment that the scientists bring on board and adapt it to the ship. Because scientists in different fields use different types of equipment, there is a lot to learn when you are getting started. Marine technicians also get the instruments ready to go into the water and deploy them from the ship. Many times instruments are supposed to be ocean ready, but further adjustments have to be made in order for them to work. These physical changes are the responsibility of the marine technicians. When Zodiacs are used to ferry the scientists and other crew to shore, the marine technicians are the drivers.

Zodiac operations over the side of the Nathaniel B. Palmer Link	A small rubber boat called a Zodiac is used to go to many sites out on the water

Question: What skills would be useful if you were planning to become a marine technician?

Work Schedule: On board, the marine technicians work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. When the company lists the cruises for the year, they can choose which ones they want to sign up for. Occasionally they may be asked to go on a specific cruise. The marine technicians work either on the Nathaniel B. Palmer or the Lawrence M. Gould. The ships usually sail out of Punta Arenas or New Zealand One time Rick was flown to South Africa to return a ship to New Zealand.

Biggest Challenge: For Andrew, it has been the transition to working within a corporate run environment.

Why is this job enjoyable? Both like spending time on the ocean. Rick enjoys having time between cruises to travel extensively in South America.

Job forecast:  Jobs for marine technicians are becoming scarcer. There is low turnover and the application process is highly competitive.  You need to have some type of marine background plus experience in order to get a job. There are lots of AB jobs available if you are interested in getting started in the field.