A bargee is a worker on a barge, which is a flat-bottomed vessel used to transport large amounts of cargo. A bargee’s job function varies greatly depending on the type of crew member he or she is; bargees can be managers or low-level crew members who perform manual labor. At any given time, there will be a large number of barge workers on board; they will work on the boat well before it leaves port to ensure that it is properly loaded and prepared for its journey.
The barge must be properly loaded before leaving port, which can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. Before the boat leaves port, a barge may work on it to load cargo and secure it properly. Other items, such as food and medical equipment, will need to be loaded onto the ship, and this may be handled by a barge. The length of the trip will often determine the amount of equipment and supplies required, as well as the number of barge employees required. Some barge employees may be in charge of inspecting the ship thoroughly before it leaves port to ensure it is properly prepared for the journey.
Once the ship is underway, the bargee may be in charge of a variety of tasks. Some may work on the ship’s kitchen crew, which is in charge of preparing and serving meals, while others may be in charge of maintaining and servicing the ship’s engines. Others may be in charge of simply cleaning the ship or dealing with spills or other mishaps. Although these workers are not always called bargees, they may work on the captain’s deck and serve as an assistant to the captain.
To become a bargee, no specific level of education is required, but specialized training may be required in some cases. Working as a mechanic on the ship, or operating any of the cranes or other heavy machinery, for example, may necessitate additional training. In order to train bargees for specific tasks, an apprenticeship may be required; this apprenticeship can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years, depending on the task’s complexity and the barge worker’s overall career goals. Entry-level barge workers often start at a lower pay level, whereas more experienced barge workers often get better pay and, in some cases, health and retirement benefits.