Chapter 12

Catering Companies

Wherever men are working offshore; be it on a rig, a platform, boat, or construction site, you will find the services of a catering company being employed. They provide food, cleaning, and general housekeeping such as laundry service, floor mopping and waxing, etc. The size of a catering crew can be as few as one man or an many as 20 depending on the number of personnel they are to support.

Stewards

The steward is the supervisor of the catering crew. He is responsible for ordering all food, supplies, selection of the day's meals, and galley and housekeeping operations. He also substitutes as a cook or any other position if the need arises.

Cooks

There is usually a day cook and a night cook on board at all times to prepare meals. Again, if you are a cook, you need to be good at what you do, but let me point something out: you will not be able to please everyone, no matter how hard you try. There will always be someone to complain, justifiably or not.

Galley Hands

These are the grunts of the catering crew. They do general cleanup to include dishwashing, pots and pans washing, floor mopping, stocking supplies, etc.

BR Hands

(Bedroom Hands)

On larger rigs, the BR hands will keep the bedrooms, hallways, and off-duty lounge areas clean. They wash clothes, towels and bed linens; make up the beds and keep fresh coffee brewing at all times.

Catering companies offer many opportunities for people with no mechanical experience to break into the offshore industry.