We have a lot of cool careers at Republic Services! Assistant Captain on the Lynne Frink is one of the coolest! We recently caught up with Assistant Captain Carlie E. in New Jersey to learn more about her job in our Environmental Services Marine Division and what a day in her life is like on board the Lynne Frink.
What was your career path that led you to this job?
It is no coincidence that I ended up in the Assistant Captain-Marine position with Republic Services. I was born and raised in Cape May, NJ, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also where Lynne Frink is moored. Early in my career, I worked for East Coast Water Sports as a parasail mate, jet boat mate, and mate on their dolphin-watching boat. I then worked at my family’s business, Eckel’s Diesel, a local marine diesel mechanic shop in South Jersey. Here, I learned the mechanical side of boats to heighten my knowledge while earning my Master Captain’s License. In December 2023, I started working for the ES-Marine Division of Republic Services.
What does day look like aboard the Lynne Frink?
Jay D., Captain-Marine of the Lynne Frink, and I maintain our vessel and work hard to make sure that it is response-ready. I’m on-call 24/7, in case of a spill or project. I work a basic work week; yet, when one of our vessels is activated, I could be at sea anywhere from a few days to a few months depending on what is needed.
My day-to-day responsibilities on the Lynne Frink include being behind the helm operating the boat while underway, performing routine maintenance, making sure we have crew members on board and ready to respond to an oil spill while oil tankers are transferring materials in the Delaware Bay, and if needed, assisting in moving vessels from Point A to Point B for the Company. I’m also heavily involved in maintaining shoreside equipment, including skimmers and booms used to clean up spills where the vessels may not be able to be utilized.
What do you like most about the Environmental Services industry?
I like the feeling of accomplishment. I take pride in the fact that my job gives me a chance to prevent major negative impacts on the environment head-on. I also love learning something new every day onboard the vessels at Republic Services.
The Marine Division is like a family – we may be scattered across the country, but we all support one another. One of my other favorite parts of the job is being on trips. Sure, there are rough seas, and it’s a long time away from home, but I would not trade it for anything. I am at peace on the water.
What are some facts and figures about the Lynne Frink boat that you maintain?
The Lynne Frink is a 110-foot Oil Spill Response Vessel. It is a steel boat, otherwise known as a Graham boat. The boat has been fabricated specifically for oil spill response. For example, the vessel has a reel aft (or at the back) that holds 2,000 feet of ocean boom. This is used for containing oil in one area. This boom can also be used hand-in-hand with a “Marco Skimmer”. The boom leads the oil to the skimmer, with assistance from the crew, which then pumps the oil through hoses to tanks within the vessel. The Marine Division also has barges within the fleet that, if needed, can hold oil if the spill is larger than what the Lynne Frink can hold.
As a woman in the industry, have you run into any particular challenges or hurdles?
One of the challenges I’ve faced within the marine industry is earning my place, or in other words, earning the respect of others in the industry. The marine industry is a very male-dominated field. People are often shocked when they find out that I have my Captain’s License. But I don’t want to be recognized because I am a woman in the industry, I want to be known due to the fact that I do my job well.
What advice do you have for people interested in a career in this sector?
It’s not always easy. Daily maintenance on the vessel is routine and having the opportunity to work on the water is great. But when you are a part of a crew on a boat for two weeks-plus, it is completely different. You go from working normal workdays to traveling to a different location, living out of a bag on a boat, sleeping in bunks and working a unique schedule such as 6 hours on 6 hours off. Not to mention the physical and mental toll of operating the vessel throughout the day and night, navigating safely (possibly in areas you have never been), or working on the back deck.
Another piece of advice is to not let the small projects slip away or be forgotten. Something such as not having the oil changed or equipment ready is detrimental. Little tasks being completed every day ensures that when it is time to get underway for a spill the vessel and crew are fully prepared. We want to make sure that we can complete what the client is asking without any issues.
A big thank you to Carlie for taking time out of her busy schedule to fill us in on her life as an Assistant Captain on board the Lynne Frink.