Rotation work on ships: four weeks on board, four weeks at home

Rotation work on ships is one of the biggest advantages of working on inland waterways, and one of the least talked about. You spend as much time at home as you do at work, and your income stays the same all year, whether you are on board or off.

Here is how rotation works at TMLG Group, what it gives you and what it asks of you.

How rotation work on ships works

At TMLG Group, rotation runs on patterns such as 4/4:

• 4 weeks on board. You are fully on the job, and you live on the ship with the rest of the crew.
• 4 weeks at home. Your time is your own: rest, family, travel, hobbies.

Over twelve months you work about six. Your pay, however, is spread evenly over the whole year.

Paid every month, on board or at home

In many jobs, what you earn depends on the days you are at work. With rotation it does not. You receive the same monthly pay whether you are on the ship or at home. That makes it easy to plan your money and your time a year ahead.

At TMLG Group your pay reflects your qualifications and your rank. The higher you climb, from boatman to boatmaster, the more you earn. How the ranks follow on from each other is explained in How to become a deckhand.

What four weeks at home give you

• Real time off. Most jobs ashore give you a few weeks' holiday a year. On a 4/4 rotation you are at home for about half the year.
• Time for family. Four weeks in a row is enough to be part of everyday family life, not just a visitor at weekends.
• No daily commute. You are not on the road to work every morning. On board you work intensively, then you have time to recover.
• Room for something else. Some people use the time to travel, others to learn new skills.

Life on board during the rotation

While you are on board, accommodation and food are provided. Your ship is your workplace and your home for four weeks. Rotation is not an ordinary job with an eight-hour shift: the work is physical, outdoors, in summer and in winter, and you spend weeks with the same crew.

It suits people who can handle time away from home. Many find, after a while, that the long stretches off are worth it. What a working day on board looks like is in Life on a river barge.

How to start working in rotation

You can start without experience. The fastest route to a proper rank is our training course: you work on board and study at the same time, so you earn money from the start. If you do not already work on a ship of another company, we offer you an employment contract with TMLG Group. The course is taught in German, in Hlohovec, with a start date agreed with the instructor.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get paid during my weeks at home?

Yes. At TMLG Group your pay is spread evenly over all twelve months, so you receive it every month.

Is 4/4 the only rotation?

4/4 is one of the patterns used at TMLG Group. Ask us about the others through our contact page.

What about food and accommodation on board?

Accommodation and food are provided on board for the whole rotation.