Career Development-2201-

Jason Blackmore & Jared Witherall

R.O.V (Remotely Operated Vehicle) TechnicianR.O.V (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Technician

What is the Salary range in your What is the Salary range in your line of work?line of work?

““My Salary range’s from My Salary range’s from 75,00075,000 to to 175,000175,000.”.”

Was there any other type of Was there any other type of career you thought of pursuing?career you thought of pursuing?““No, going up through high-school I wanted to be a No, going up through high-school I wanted to be a

diverdiver””

What did you do after High What did you do after High School?School?

““After high-school I did After high-school I did Post SecondaryPost Secondary for for weldingwelding, and , and commercial divingcommercial diving””

What are the pro’s and con’s of What are the pro’s and con’s of your job?your job?

““A con would be how long I am away from A con would be how long I am away from home.”home.”

““A pro would be traveling to unique place’s A pro would be traveling to unique place’s around the world and being involved in around the world and being involved in

very interesting work”very interesting work”

What are the greatest strengths What are the greatest strengths of your job?of your job?

““Knowing a lot about mechanics, and how things Knowing a lot about mechanics, and how things work, along with knowledge of hydraulic systems”work, along with knowledge of hydraulic systems”

Do you get any company Do you get any company benefits?benefits?

““Yes, I get medical, dental, eye care, and my Yes, I get medical, dental, eye care, and my family is covered under my medical plan. family is covered under my medical plan.

Along with me retirement fund”Along with me retirement fund”

How long have you been in this How long have you been in this type of job career?type of job career?

““I have been working as an R.O.V technician for 14 I have been working as an R.O.V technician for 14 years.”years.”

What made you want to pursue What made you want to pursue this type of career?this type of career?

““I was always interested with being in water, I was always interested with being in water, I was always a strong swimmer, I thought I was always a strong swimmer, I thought becoming a commercial diver would be a becoming a commercial diver would be a great way to continue my interest towards great way to continue my interest towards

the activity, but as time went on & I got the activity, but as time went on & I got older I got a job as a R.O.V technician.”older I got a job as a R.O.V technician.”

Do you travel for work?Do you travel for work?

“Yes, I travel around the world, to many places Yes, I travel around the world, to many places with my job.”with my job.”

What is the most enjoyable part What is the most enjoyable part of your job, and why?of your job, and why?

““Driving the R.O.V under water, it’s sort of Driving the R.O.V under water, it’s sort of like a video game and becomes very like a video game and becomes very

addicting. You get zoned into it.”addicting. You get zoned into it.”

Where did you go for your Where did you go for your education?education?

““I went to Post-Secondary school in Grand I went to Post-Secondary school in Grand falls, then to Seneca Collage in Toronto for falls, then to Seneca Collage in Toronto for underwater skills & diving. I went back to underwater skills & diving. I went back to

Grand Falls for pipe fitting.Grand Falls for pipe fitting.

What is your job description?What is your job description?

““I am an R.O.V pilot technician.”I am an R.O.V pilot technician.”

(Remotely Operated Vehicle) (Remotely Operated Vehicle)

What are the skills required by What are the skills required by you on a day-to-day basis?you on a day-to-day basis?

““Maintenance on the R.O.V needs to be up-Maintenance on the R.O.V needs to be up-to-date, Interfacing tooling for different to-date, Interfacing tooling for different

jobs, and using the R.O.V”jobs, and using the R.O.V”

Describe one of your particular Describe one of your particular work days?work days?

“ “ I wake up, do a safety meeting, discuss I wake up, do a safety meeting, discuss what needs to be done or completed for what needs to be done or completed for the day, do maintenance on the R.O.V the day, do maintenance on the R.O.V system, launching & flying the R.O.V, system, launching & flying the R.O.V, along with completing the task that are along with completing the task that are

asked during the flight. “asked during the flight. “

Is your job becoming more in-Is your job becoming more in-demand?demand?

““Yes, because of the ever increasing demand for Yes, because of the ever increasing demand for oil, & how divers cannot work at the depths that oil, & how divers cannot work at the depths that

R.O.V’s can handle.R.O.V’s can handle.

Season’s that make your job Season’s that make your job more difficult? And why?more difficult? And why?

““Winter, because of the very cold weather, along Winter, because of the very cold weather, along with the high sea’s and working outside in storms with the high sea’s and working outside in storms

can be dangerous. Especially when off shore.”can be dangerous. Especially when off shore.”

What is your dream job?What is your dream job?

““My dream job would be to open my own Black My dream job would be to open my own Black Smith shop, making unique metal item’s such as Smith shop, making unique metal item’s such as

furniture, tables, tools, chairs, etc”furniture, tables, tools, chairs, etc”

Do you work with many other Do you work with many other people?people?

““Yes, working with people in my career is a Yes, working with people in my career is a very large portion of my job, there’s a lot of very large portion of my job, there’s a lot of

crossover in my line of work. You work crossover in my line of work. You work with the same people 12 hours a day, 7 with the same people 12 hours a day, 7

days a week for 21 days.”days a week for 21 days.”

What are some daily problems What are some daily problems that you could experience?that you could experience?

““Some daily problems that could occur Some daily problems that could occur would be if the R.O.V breaks and needs would be if the R.O.V breaks and needs repairing within a short period of time to repairing within a short period of time to

complete a job under the clients scrutiny.”complete a job under the clients scrutiny.”

What are the promotions?What are the promotions?

““You go from a Trainee, to R.O.V pilot, to You go from a Trainee, to R.O.V pilot, to Senior Pilot, to Supervisor, and then finally Senior Pilot, to Supervisor, and then finally

the Super Intendent.”the Super Intendent.”