Skip to main content
Borghese Lane LLC logo
CallApply

Careers

Work on the river

We hire deckhands, pilots, and engineers for 18 towboats on the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny. Here is the work, the hitch, what you need, and how to apply.
Apply nowCall (412) 628-5087

What you are asking

Is this company real?
Yes. Borghese Lane LLC works out of 149 Nichol Avenue in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, at Ohio River mile 4. We run 18 towboats on the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers and we are Subchapter M compliant. The office number is (412) 628-5087.
What will I make?
Pay depends on the job and your experience. Call (412) 628-5087 and we will tell you the number.
How long am I away?
Our boats run 14 days on and 7 off, 14 and 14, or 21 and 21, depending on the boat. Line-haul crews live aboard for the hitch. Both tracks are below.
What do I need?
You need to be 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, able to pass a pre-employment drug screen, and able to get to crew change. You also need a TWIC. You must be able to obtain a TWIC before orientation. No towboat experience is needed for the deckhand job.
How do I apply?
Fill in the form. It takes about ten minutes on a phone, and you do not need a resume or an account. If you would rather talk, call (412) 628-5087.

Life on the river

Two kinds of work

Harbor boats work inside a pool. Line-haul boats run tows between pools, Pittsburgh down the Ohio. The difference you feel is how long you are away.

  • Harbor work

    Close to home. Barges moved inside the pool: pull from the fleet, deliver to the dock, pick up empties.

    Hitch
    14 days on and 7 off, 14 and 14, or 21 and 21, depending on the boat.
    Where you sleep
    Between shifts you can stay on the boat or go home.

  • Line-haul

    Made-up tows between pools, Pittsburgh down the Ohio. Our boats have run as far as Catlettsburg, Kentucky.

    Hitch
    14 days on and 7 off, 14 and 14, or 21 and 21, depending on the boat.
    Where you sleep
    You live aboard the boat for the hitch.

What 14 on, 7 off looks like

Fourteen days on the boat, then seven days at home. Then it starts again.

  1. 1On
  2. 2On
  3. 3On
  4. 4On
  5. 5On
  6. 6On
  7. 7On
  8. 8On
  9. 9On
  10. 10On
  11. 11On
  12. 12On
  13. 13On
  14. 14On
  15. 15Off
  16. 16Off
  17. 17Off
  18. 18Off
  19. 19Off
  20. 20Off
  21. 21Off
A 21-day cycle, our shortest rotation. Other boats run 14 and 14 or 21 and 21. We tell you which boat, and which rotation, when we call.

Open roles

The three roles

We are always hiring for all three. Apply online, or call and we will take it down over the phone.

  • Deckhand

    Call for pay: (412) 628-5087

    14 days on and 7 off, 14 and 14, or 21 and 21, depending on the boat.

    You’ll need

    • At least 18 years old
    • U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
    • TWIC card in hand, or able to get one before orientation
    Apply for DeckhandRead the full posting

  • Pilot

    Call for pay: (412) 628-5087

    Set by the boat and the run. Call the office for the rotation on the boat you would run.

    You’ll need

    • Merchant Mariner Credential with a towing endorsement: Master of Towing Vessels, Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels, or Apprentice Mate (Steersman)
    • Western Rivers or Inland route on the credential
    • Current Medical Certificate
    Apply for PilotRead the full posting

  • Engineer

    Call for pay: (412) 628-5087

    Set by the boat and the run. Call the office for the rotation.

    You’ll need

    • Experience maintaining marine or heavy diesel engines
    • Able to read schematics and service manuals
    • Able to keep written maintenance records
    Apply for EngineerRead the full posting

Benefits

What comes with the job

  • 401(k) with company match
  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life insurance

Career path

From deck to wheelhouse

Every pilot and captain on this river started on the tow. Joe Osterberger, our compliance manager, started as a deckhand in 2010.

  1. Deckhand

    You start on the tow. Wires, ratchets, lines, and pumps, in every kind of weather.

  2. Steersman

    You learn the wheel under a licensed pilot, working toward an Apprentice Mate (Steersman) endorsement.

  3. Pilot

    You stand your own watch with a Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsement.

  4. Captain

    You run the boat and the crew, with a Master of Towing Vessels endorsement.

FAQ

Questions we get

Do I need experience?

Many deckhands start with none. Tell us what work you have done, on the river or off it, and we will talk.

Do I need a TWIC?

Yes, you need a TWIC to work on the boat. You do not need it in hand to apply. You do need to be able to get one before orientation. It is a federal ID card from the TSA and it takes a few weeks.

What is a hitch?

A hitch is the stretch of days you work before your time off. Our boats run 14 days on and 7 off, 14 and 14, or 21 and 21, depending on the boat. Line-haul crews live aboard for the hitch.

What is the drug test?

A pre-employment drug screen before you start, then random testing while you work here, and testing after a serious marine incident or for reasonable cause. It is required by federal rule for everyone in a safety-sensitive job on a crewed vessel.

Can I apply by phone?

Yes. Call (412) 628-5087 and ask about crew openings. The form on this site is faster, but the phone works.

Do I need a driver's license and my own ride?

You need reliable transportation to get to the boat. A driver's license is preferred.

How hard is the work physically?

Hard. You will lift 50 pounds or more, climb ladders, handle wire and ratchets, and work outdoors in rain, snow, and heat. Deckhands pass a physical abilities test before their first hitch, which includes setting and tightening a ratchet. If you cannot do that safely, this is not the job.

Apply now