MSC Riding Gang Painter / Chipper

Role Overview

As a member of a Riding Gang working aboard Military Sealift Command vessels, you will spend your days removing rust and failed coatings from steel surfaces and rebuilding protective paint systems that keep ships structurally sound and mission-ready. The work is hands-on and continuous: chipping, grinding, sanding, priming, and painting everything from decks and bulkheads to tanks, compartments, and deck equipment while the vessel is underway or in port. Corrosion never stops, so your consistency and attention to surface preparation directly determine how long a coating holds up and how much unplanned maintenance the fleet absorbs.

Key Responsibilities

• Strip rust, scale, corrosion, and deteriorated coatings from ship structures and equipment using chipping hammers, pneumatic tools, grinders, scrapers, and hand tools.
• Prepare surfaces to specification before coating, including cleaning, degreasing, feathering edges, and removing debris from the work area.
• Apply primers, intermediate coats, and topcoats by brush, roller, or spray, and perform touch-ups on damaged or previously coated areas.
• Carry out preservation and corrosion-control work on decks, bulkheads, tanks, compartments, piping, and deck machinery in line with MSC, Navy, and industry coating standards.
• Set up and maintain staging, containment, ventilation, and drop cloths, then tear down and clean the work site when the job is finished.
• Inspect and care for assigned paint materials, tools, and personal protective equipment, keeping gear clean, stocked, and ready for the next task.
• Record material usage, surface conditions, and completed preservation work in logs and basic documentation.
• Report progress, obstacles, and safety hazards to the supervisor and ship's leadership, and follow direction on task sequencing and quality expectations.

Requirements & Qualifications

• One to three years of hands-on experience in marine painting, chipping, preservation, corrosion control, or a closely related maintenance trade.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to read, speak, and understand English well enough to carry out contract tasks and follow installation emergency procedures.
• Valid passport with at least one year of remaining validity at the time of hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain facility credentials and authorization, and to secure country-specific visas as required by the U.S. Department of State Foreign Clearance Guide.
• Ability to pass contract medical screening and remain medically compliant for the full length of each deployment.
• Comfort working in shipboard, industrial, and confined-space conditions, including the physical demands of prolonged standing, climbing, and tool use.

Preferred

• Formal training or certification in coatings, corrosion control, or marine maintenance.
• Prior experience with MSC, maritime operations, shipboard maintenance, or Riding Gang programs.
• Working knowledge of Navy preservation standards, coating systems, and corrosion-control practices.
• Valid driver's license.
• Demonstrated reliability, close attention to detail, and the ability to follow technical instructions precisely.