BP is gonna be some kind of mad when they find out there won’t be any Norwegians onboard. They probably signed that contract with the understanding the best of the best would be operating that vessel. I mean how would a bunch of dumb local yokel Americans even begin to understand the complexity of such high tech equipment? If they can’t wrap their heads around the vessel how will they be able to do the complex work the vessel is designed to do? This is disturbing news I’m gonna have to side with IMCA on this one. No Norwegians on this ship will spell doom for the future of all GOM deepwater construction.
Doubt that will ever prove necessary. I was one of those Masters with NIS license as an American 7 years ago. Eventually, ECO took over the management and reflagged Vanuatu and the Norwegians were replaced. Most Norwegians rather work on the shelf under the 2 weeks on 4 weeks off schedule anyhow.
Yes, these units work 2/4 schedule, at least when working in Norwegian waters, Don’t know what schedule they may be on when working in British waters, GoM or Brasil etc., but you may know?
There may be other Norwegian vessels that is classified MOU, but ordinary OSVs, MPSVs and most CSVs work even time, whether in Norwegian waters or not. (4/4, 5/5 or 6/6, depending on which company and where in the world they are working)
Norway is finally doing something to get more Norwegians employed on NIS registered ships: http://sysla.no/maritim/vil-gi-full-pott-norske-sjofolk-utenriksfart/
Note: This does NOT include NIS registered Offshore vessels working in the GoM, so it does not back up the notion that those are subsidized.
Can we please stop pretending like our new president truly cares about the welfare of working people and an availability of jobs for them? And why does Aaron Smith (in the letter Fraqrat posted) think he speaks for all American Mariners in supporting Trump?
do you seriously think that the Trump Administration is done with this list? Wait till we see what they propose to the MSP or any cargo preference subsidies? Of course I am more than willing to throw KP under the budget bus but that is Chuck Shumer’s furry little lap pet so you know we would throw a hissy fit if Trump says he wants to close the clown college that cannot be killed
Homer Simpson KP class of 77 (how else could such a buffoon get an operator’s job at a nuke plant?)
Point taken. Though you state that the funding loss will be made up for by industry and local governments, I think we both know that industry will be opting out as much as they can get away with and forcing local government to foot the bill.
I wish the Mariners in the Gulf of Mexico had an agency that would lobby for them in Congress. Unfortunately OMSA and others are not pro-mariner unless it is their own interest and any time we try to get an association together to lobby, it gets branded as a union. This is a HUGE issue for Mariners and with 69,000 votes just in licensed personnel, let alone related industries, we should pressure Congress to smack CBP around a little. We don’t money and lobbyists but we have votes. Additionally, I refuse to get in bed with organizations that lobby against or ignore us when we need help but champion us when it is in their best interest.
In the meantime I will try and help Mariners behind the scenes for free since in my eyes that is my duty as a former afloat Coastie, work with my contacts inside the USCG, and educate my Congresspeople to get needed changes made.
It is not only in the GoM there is competition between local and foreign flag vessels and protectionism in US-flag favour.
Greenland would like to protect their national interests from unfair competition as well, but that butts up against US preferensial cargo rules: http://arcticjournal.com/business/3200/nationality-trumps-cost
Why should not Denmark, who control Greenland, reserve all shipping to from Thule Airbase for vessels under Greenland ownership? (OK, it would be against international shipping and trading rules)
Is it fair to say that “big brother” is bullying the weak and meek and may not even understand it?
Ok Australians pay tax if they live in Australia and work offshore.
Americans pay tax no matter what forever, anywhere.
EU residents pay if working in the North Sea
Any other seaman pay tax if working internationally or just overseas?
And yes employing Americans is generally too hard as the US gov wants to poke its nose into your business if they suspect your American employee is not playing by the rules.
EVERYBODY pay taxes somewhere, even if you are a seaman. If not income tax, then VAT or whatever it is called in different countries. (GST in Singapore)
The exception is only the rich, who somehow always seams to have some losses the can write off against taxes.
I know that in Singapore seamen are tax free as long as they are not in country more than 182 days/year, but so is all other citizens and PRs. (Unless you have other income derived from within Singapore, that is)
Seamen who are residents in Norway have reduced tax relative to those working in country, but they still receive the benefits that becomes to all tax payers in full.
I believe non-residents working on NIS-registered ships are tax free, but if working on NOR-registered ships, incl. in foreign trade, even non-resident foreigners pay tax to Norway and receive Norwegian benefits. (Anybody know differently?)
I know that many Norwegian seamen living abroad and sailing on NIS, or foreign flag ships, still pay into the social welfare and pension system (Folketrygden) to ensure that they enjoy the benefits that comes with Norwegian citizenship.
Malaysian seamen are tax free even when working on Malaysian vessels ( or where when I worked for a Malaysian company 20 years ago)
Filipinos get the choice to declare ( when leaving home) or not when working foreign
All foreign derived income is tax exempt in Singapore regardless of the stay.
Yes foreign derived income is tax exempt, but if you are a Singaporean, or a Singapore RP serving on a Singapore flag vessel and paid in Singapore the 182 days/year rule applies. (Or at least it used to do)
But, as I said, you can not escape paying taxes in some form or another, that is for certain.
In Singapore you pay GST, duty on imported items and ERP on the roads etc.
Even if you live and work in Brunei, with no income tax and no GST, you are bound to travel somewhere where there are. Like across the boarder to Malaysia to buy booze.
OK, so you can go by ferry to Labuan, where it is duty free. (But then, regard the ferry fare as a form of tax)