I never understand why you unlimited guys get so pissy over the fact that we get to drive these big boats? There’s nothing saying you cant apply with a company running one and see if you get hired. Is it because it doesn’t need an unlimited master its beneath you?
And the only excuse that even makes a bit of sense is the manning requirements, but at the end it still doesn’t float with me. These vessel’s don’t operate in transatlantic voyages, explain to me how having more then 2 officers in the wheel house, a guy or 2 in the engine room and 2 or 3 hands running around per watch is needed? We’re never more then 200 miles offshore except for a few rare cases (at least in the gulf) unless the boats being sent over seas for a job. As soon as you take them out of the oil field they have to be manned like ships.
Professionalism gets thrown around, but if you think having an unlimited license makes you more professional, then your just show your ignorance. A piece of paper dose not make one a captain.
So the only thing I can think of are that we might be making money that is comparable to what you ship guys are making, I don’t know what yall make a year on average, and pissed that because we didn’t take all the courses your jealous or something.
But at the end of the day it’s just eaiser to take a guy whos been driving OSV’s who have been doing this type of work for years before getting on the really big boats then it is to take a guy whos been driving ships his whole life and has no experiance in this industry. And there are probobly not enough guys who have made the jump from the oil fields to ships and willing to come back.