In August 2014 they did a turbo activation of 13 ships. Just one week turn out do anchoring and speed trial and back to the dock. They were scrambling to find people like crazy. I was aboard the SS Regulus and it seemed like 75% of the crew other than the permanent ROS crew were retirees from MM&P or MEBA, or they were like me on vacation from their normal jobs. We had guys showing up an hour before we headed out to sea. If they had to crew those things up in a big time activation they would be screwed. Not to mention how many problems they end up finding when they do turbo activations. Ships like that do not like sitting for so long. Yes they maybe able to crew it up and be ready to load cargo in 96 hours, but good luck loading cargo and heading to the Middle East with a plugged up condenser and whatever other problems surface. If it wasn’t for the extremely generous overtime for turbo activations most wouldn’t even consider doing the activations.
[QUOTE=lm1883;181891]The DOD doesn’t want RRF ships to carry their cargo, that’s why Walenius/Wilhelmsen ships are on the MSP role. There was frequent breakdown, equipment malfunctions, and a number of vessels that were not suited for the Army needs so they decided to charter out. Secondly, right now there simply isn’t enough cargo at any one time to justify the ships. Sure, there’s cargo all over the place, but without commercial augmentation the ships would only run at 30% capacity at any given time, if that.[/QUOTE]
what a crock of BULLSHIT! If there isn’t enough DoD cargo to fill all the RRF ro/ro’s then only run enough ships so they are filled but STOP using foreign manned ships for the work when there are US mariners who the GOOBERMINT knows they need for an emergency sealift!
[QUOTE=c.captain;181892]what a crock of BULLSHIT! If there isn’t enough DoD cargo to fill all the RRF ro/ro’s then only run enough ships so they are filled but STOP using foreign manned ships for the work when there are US mariners who the GOOBERMINT knows they need for an emergency sealift![/QUOTE]
Is this really going on? I was under the impression that to carry DoD cargo, it had to be on U.S. flagged ships, that were U.S. crewed and that even the company had to be a U.S. based company, which was why Maersk was not able to manage a few of the MaRaD ships they had anymore? They even got rid of the port engineer on one of the MaRad ships I used to work on because he was Brittish.
The Jones Act is not even on congress radar except the repeal thereof. When they recently approved the export of US oil which was previously supposed to be kept in the USA to lower gas prices and make products cheaper for US citizens there was NO provision as to what ships carry it. Considering the under employment in the USA and the loss of US O&G jobs you would think they would have insisted that at least a percentage of US oil being exported would have to leave on US ships but it never crossed their minds. I asked my congressmen and they said the US did not have the capability which is BS. Voting to export US oil was a gift to the people congress work for, not us, and had nothing to do with working folks.
Vote NO incumbent or get used to the screwing.
[QUOTE=tengineer1;181898]Vote NO incumbent or get used to the screwing.[/QUOTE]
the problem is not the people it is the system that gets them elected…as soon as you throw out one bum, the one who takes his place is beholden to the same BIG MONEY which financed his campaign. DEMAND ELECTION FINANCE REFORM!
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[QUOTE=cajaya;181896]Is this really going on? I was under the impression that to carry DoD cargo, it had to be on U.S. flagged ships,[/QUOTE]
Steamer…can you do me a favor and answer this please? I am suffering a severe cerebral aneurysm at the moment.
[QUOTE=tengineer1;181898]The Jones Act is not even on congress radar except the repeal thereof. When they recently approved the export of US oil which was previously supposed to be kept in the USA to lower gas prices and make products cheaper for US citizens there was NO provision as to what ships carry it. Considering the under employment in the USA and the loss of US O&G jobs you would think they would have insisted that at least a percentage of US oil being exported would have to leave on US ships but it never crossed their minds. I asked my congressmen and they said the US did not have the capability which is BS. Voting to export US oil was a gift to the people congress work for, not us, and had nothing to do with working folks.
Vote NO incumbent or get used to the screwing.[/QUOTE]
Which congressperson was this? Just curious. I happen to like my congressperson, never wrote to them for anything but I read up on how they vote and I didnt see anything that looked disturbing.
[QUOTE=cajaya;181902]Which congressperson was this? Just curious. I happen to like my congressperson, never wrote to them for anything but I read up on how they vote and I didnt see anything that looked disturbing.[/QUOTE]
This export of US crude oil is going on now to other countries on foreign flag bottoms. This news is not new to those that turn off the TV news.
Write your congressman and ask why no US shipping jobs were written in to the bill. They could have done it with one sentence.
[QUOTE=tengineer1;181905]http://www.wsj.com/articles/congressional-leaders-agree-to-lift-40-year-ban-on-oil-exports-1450242995
This export of US crude oil is going on now to other countries on foreign flag bottoms. This news is not new to those that turn off the TV news.
Write your congressman and ask why no US shipping jobs were written in to the bill. They could have done it with one sentence.[/QUOTE]
I have a congresswoman. Maybe because nobody asked? Can’t those bills be ammended/changed whatever or a new bill be written if enough people ask
[QUOTE=cajaya;181907]I have a congresswoman. Maybe because nobody asked? Can’t those bills be ammended/changed whatever or a new bill be written if enough people ask[/QUOTE]
Congress critter, whatever. Maybe because US jobs are not a priority? Yes, let us know when your congress critter says she’ll propose such.
[QUOTE=cajaya;181907]I have a congresswoman.[/QUOTE]
Is she a human or a huwoman?
[QUOTE=c.captain;181899]
Steamer…can you do me a favor and answer this please?[/QUOTE]
Here ya go … http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/current/247_5.htm
Way back before defense contractors owned Congress the law said 100 percent had to be carried on privately owned US flagged ships. Ironically, after Eisenhower warned us about the threat those contractors posed to a free and healthy society, the law was amended to require only 50 percent. Now there is a separate law called the [I]Military[/I] Cargo Preference Act which has enough loopholes in it pass a FoC RoRo full of campaign contributions.
We have those patriotic seafarers walking the model lined halls of MARAD to thank for their support of the US Merchant Marine.
[QUOTE=tengineer1;181917]Congress critter, whatever. Maybe because US jobs are not a priority? Yes, let us know when your congress critter says she’ll propose such.[/QUOTE]
I try to be realistic about things. The ones pushing for it were obviously the companies who really don’t care about the Jones Act. They were the ones putting their two cents in with the politicians. I mean, did any of the unions or companies that operate U.S. flagged tankers try to pitch in at all? I don’t really pay attention to these things but I assume the companies that have U.S. flagged tankers also have foreign ones so it wouldn’t be to their benefit, so obviously the unions didn’t try to use any of the union money or SPAD contributions that they extort from their members to do anything about it. I just see it as something that happened because there was no voice or input from the worker.
I can’t see my congresswoman caring about this since politicians are in it to get votes. Jones Act shipping and O&G are not big industries where I live and don’t employ many people. Most people didn’t even know what I was talking about when I said I worked “offshore”.
Yea, I would write to her if I cared more. But frankly, I don’t. I can be a letter writing pain in the ass if it’s something I’m peeved about.
The one tanker I worked on, the crew was all from Yemen (and they lived there) the officers where all white privileged academy grads (no hawsepipers), and there was one minority woman working as a cook.
DoD related jobs, that’s different. Companies usually don’t get a way as much with such B.S. when dealing directly with the government. I am not gonna write letters so the white privileged class or a bunch of union bosses can become even more privileged (or to fund any families in Yemen), sorry.
[QUOTE=Steamer;181921]Here ya go … http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/current/247_5.htm
Now there is a separate law called the [I]Military[/I] Cargo Preference Act which has enough loopholes in it pass a FoC RoRo full of campaign contributions.
[/QUOTE]
What is FoC? Foreign owned company?
[QUOTE=cajaya;181936]What is FoC? Foreign owned company?[/QUOTE]
Flag of Convenience
You are right about that, it makes good sense. That’s probably why the govt hasn’t done it.
The Cape Rise and her ro/ro sisters could be kept busy moving vehicles back and forth to the ME for years probably. Let alone all of the other places the military has equipment.
[QUOTE=cajaya;181931]Yea, I would write to her if I cared more. But frankly, I don’t. I can be a letter writing pain in the ass if it’s something I’m peeved about.[/QUOTE]
Well with this statement, I guess you will be more than happy to be making the same wages as Sailors from the Third World. Not sure where you live (or what rock you live under) but with an attitude like this I hope you can live on around a grand a month as there would be no reason for any company to pay more.
So, keep up with an attitude like this and you will have more to bitch about than not getting hit on.
[QUOTE=Tugs;181948]Well with this statement, I guess you will be more than happy to be making the same wages as Sailors from the Third World. Not sure where you live (or what rock you live under) but with an attitude like this I hope you can live on around a grand a month as there would be no reason for any company to pay more.
[/QUOTE]
I can work foreign flag for the same money I make now. Jobs that pay more (or did) don’t accomodate non conventional sailors. So, frankly…nope…dont care.
Look, I am trying to lay off of this subject, but since you want to bring it up, after the last 2 and a half years in the GoM, I would be happy to never be in close proximity to a man again in my entire life.
[QUOTE=cajaya;181950]Jobs that pay more (or did) dont accomodate non conventional sailors.[/QUOTE]
What is a “non conventional sailor”?
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;181918]Is she a human or a huwoman?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;181952]What is a “non conventional sailor”?[/QUOTE]
I’ll tell you what…I’ll give you a little bit of time to think about it and see if it sets in…
Or you might be able to use this site: http://www.merriam-webster.com/ to look up both the words “congresswoman”, and “conventional”.
The site is a very good resource for definitions of words that may not be that common or well understood by people that work in some of the sourthern regions.
[QUOTE=cajaya;181960]I’ll tell you what…I’ll give you a little bit of time to think about it and see if it sets in…
Or you might be able to use this site: http://www.merriam-webster.com/ to look up both the words “congresswoman”, and “conventional”.
The site is a very good resource for definitions of words that may not be that common or well understood by people that work in some of the sourthern regions.[/QUOTE]
You are indeed a self important troll after all. Can’t be bothered to do anything such as write your representative because you personally do not benefit in your own shallow self absorbed mind? Look up narcissist in your dictionary. Apparently the worst thing to ever happen to you and further warp you fragile psyche was working in the GOM with some nit wits. Thousands have gone thru the same thing left and wrote off the time as experience. You are indeed not conventional, to the point of needing some sort of professional mental help. The first step to getting well is realizing the world does not revolve around you and of the billions of people on earth you are not all that special.