Thank you so much
Iâm going to add that I have no experience with this and no real understanding of the context here. Only point here is there is more here then meets the eye, might be other paths to look into.
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There used to be something called the âMarine Indexâ, this is where things such as what you asked would be reported. No one will ever admit to this existing but it did back in the 80âs. I know this for a fact as when I settled for back pay after a injury part of the settlement was that they WOULD NOT report it to the Index. Also, I grew up on the other side as my Father ran a Tank Barge Company wand we had more an a few discussions about reporting to the Index.
Now a days, I can see this being very illegal but we all know that things exist behind closed doors that the average person never hears about.
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Tugs, you are honest. I think I know you or I have met some where
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I guess you learn something new every day. The google box tells me the Marine Index Bureau is still a thing. Itâs a membership industry group that tracks maritime personal injury claims as a database to help employers avoid personal injury fraud. In this case Iâd make the assumption that a valid unpaid-wage claim wouldnât qualify as personal injury. Interesting to know though.
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This isnât about personal injury. Itâs about wages not being paid. Two different things.
MIB is alive and well. And yes it is used by many employers both as a new hire screening tool and as a injury investigation tool.
It works under the shield of consumer reporting like credit agencies, but gathers all kind of information.
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Word around the campfire is that Mort did it. He has secured financing with the plan of splitting down the Coastal/Transport divisions, selling all but 13 units which he will continue to operate. Pending a few contract renewals. Heâs been in Houston passing the hat. I skeptical because I know crews still havenât been paid. Unless thatâs part of the plan to wait to resolve the court cases against vendors/crews etc until the liquidation of the less profitable/ oos assets.
If he waits 2 more days there wonât be a company left
So Morty will pay the crews on the 13 he keeps is my prediction if this is true.
The 64 thousand dollar question is who is dumb enough to continue doing business with him?
How much oil can he really move with a non classed fleet? At least for now.
The newer equipment has or is being re-classed with DNV. He will file for bankruptcy with his new capital partners waiting in the wings. All pre-petition debt will get washed at 20 cents on the dollar and the crews will get back wages. He will sell off or release to creditors the older equipment and keep the newer equipment (classed with DNV)⌠that could all work, but based on his safety record and acidic safety culture, what customers are willing to sign a deal with him? Maybe he finally gets a technical operator to manage the day to day of the vessels and BTC just works on charters and spot market work?
No pat on my back, but said this from the start.Morty will pull a rabbit out of his hat, and keep the good stuff. Great for you Morty, now pay the guys and let them go home. If I was still working, I would (To many posters dismay) work on your new shit. It is good stuff. But only if you payed up front, you rotten bastard.
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Even if he does get the money to do this, he will still have to deal with the USCG up his ass. Think about it, if you were a customer would you want the USCG coming down to your dock every time a Bouchard rig shows up.
As someone that has known the Bouchardâs since the 80âs, I hope they have a hard time finding crews. Unfortunately, there will always be those that will jump at the money then be the first to bitch about working condidtions. Please remember that he tied the entire fleet up for 3 days in the mid 80âs to remove all of the washers and dyers after a pay dispute!
So, I guess only time will tell what happens and if Bouchard can pull itâs self out of the ashes.
Classed with DNV until he stops paying them. . . .
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DNV costs at least three times as much as ABS.
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So why go with DNV? I know that when I worked for ABS, some companies would move to another Class Society for economic reasons. . the other reason was, uh, less strict compliance standards, even among IACS members. . . . I recall a vessel in a particularly terrible condition (not US flag) that dropped ABS and moved to another society because of my recommendationsâŚ
DNV probably has the next best band-width (footprint) in North America to service a fleet that size and its (rumored) status as a more stringent class society helps in the USCG and Customer relationships.