[QUOTE=MariaW;61080]I think I need to change my name to “Uboatkillr” or “Supermanlymariner” or something to keep people from talking down to me about how tough it is to be a mariner… [/QUOTE]
You will find that in most cases, it no longer matters if you are Maria or Mark in this industry. It has become more common to find females in all positions offshore. From my experience, it’s best to just ignore the obvious differences and just do your job. For the foreseeable future, there will always be at least one jackass who will focus on your chromosomal makeup. Best to ignore him too. Or her. Some women can be very protective of whatever social position they hold in the strange little world of a ship. I guess bitches be bitches no matter what their anatomy.
[QUOTE=Capt. Schmitt;61084]People are obsessively telling youabout the lifestyle because you repeatedly talk about their long hours, no time off, and bad conditions.[/QUOTE] I believe I only mentioned it once and it was meant as a package deal. Long hours are ok, but if you don’t get paid extra, it’s abusive, and no U.S. mariner would work for a cruise ship (and they apparently don’t). If americans would work for those wages, then it would be more convenient for the cruise ship company to hire locals rather than go through the trouble of getting crew from halfway around the world. I suspect they wouldn’t hire american crew even if americans applied because they would be opening themselves up for trouble of one sort or another. If hundreds of american mariners out of american ports started complaining, it would at the very least get the industry some bad press.
To answer your other question, people aren’t outraged over the flags of convenience because they are legal. Before worrying about changing the laws you need to get outraged over the vessels that are given Jones Act waivers because they “can’t find US seamen” (willing to work for filipino pay) and the agency that is supposed to verify these claims just rubber stamp them.
That’s awful. Sounds like the same argument that is used to get thousands of H1B visas approved for foreign workers doing run of the mill jobs in this economy.
[QUOTE=MariaW;61134]I believe I only mentioned it once and it was meant as a package deal. Long hours are ok, but if you don’t get paid extra, it’s abusive, and no U.S. mariner would work for a cruise ship (and they apparently don’t). [B]If americans would work for those wages[/B], then it would be more convenient for the cruise ship company to hire locals rather than go through the trouble of getting crew from halfway around the world. I suspect they wouldn’t hire american crew even if americans applied because they would be opening themselves up for trouble of one sort or another. If hundreds of american mariners out of american ports started complaining, it would at the very least get the industry some bad press.
That’s awful. Sounds like the same argument that is used to get thousands of H1B visas approved for foreign workers… In this economy.[/QUOTE]
You hit the nail on the head right there - American’s won’t work for those wages. We’d make more taking unemployment than what most of the foreign sailors are paid.
Same goes for all of those H1B visas - sure, they’re taking American jobs, but you leave all those kids at home for the summer and see how many resort towns survive. All of the 9+% unemployed here in the States think it’s beneath them to work in a kitchen or be the guy that takes your money at Stop and Shop or mows your lawn.
[QUOTE=New3M;61145]You hit the nail on the head right there - American’s won’t work for those wages. We’d make more taking unemployment than what most of the foreign sailors are paid.
Same goes for all of those H1B visas - sure, they’re taking American jobs, but you leave all those kids at home for the summer and see how many resort towns survive. All of the 9+% unemployed here in the States think it’s beneath them to work in a kitchen or be the guy that takes your money at Stop and Shop or mows your lawn.[/QUOTE]
Although the number is growing in regards to foreigners reg in delaware. u.s citizens see little use for it as taxes are determined by the location for which the vessel is being operated in regards to citizens only. amazingly enough a foreigner could reg his vessel in delaware keep it in fla and not have to pay registration\ luxury tax.
[QUOTE=mslilith2000;61123]You will find that in most cases, it no longer matters if you are Maria or Mark in this industry. It has become more common to find females in all positions offshore. From my experience, it’s best to just ignore the obvious differences and just do your job. For the foreseeable future, there will always be at least one jackass who will focus on your chromosomal makeup. Best to ignore him too. Or her. Some women can be very protective of whatever social position they hold in the strange little world of a ship. I guess bitches be bitches no matter what their anatomy. :D[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=New3M;61145]You hit the nail on the head right there - American’s won’t work for those wages. We’d make more taking unemployment than what most of the foreign sailors are paid.
Same goes for all of those H1B visas - sure, they’re taking American jobs, but you leave all those kids at home for the summer and see how many resort towns survive. All of the 9+% unemployed here in the States think it’s beneath them to work in a kitchen or be the guy that takes your money at Stop and Shop or mows your lawn.[/QUOTE]
We’d make more money on our bicycles tossing newspapers.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;61161]We’d make more money on our bicycles tossing newspapers.[/QUOTE]
Hahaha do they even do that? We just got a new paper guy who is too lazy to put the paper in the box - throws it in the puddle at the end of the driveway every morning without fail.
I believe this was mentioned in an earlier post. A large number of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, MODUs or rigs are registered in other countries, but drill in the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve been on Panamanian and Marshall Islands flagged rigs less than 150 miles off of the Texas and Louisiana Coasts. Most of the crew were Americans, with the exception of a group from Scotland working 28/ 28 on a temporary basis in the GOM while the rig was refurbished. I’m sure they received pay at their normal rates and possibly travel pay. Both of the above mentioned crews were owned by a Texas drilling company.
The Transocean Deepwater Horizon was also a Marshall Island flagged vessel.
I’m sure that the cruise line rates would jump quite a bit if the US cruise lines were to employ Americans… even at minimum wage rates.
As I understand most crew on foreign flag ships don’t pay any taxes to their home country. So their wages are not as bad as noted. For the Officier ratings that tax free advantage adds up!
