[QUOTE=anchorman;40912]We? I would leave the elbow out of this. I’m thinking the head is more involved with the ass here. I doubt very seriously the Coast Guard has anything to do with you losing a job you didn’t have to begin with.[/QUOTE]
The fact is that the ENG1 is part of the STCW Code which the USCG has chosen to dispense with along with relaxing many of the training requirements thus foreign shipowners (especiall;y European) consider Americans not fully STCW ‘95 and as a result, our STCW certificates are not considered as valid. Add to this a misconception that Americans are less than hard working, complainers who are overpaid and prone to filing unseaworthiness claims and voila’, we’re not considered for positions. Do you know any American seafarers working for Acergy, Subsea7, Coflexip, or Heerma (to name but a few of the very large international offshore contractors)? In their postings on OilCareers.com (which are frequent, especially for Acergy), those companies seem to always list candidates having a current ENG1 or medical certificate in their job requirements. Also how many times do you see OCS-B1 visa required but never “US citizen” as an alternative? Simply put, us Americans are not wanted by these companies (even on our own OCS) and I believe the USCG plays a big role in that. I would rather have to pass the higher standards of the STCW as written and have that certificate recognized around the world.
A big thank you to JeffRox for posting the list of physicians in the US who do ENG1 exams. I just wished I had asked this question a week ago when I was still in consideration for the job. One is very close to where I live…damn!