Anthony wrote:
[I]The captain of the largest cruise ship in the world Royal Caribbean’s “Oasis of the Seas” is also American-
(from Professional Mariner)
MIAMI) – The captain of Oasis of the Seas is an American who is also Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president for marine operations, Business Daily newspaper of South Africa reported. William Wright is a marine engineer who speaks fluent Norwegian because his mother is from Norway. His job title at the company’s Miami headquarters means that all of the company’s crews report to him.
So there are a few positions out there:)
I know being an officer on a cruise ships isn’t for everybody-especially if you’re not a “people person” but to me there are worse ways to make a living."[/I]
All,
My wife & I are back from a one week cruise Tampa - Costa Maya on HAL’s RYNDAM. We met several American officers in stewards dept/hotel billets, all of whom had three things in common; they were educated, they had gone door knocking to get their positions and they had an extreme amount of enthusiasm for HAL as a company and for what they were doing. I also met an American musician, Darryl, who has been riding ships as a musician for more than a decade.
From my understanding of STCW requirements it should not be impossible to transfer USCG docs, training & licenses to foreign flag equivalents if one is willing to do so. Whether or not the USCG will accept foreign flag sea duty as equivalent under STCW requirements remains to be seen. IMHO the USCG MSOs have a predeliction for one way reciprocity, their way only.
My point? Foreign flag should not be used to define all foreign operators & their ships as second rate, albeit, often at a lower rate of pay. When I worked for US Navy SRF Guam I met many officers & crew off foreign flags, Aussies, Kiwis, Brits, Pilipinos, etc, all of whom were working under other national flags then their own, but they were working.
A question, if I may. Which is better? Sailing as 3rd officer under a foreign flag or sitting on the beach watching others sail the deep sea?
Like the moribound SS UNITED STATES, the US Merchant Marine is not coming back unless there is government intervention and that is not likely in the current political environment. Why? Money, just follow the money.
Rgds,
Guampaul