[quote=“c.captain, post:120, topic:15195, full:true”]
so WHAT exactly is your point here? that foreign owned vessels have a “right” to work in the GoM or that they are so superior in design, construction or operation that they defacto MUST remain because there are no equivalent US built and manned vessels? [/quote]
No my point is that they are NEEDED because there are none, or to few US vessels capable of performing the most complex tasks efficiently and safely.
So you seams to confirm my question in the above post; such vessel DO require a waiver. just like any foreign vessels do?
That was my argument also. (Nice to see that we agree on something, even how reluctant you are to admit it)
NO!! OCS (EEZ) IS NOT SOVEREIGN TERRITORY, OR TERRITORIAL WATERS PER UNCLOS. Any fishing or commercial activity on the seabed is protected, by the waters are open for free navigation.
Yes you have Laws to protect employment in the OCS (EEZ) but not the right to dictate the crewing of vessels under foreign flags, If vessels are operating in such waters are needed to do tasks for which there are no US flag vessels available. Like the US, many other flag states require that their citizens man vessels under their flag. In many cases this is limited to the Master though. Open registers and FOCs allow even foreign Masters, subject to them complying with IMO STCW’10 minimum COC standard. Since US does NOT approve any foreign COCs some flag states resiprocate. (Norway is NOT one of them)
I have NEVER stated that there aren’t Americans who are capable, but there aren’t enough of them with experience from the type of vessels and work performed by foreign vessels in the GoM.
How can they get experience unless they work on foreign vessel anyhow??
[quote]I cannot count the number of times I have had to listen to Brits, Scots, Dutchmen and Norwegians complaint and bitch about the GoM and Americans to my face! Imagine me coming to the North Sea and doing that in your face? You would want to punch mine to a bloody pulp if I did and I have felt likewise to when faced with such hubris. FUCK ALL OF YOU FOR SUCH ARROGANCE!
[/quote] Sorry to hear that you have been verbally abused.
As to the ARROGANCE bit, I have known a few Americans that would be qualified in the “Champions Leage of Arrogance”. (Of course you would not know anybody like that, would you now???)
I have also met some Americans (and others) that tried to hide their lack of knowledge, experience and incompetence behind a touch mask.
I DO NOT KNOW if McDermott use American or foreign Masters, Officer and Crews when such vessels are working in the GoM or not. Anybody have any first hand knowledge on that??
No work on the Norwegian Continental shelf is NOT restricted to Norwegians, or Norwegian Rigs and boats. It is an open market, with all tenders required to be issued to any EU company who qualify for the task. Several American companies are also present in Norway, especially in the Oil & Gas industry, both offshore and in manufacturing of equipment. (Check out where the NOV drilling equipment on the rigs working deepwater GoM come from)
Any EU Citizen is free to work in Norway, as long as he/she is able to secure work. They can even claim unemployment benefits while looking for work. There are thousands of foreigners working here in all types of jobs, from the most menial to top technical and managerial levels.
Non-EU citizens require a work permit/visa to work onshore or offshore. They also have to have the necessary education and skills required under Norwegian Laws for the job they apply for.
(The required education and training they can receive for free IN NORWAY)
So, you wouldn’t be punched in the face, but you may be laught at if you should make some arrogant statement about American superiority, or exceptionalism.
PS> As said MANY times, I’m NOT a Norwegian nationalist. I have not worked much in Norway, or for Norwegian companies abroad. My knowledge of tings Norwegian are limited to what I have learnt by reading and listening.
I did have some assignments in the North Sea in the 1980’s, but only once since 1990, as Superint./Loadmaster for a Chinese company in 2012, loading a big barge on a small HLV :